The last summer holiday started on a promising note for John and Jane as they had a series of activities they intended to participate in as they waited to join college. The two were good friends, and they enjoyed each other’s company. Jane was a soft-spoken girl who respected everyone in school and at home. This could be attributed to the strictness of her parents. On the other hand, John was rude, and he believed that things could be easily solved through fighting.
He was a bully who bragged about how he fought three men who once attacked their family and floored every man. Students feared him at school, and he was keen to maintain this fear through made-up stories of his encounters with attackers. Of cause, he never mentioned that the only fight he had ever won in his entire life was against a boy six years younger than him.
He would not mention that he had to use a rod to disable the minor. His younger brother, who had a much smaller body structure, would often beat him, but this was a well-kept secret because they were in different schools. The two decided to visit Royal National Park in Sidney as a way of celebrating a life achievement after completing high school. Because she respected the parents, Jane decided to invite John to her home, introduce him to her parents, and seek their permission so that they could visit the park. John was delighted by the invitation, and on that day, he came to Jane’s home ready for the journey. Jane’s father was very strict, and when John arrived, he was not amused by his casual dress code. He recognized his face from a distance and called the daughter aside.
“Jane, do you mean this block-headed awkward-looking boy is the friend?” The father asked in a rather loud voice. John must have had because he took off his hat immediately.
“Father, kindly lower your voice when using such harsh words.”
“I asked you a question, is this rascal your friend?” the father was getting agitated because he had identified the face of John.
“Please father…”
Before she could continue, the father stormed into the living room where John was seated. Jane could not understand the reason behind the father’s agitation. He went and closed the door. Her younger brother James was still asleep, and the mother had gone to work.
“You think you would escape forever?” the father asked John menacingly as he advanced towards him.
Jane was worried because he knew John to be a strong violent man. His father was slender and tall, and she was convinced that if he engages John physically, he might get hurt. She could not understand. The father ordered her to go and call the younger brother. When she came with her brother, things got worse. The younger brother attacked John with blows and kicks as Jane watched in amazement. “You attacked me the other day with a rod and fled!” James yelled at John. It was very awkward for Jane to realize that the man he had trusted had attacked her younger brother, was overwhelmed and decided to use a rod against him. The ease with which James floored John was a complete irony of how John had always described himself. The father intervened and ordered John to leave the house never to be seen there again. The shame of not being able to defend himself before the lady he had cherished weighed heavily upon him, but he was determined to continue with his trip to Sydney.
He was in a somber mood all the way, feeling very lonely and dejected. Just as he entered the gates, someone called his name. He turned back and saw four of his classmates. They were also visiting the park. “I am pleased we found you here. We are afraid of snakes, but with you around…” Mary said with a broad smile on her face. This statement pleased John. It boosted his morale as he thought that there are people who still believe in him.
“Oh! You will be safe because I don’t fear animals, especially snakes.” He said in a convincing tone. “I have been to this park in the past and I have met several snakes.” He bragged. However, the truth was that he was visiting the place for the first time, and he had never encountered a snake before other than what he watched in the movies.
“We are in the right company,” said Charles “I hope we will have an interesting day”
They walked slowly into the park as they shared their life events and the plans they had for their higher learning. The stories helped John to forget the morning encounters with Jane’s family. None of the friends asked him about Jane, and this gave him relief. He continued bragging about various issues about his life after high school. A game ranger then came and issued a directive to them on the paths they should avoid while in the park.
All the dangers posed by the wild animals in this park were explained. Charles was curious about snakes. He asked the ranger to explain to them the types of snakes in the park and the dangers they pose. The ranger did this and showed them where they could watch all types of snakes in a protected area. They were also told of specific spots within the park where wild snakes were freely roaming in the bush.
The ranger explained how vicious the cobra, anaconda, and the black mamba could be. Although there was a healthcare facility near the park, the ranger noted that some snakes’ venom would kill within minutes before one could be rushed to the hospitals. John was completely shaken and he became very sensitive to his environment, especially when the ranger explained that sometimes the snakes would wander within the park even to the location that is thought to be safe.
On the other hand, the four classmates were reassured of their safety because John was around. Everybody feared him, and his presence in this group meant that they were safe, especially after telling them that he had encounters with them in the past.
As they started moving into areas they were restricted to, Charles threw a stick that was in his hand and mistakenly landed on John’s backed. All this time John was trying to imagine the dangers posed by the snake, and how death can be inevitable when bitten by one. When the stick landed on his back, he jumped up a screamed, attracting a lot of attention. Charles had to explain to him that it was just a stick. He slowly sneaked out of the park and went back home a dejected man. His pride was gone, and no one would ever believe in him.