Abeeku

Abeeku stole a bright, gold watch from the busy shop in the market. The shopkeeper saw him slip the watch into his waistband - chased him, yelling and gesturing, “?? ,?? “ Thief, thief!” The crowd caught up - surrounding Abeeku in the middle of the street. They beat him. Someone slipped an old tire over his head, and another and another helped pull the tire over his arms pinning them to his side. The shopkeeper picked up the watch its crystal broken and its case scratched and split. He put it on his wrist and joined the chant, “Thief, thief.” A boy pressed through the throng with a tin of petrol, pouring it over Abeeku’s head. A shadow offered matches and Abeeku was covered in flame at dusk while the African sky was ablaze in red and yellow light.