I woke up early on the material day I had set for my hunting experience as a young boy. Having tried hunting before as a young boy, I feared going through another experience of falling off from a tree and not getting hurt. I was sure to remain objective this time and hunt for what I wanted and not go on a tree climbing expedition like I did last. At my tender age of 9, I was sure to remain focused on hunting baby monkeys for the purpose of domesticating them. I pitied the baby monkeys because we were going to snatch them from their moms and family and bring them to our home for “better care” away from the cold.
This was a childish thought but very interesting for me as a child. With a strapping on my body, I was indeed sure that what I needed was to hunt down the baby monkey, who I pitied a lot. There was no turning back from the expedition, even despite falling off from a tree from my first hunting trip. There were many myths and stories told to us about the dangers of going hunting as children or alone. None of these stories would put me down since we had to bring home the new guest. I was teased and received so many discouragements form my friends (Strauch, B. 2007).
Having read a book, Northeast Philly Girls, the character Eunice was prepared to benefit from the living standards that her cousin Terri gave. A number of things made her fascinated and also encountered new experience. She was somehow determined to comprehend the lives of the people of high social class, and interacts with the locals. Therefore just like Eunice, I had the determination to be successful by not only making it to the forest to hunt, but to also bring home the baby monkey, which was my objective, notwithstanding the lack of experience whatsoever on my part.
The eagerness to transition from boyhood to manhood was doubtful. I believed that my success in this hunting expedition was going to be a test to see if I had transitioned into being a man. I was so preoccupied in my mind about the thought of being sought after by my parents while I hunted in the forest. I spread the hunting nets in several directions to increase the chances of capturing at least one of the monkeys. I then set off to the direction behind the animals for the purpose of scaring them. I then ran towards them whilst making funny sounds that irritate the monkeys and have them running away for safety.
To me this was supposed to be the best day, though I was so anxious and alive to the fact that my parents wouldn’t allow me to domesticate a monkey in their compound Fortunately I began the chase and all the animals ran in all directions, scampering for safety and I saw three monkeys held in two of the traps I had set. I ran home to get my elder brother to help me come and handle the monkeys in preparation to carry them home. We carried a big box where we would lock them in. It was quite a struggle to catch and lock them in the box.
My adrenaline pumped up and I locked them up with all my might, Nervousness overwhelmed me, as I successfully locked up the poor animals. In the course of running to pick up the other trapped monkeys, two of the locked up monkeys slipped and ran off because I hadn’t locked up the box properly. My strength waned steadily and I was already contemplating to surrender when I managed to secure two more baby monkeys. All I did after securing them safely in the box that I locked up tightly was stand and watch my success in amazement. I now became greedier and set off to the remaining traps to capture the remaining baby monkey.
I managed to capture the animal and set back to the box that had a number of poor animals in. Just as I opened the box, a wild warthog appeared from nowhere and chased me. I scampered for my safety leaving the box open and my monkeys free again at last I cared the least now because this experience was a bid aid to my perceived transition into manhood. For now I never cared for anything, all I needed was this monkey to take home. I lost all the monkeys because I was greedy. I wanted to be in possession of ten monkeys instead of one baby monkey.
I now eager to make another catch, hence I went back and cast my traps again. With the experience I now had, I lasted me a record twenty minutes to make another catch I felt so great, however it involved a lot running and jumping. As the monkeys neared to the trap, I became re-energized and locked up this baby monkey again, in the presence of my sibling. I felt a lot of pity for this animal, since it was going to miss its parents and family. I tried to shrug off the feeling of being sick and disgusted. As I planned to go home, I peeped into the box and saw the poor monkey lying dead.
I cried because, I caused its death when I hit it on the back. I curse my action. I arrived home amid praises from my family and neighbors. Guilt filled my heart, because I didn’t achieve my goal of bringing home a living monkey. I solely blamed myself for its death. Had I not hit it on the back, it would be still alive and happy in the forest with its family summarily; I was initiated and feel relieved since I passed the ceremony. That experience molded me and helped me be the person I am today. I learnt to remain focused and strong in my approach to targets I have in life
