Alee Stooks

trembling next to me, his wife. When I peered at her face, I saw pure agony. She had just had a daughter and her husband had won a scholarship from the government that allowed him to study abroad anywhere for free. They had their future ahead of them, but in this instance, it could have all Artwork by Alee Stooks been taken away. His head was down, but I could practically see the tension radiating from him. How could this have happened, why? Then the searching began. The men in the seating room walked around held their weapons out, threatening. The men in the seating room walked around held their weapons out, threatening. They felt pockets for cell phones that were easily sellable. As I found out afterwards, they didn’t take wallets because there was always a chance they were empty, had little cash, or had credit cards 20 TheFrro

that could be cancelled, rendering them useless. Cell phones could be sold the fastest so they aimed to take those. They went around to the front of the tabled first. The men held out bags and the people readily gave up their possessions. It was our turn next. One man started from the very right, I was on the far left. He then progressed down, taking anything of value. Each of the people I was with had given something up. Then I realized I had nothing to give. No purse, cell phone, jewelry, nothing. Panic shot through me as I looked for something, anything to give so the man would just ignore me after he had taken what he wanted. But I came up empty handed. He didn’t like that. He yelled and pointed the machete in his hands towards me. My eyes widened and my heart stopped. Only one thought came to mind, “I am going to DIE.” Fall2014 21

In that instant I became desperate to live. How often do people say “man that test is going to kill me” or “ I would rather die than wear that.” But have never actually been so close to death that they could practically see their ancestors beckoning in heaven. Opening a place up for them in the land of the dead. For a second, I though I saw it, the end.

But then something miraculous happened. In the back (presumably where the safe was stored), emerged three of the robbers. They quickly made hand signals and in a rush, their accomplices quickly left. It was over.

As quickly as it had began, it ended. My cousin got up from his kneeled position and ran to embrace his wife. Everyone else at the table simply watched, not daring to move. They were all in a state of shock. Who would blame the,? Soon everyone started to recover and began asking one another what had been taken from them. I just looked straight ahead. Never taking my eyes off the wall as a single tear slipped down my eye and made its way down my stolen innocence. 22 TheEcho