If Only by Bodle Mohamed

If Only...

by Bodle Mohamed

Once upon a time,  there was a boy who lived in a small town. The boy's name was Khadar, and he lived with his father. His mother died when he was four years old.

One day, one of his friend in school told him, "there is a party at my house tonight; it is my birthday, will you come?"

Khadar answered affirmatively.

After School, Khadar went home and met his father watching television, he asked his father if it was okay to attend the party at his friend's house that night. He father said no. Khadar felt angry that his father refused him from attending his friend's birthday party. He yelled at his father, and then left the house angrily.

After about four hours which the son did not return home, Khadar's father went looking for him. While he was searching for his son that evening, he noticed that some robbers were attempting to steal from a small shop. Khadar's father knew that if he called the police, they may not arrive on time and it will be too late to get the thieves arrested. So, he went after them and suddenly pounced on one of the thieves.

The thief was surprised by the attack and he fell down, with the gun falling off his hand. When the other robbers saw what had happened, they scrambled away. The thief soon sprang up and attacked the man and as they wrestled, Khadar's father kept screaming "Thief! Thief! Thief!".

The old man soon wrestled the younger robber to the ground, pinning him there while calling for help. The robber looked around and discovered that his gun was at arm's reach and he quickly stretch his hand to pick the gun! He pointed the gun at the old man's head and pulled the trigger.

Khadar was just two blocks away from where his father was shot. He heard the voice of the man shouting "Thief!" and he thought it sounded like that of his father, but he was not too sure. Then he heard the sound of gunshot and quickened his steps towards the direction of the gunshot.

When he neared the spot, Khadar could see people gathered around something and tried to take a peek only to discover the body of his father lying lifeless in the dust. He touched his father's face and begged him to please open his eyes but the man would not respond to his voice. He knelt there as hot tears cascaded his chins.

The next day at the father's funeral, Khadar watched helpless as his father's body was being laid to rest in the grave, he felt remorseful and said: "If only I had listened to him, if only I did not go out when he told me not to, if only my friend had not invited me to his party, if only...I wish I had listened to my father".

Meet the Author

Bodle Mohamed  is fourteen years old and he is from Somaliland, East Africa. He is currently a Functional English Course student at Qalam Educational and Technical Centre, Hargeisa, Somaliland.