THE GATE KEEPER by JULES GABRIEL Read Free Book Online Page A

pair
of hands he saw belongs to a young version of his own self. They rode the
bicycle with the flow of the road which snakes its way through the thick
forest.
    A
rush of fear conquered the old man’s soul as he realised that he was on the
run. The old man got back to reality. He stopped and looked behind him. He
could still remember them. His mind slowly crawled back into the past. He saw
them, a gang of five teenage boys riding hard and fast behind him. He could
still hear their exact words.
    ‘Come
on boys!’ The big teenage boy on the bicycle at the front barked at his gang.
    ‘We’re
coming Tony!’ One of his followers who dressed up in a black gothic suit barked
back.
    ‘He’s
not gonna get away!’ Someone at the back said aloud.
    The
old man’s mind brought up hallucinating image of that historic event. He could
see his own self riding fast and passing himself. He turns his head back again
to see the gang getting closer to him.
    Then
the hallucinating memories of his elapsed period faded away. The old man faces
the direction he was heading for. The direction they had all headed for. He
walks down the road until he reaches a pathway at the side of the road.
    His
old memories gives in short burst of events of the past. He sees his own hallucinating
young self, riding furiously and coming to an immediate halt at the path way.
Quickly the old memory was gone and he tries to examine the pathway ahead.
Though the memory was old he knows that it must look exactly the same. It was
the only and exact identical pathway which fit the one in his head.
    He
made headway through it. He walks through while searching for any new threat
from side to side. Humans and poisonous reptile which may hide out among the
thick vegetation on each side of the footpath made of thick white rocky sand.
He knew that he had no chance to stand against those threats unless he sees it
first.
    He
had to be thrifty with his life as he knew that he has become slow. Years has
catch up with him. Wrinkles had invaded his body like cocoon on pupae. The
future is uncertain he had said to himself for the past half of his life.
     
     

 
    The
school bell rang for the end of the final class. Some kids head straight out while
some head for their lockers. Excitement of heading home and doing what we like
was the moral that triggered most of us to leave the school premises quickly.
    I
was in love. I could not think of going home without talking to her.  She
was an amazing girl and I felt the need to know her. I slowly packed my bag
while I took a peek at her. Samantha sat at the front left for that class. She
takes all her belongings and look at me from behind.
    With
our eyes interlocking each other, I felt embarrass and powerless of the
feelings I felt for her. Love at first sight. Samantha smile at me and walk
towards me. Nervously I stand up. My shaky hands drop the biology book I was
trying to fit in my school bag.
    ‘Are
you spying on me stranger?’ she joyfully growl at me in a playful way.
    ‘Wasn’t
we supposed to be on a sort of a date?’ I ask nervously.
    She
smile and respond in a friendly teasing manner, ‘Oh, hold your gun big boy I
can’t seem to remember that part of us agreeing on terms for our date.’
    ‘You
know what?’
    ‘I’m
all ears.’
    ‘I
want you to know that the moment I laid eyes on you I became your favourite
fan.’ I said.
    Then
I playfully took her hands, went down on one knee and said, ‘Samantha will you
be my girlfriend?’ 
    She
smile and merrily play along without bothering herself of the by-passers who
were minding our business, ‘Sure my dear prince, we can give it a try and see
how it may turn up.’
    ‘Good
you’ve made my day.’ I joyfully respond as I stand up.
    We
walk out through the crowded traffic of students bumping into each other for
the main door which led out. At times I had to walk at the front to be able to
squeeze through the gap of students and Samantha follows me. My left hand