The break-in

"Peter, hurry up; Mrs. Russell would be home any moment from now. I can see her car from a distance." The worried friend, Paul, shouted in a low tone. His job was simple: stand at the door and watch out for Mrs. Russell's arrival who happened to Peter's next door neighbor.

Peter, who was 20 and a year older than Paul, hurried out of the room, where he searched for the ball Mrs. Russell had seized for a week. They had pleaded with her during the past few days for her to release the ball after several apologies, but Mrs. Russell did not bulge. This was not their first time having their ball seized by Mrs. Russell, as they mistakenly played the ball over their house fence and into her compound.

Mrs. Russell was an elderly widow who told the boys, Peter and Paul, to desist from playing the ball in her compound; however, since they continued with the act, she seized their ball and deprived the boys from playing. Paul looked out of the window and saw Mrs. Russell's car drive into the garage.

"What are we going to do? She'll sue us for trespassing on her property." Paul said, visibly sweating as he placed his right hand on his forehead.

PHOTO CREDIT BY @wakeupkitty

"We have to act fast!" Peter replied. "Come, let's look for somewhere to hide." He beckoned as both boys peeped into the rooms, store, kitchen, etc., for any safe hideout. The boys scurried onto a ladder that led to a loft and hid therein. The attic was well decked and spaced, though littered with some wood and dirt, and the roof had electrical wiring running through it. Both boys sat quietly, careful not to make any sounds to attract Mrs. Russell, who had entered the house.

"This is a bad idea, Peter; how do we get out of this?" Paul whispered almost inaudibly.

"We can only wait, hope, and pray for a miracle." Peter replied with a forced smile in an attempt to ease his friend's fears.
Both boys sat there with time passing, so slowly panic began to dawn on them. They heard occasional movements in the house, and after about 3 hours of waiting in the attic, they heard the sound of the front door opening and closing.

"Is she leaving?"

"I think so. Today's prayer meeting and time should be almost 6 p.m."

"Perhaps luck was on our side; I told you this was a bad idea!" Paul replied with a sigh of relief.

The boys listened attentively to the sound of Mrs. Russell's vehicle drive out of the garage. Both boys crept down into the house, careful not to be caught unaware. Peter carefully opened the window through which they had come in earlier and walked briskly through the shadows into the open road to avoid being looked upon suspiciously by neighbors.

Two days later, Peter opened his house door to Mrs. Russell, who knocked on their door. She held the ball the boys had broken into her house to retrieve.

"Are your parents home, Peter?" Mrs. Russell asked with a frown written on her face.

"Not yet, ma."

"Well, next time you break into my house, I'll gladly submit my CCTV footage to the police and have you prosecuted! Here, have your ball, and this should be the very last time I'll see this ball in my compound." Mrs. Russell said, handing over the ball to Peter and turning to leave.

"We're sorry, Mrs. Russell; please do not tell my parents." Peter said it with a trembling tone without receiving any response.

What I see is a an attic with a above a decking with littered wood and dirts.

What I feel is that the attic has been abandoned but could be put to use and maybe have a room therein