It happened that very night itself

                                                                                               Attribution: Rbalmonia
Image: A large Civet Cat (here)

3WW : Fraught  Honorable Nocturnal
Poetry Jam:  Unexpected

I wish to recall an episode which seemed hilarious now
but not when it happened not too long ago. It was panic
stations and all hell broke loose. It started off innocent
enough when my daughter Azlin suggested we should
take a break considering it was the school holidays in two
month's time. That many months to arrange for everything
was a little tight but as most holiday plans, given to too
much planning might get botched just as much

Even so it was too late in the day to get the best of
choices and we finally settled on a not too known
a place. It was by the sea but close to the jungle fringes
We decided on a week's vacation at a small resort with
sea-side sports activities but with the bonus of jungle
trekking and fishing thrown in.

My loving wife Shadah had reservations initially as a jungle
environment would be fraught with danger of roving wild
animals snakes and all. I just brushed it off as a mother's
natural tendency of added caution, an unnecessary worry
.
We arrived in the late afternoon enough to have a glimpse
of the sea and the accompanying sea breeze tugging at
wisps of our hair. A wonderful time on the morrow was
eagerly awaited.But what a surprise, for the excitement
did not wait for morning. It happened that very night itself

We had retired for the night and snugly in bed snoring
away. Suddenly there was a din in the kitchen, a lot of
banging, knocking and sounds of things falling and
broken plates and pans. This went on every few minutes
We were housed in a 3-room chalet and the kitchen was
the back portion. My son Hafidz went to investigate but
was held back by Shadah. It could be robbers and probably
armed, she cautioned. It could not be as robbers would not
give themselves away I countered.

We called security and a young man, John came by
sneering made a show of bravery and walked confidently
into the kitchen. Things were strewn about dented or
broken. By this time a few of the neighboring chalets
had awakened and stood around wondering what happened
John looked around and declared things were under  control
They would do a clean-up in the morning and all would back
to normal. Shadah then asked John whether it was safe to
pull back the curtains to let air in as a pot of spilled curry
was emitting some kind of odor.

The kitchen window had wire-mesh so John said it was safe.
He made a move to the window and was just about to pull
back the thick curtains - then it happened!

It jumped out from behind the curtains on to John's face.
John cried out and rushed for the door.He missed a step
and his face smashed against the door itself. Everyone
else did the same and rushed into their rooms.

The whole resort was now all awake. Some of the
other guests came armed with sticks to see if they could
help. John in the meantime was cowering in the hall his
face with scratches and blood was all over

The honorable thing for the management to do for which we
appreciated was to have our family transferred  to one of their
suites at the main building. We were there for the whole week.
John was given a few days off but he met us before we left
There were still old scars on his face and when he smiled
there was a toothy grin - on account of two missing teeth
in the front.

He explained it was a civet cat that got trapped behind
the curtain because of the wire-mesh. A nocturnal creature
it was more frightened of John than we had imagined. It was
not a dangerous animal but it was an unexpected visitor which
managed to get in but not able to get out on its own!

For Thomg's hosting at 3WW and Gabriella's at Poetry Jam