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"Let's go! We are going to be late!" shouted Glen gleefully as he tightened his
schoolbag on his back. Three other faces broke into a smile upon hearing his
words. They could not wait to soak their feet in the water and perhaps catch a
small fish or two, just for kicks. They were clearly not heading towards where
they should be-school. The cold imposing white building became smaller and
smaller. Their little hearts grew braver by the minute. They knew exactly where
to go.
The canal was huge but that morning, there was only a small lazy stream of
dirty water in it. With great gusto, Glen, the leader of the pack, hoisted
himself over the railings and climbed down the huge monsoon drain. In the
process, he got himself very dirty but the excitement of truancy was too great
to be bothered by some loose buttons and tears in his shirt.
In a fraction of seconds, the other boys joined him. Soon, screams and
laughter of delight reverberated into the air but no one else could hear them
for they had chosen a canal that was far from anyone.
Glen spied many tiny fish darting to and fro in the murky water. They had no
economical value and were practically worthless but nevertheless, the thrill of
catching them bare-handed was priceless. Glen raced after an extra fat one. He
plunged his hands to grab it only to have it slip between the cracks of his
fingers.
The fish dived back into the water and stared at him. Glen was startled. It
was as if the fish was mocking him. Glen became furious and was adamant in
getting the fish. He knew exactly what he would do
when he caught it. He would squeeze the life out of the creature.
The fish swam away; Glen followed from behind. He ran and ran, effectively
splashing himself with water. He was so intent on his prey that he did not
realise the floor of the drain becoming wetter than
before. He did not even realise that the tiny stream that snaked right in the
middle of the canal had grown in size and that the water level was no longer at
his ankles but had risen up to his knees! He just wanted revenge.
Glen got further and further. He was not missed by his classmates as they too
were lost in their own world.
Glen suddenly stopped. The annoying fish had disappeared! Glen tried to catch
his breath and looked around. He realised that he was lost! There was no sign of
his friends. Glen gasped in fear. Besides being lost, Glen finally realised the
fix he was in-the water level was rising fast and now it was swirling angrily to
his waist! Frantically, Glen tried to look for a way out as the water level rose
higher and higher. |
