[Best L4] 17. An Uninvited Guest - Siyun

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An Uninvited Guest

 

The three teenagers puffed and panted as they trekked to the campsite. Jack, Javier and Jarul were inseparable. They did practically everything inseparable. They did practically everything together. They were going to spend a night camping by the lake. They could not wait to go fishing, hunt spiders and have a compfire.

 

They stopped to get their bearings. Jack unfolded the map. Javier took out his compass while Jaryl peered through his binoculars.

 

Jack spoke first, "It's another kilometre to the west. We need to take the right fork in the path about a hundred metres away."

 

After checking their position with his compass, Javier said, "Let's go."

 

Jack and Jaryl followed behind. Finally, the boys arrived at the campsite. They unrolled the tent that Jack was carrying and pitched it. They put their bags, including food, into the tent.

 

"I'll go and collect water," Jaryl said and tramped towards the pond with a large pail. Jack and Javier wandered off to gather firewood for the campfire.

 

Returning to the campsite, Jaryl put down the pail. He scratched his head. Something did not look right. Then he realised that a plastic bag was on the ground, empty. They had put the bag of bananas in the tent, hadn't they? He walked to the tent and lifted the flap.

 

As his eyes were adjusting to the dimness inside the tent, he could not see clearly. However, what he heard nearly made him drop the flap. "Hee, hee, hee," came a sound. He blinked and his eyes popped out when he saw a monkey looking straight at him. It was grasping a half-eaten banana in its paw. The monkey bared its teeth and chattered. Jaryl's eyes bulged further. The tent was in a mess! Apples, canned food,marshmallows, potato chips and instant noodles were strewn everywhere. This uninvited guest was ruining their night feast.

 

"Shoo!" yelled Jaryl. The startled monkey leapt about, trying to get out. It landed on a bag of potato chips which burst with a loud pop. The chips were crushed beneath the monkey's weight. Jaryl's mouth opened in a loud protest, "No!" That scared the monkey and it charged towards Jaryl. Jaryl dived to one side as the monkey scrambled out of the tent.

 

Just then, Jack and Javier returned with an armful of firewood each. Javier dropped his on the ground and ran to Jaryl's side. "You okay?" he asked as he pulled Jaryl to his feet.

 

Jaryl recounted what the rascally monkey did as he beckoned them into the tent. As they surveyed it, they spotted banana peels, a half-eaten banana, two half-eaten apples, and squashed marshmallows scattered all over. They quickly cleared away the mess.

 

During dinner round the fire that night, the three friends told jokes and sang. When they were ready to turn in for the night, they made sure the tent flap was secure so that no uninvited guest could enter that night.