It was a bright Saturday morning and the sunlight was seeping through a half opened window into a small room which was looking messy and showed clearly that it belonged to some group of teenage boys. On the wall were different stickers and posters of footballers and marvel studios characters. The wardrobe stood open at the left hand side of the room and was littered with dirty underwears, jerseys as well as some shirts and trousers. On the other side of the room stood a big bed and beside it was a shabby looking sofa which was also littered with some dirty clothes. The only person who seemed to be in the room was a teenage boy of about eleven years who was snoring loudly on the big bed.
"Bang!" came the crashing sound as the door was opened by another teenage boy who seemed to be panting from a run as he stepped into the room, causing the boy on the bed to jump in fear. "What's the problem Kelvin?" He asked angrily, scowling at the boy who just entered the room. "Bro I've got good news" he said smiling wildly. "C'mon David, I didn't mean to wake you up like that. Besides it's past ten, you're supposed to be out of bed" Kelvin added after realizing that he didn't seem anxious to hear the good news.
"Anyway, what's the good news?" David said with a sigh. "I and Daniel are just returning from that old man's house. He surprisingly gave us the ball just after a little plea. He's so nice bro." Kelvin announced happily to him. "That's so cool!" Shouted David whose anger has immediately left him upon hearing the news. They had lost the ball the previous day after one of their friend shot the ball into an old man's compound during a football match and he had refused to give them even after they all begged him. "We're going to have a rematch today. We met Kareem and others on the way back and they all agreed." Kelvin told David who has now left his bed to put on one of the shirts hanging on the wardrobe. "We're definitely going to beat Kareem's team. We had the upper hands yesterday before that careless boy shot the ball over the fence. Where's Daniel by the way?" "He's having breakfast in the kitchen" "We better go join him now because I'm really hungry" replied Daniel whose stomach has started grumbling. "I just pray grandma doesn't step into this room cos she's gonna throw us out" said Kelvin grumpily as he noticed the mess they've done for the first time since they stepped into their grandma's house for the past one week.
David and Daniel who were twin brothers were cousins to Kelvin. They were spending their third term holiday as usual, at their grandma's house who was always happy to have them around as she was living alone after losing her husband some years back. "Bro forget it. I'd just lock the room up when we're out of the house. Besides we're gonna clean it up before going. Aren't we?" Said David trying to convince Kelvin who looked as though he was about to start clean up. They both walked to the kitchen and met Daniel and their grandma having pap and akara (a popular Nigerian breakfast food).
"Morning grandma" said David who was seeing his grandma for the first time that day. "Come here my dear" she said stretching her hand to hug David and then gave him her usual morning kisses on both cheeks. "You slept really long today" she said holding him on both shoulders. "Yeah, I was a bit tired" lied David who knew he spent most of his night playing games on his handheld game console. Their grandma served Kelvin and David their breakfast and went to the backyard to check on her chickens. Kelvin, David and Daniel kept discussing about the different tactics they would use in beating Kareem's team during and after their breakfast till their grandma stepped into the kitchen.
"Uhm, I'd need you guys to follow me to the market today as I won't be able to carry with me everything I'm going to be buying today" came their grandma's voice which came with a very great shock to the three of them. They usually love going to the market with their grandmum as they usually had great experiences there but not today, today of all day. "What time do you plan to go?" Asked Kelvin who looked as though he wanted to cry. "Three PM" "That's the time we planned to start the match" whispered Daniel to the two of them. "Uhm, it's not a must you three must come though. I just need one of you to help me with the goods." This came as a relief and also a burden. One of them had to go. One of them had to miss the match. They looked at themselves, Nobody was willing to volunteer to go. They was silence between them before their grandma said "is there a problem?" "Uhm, we were supposed to be having a match around that time actually so it's kinda hard for us to decide." Said David in a small voice. Their grandma smiled at them and then said "I would have let you all go if I was able to bring all the items I'm going to buy by myself but, I really need one of you." She said still smiling at them. "Is there a way you could choose who would go with you, like impartially?" Asked Kelvin wisely. "Oh yes, I have an idea. Just give me a sec" she said and went over to the cupboard and came back with three matchsticks in her left palm whose tops were covered with her right. They all knew when they saw it; it was the short straw technique! Their grandma usually used this whenever there was a disagreement on who should carry out certain house chores. "You guys should pick one each" she told them and they all hesitated before stretching their hands to pick one of it with their hearts racing. She took it from them and after having a look at their matchsticks, she looked up, smiled and then said in a sweet tone, "David is the lucky one." David felt his insides burning. He was not the lucky one but the unlucky one. All that was ringing in his head was "why me?" He was going to miss the match he was so eager to win.
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This was so painful to him as Kareem's team had beat them the last time they met and had made fun of them. He was hoping to win him today. But here he was, ending up with the short straw again. "Don't worry dear, I'd make up for it" said their grandma trying to convince him after noticing how sad he looked. His brother and cousin looked at him and he knew they were really sorry for him staying behind. With teary eyes, he gave them a weak smile and headed for his bedroom as that was all he could do at that moment
