Father sat alone on the creaky porch, staring into the twilight, his heart heavy with the absence of family. The phone rang, breaking the silence. With effort, he stood to answer it, his joints protesting the movement.
"Father, how are things over there?" The voice of Son, distant yet familiar, crackled through the line. "Son, over here, it's ruled by jackals and wild dogs," Father replied, his voice carrying the weight of isolation. "Is that so, Father? I came abroad after being tormented by those very jackals and wild dogs!" "You were tormented by the two-legged ones, son. I am troubled by the four-legged ones."
"Father, how’s the farming going?" asked Son, curiosity tinged with nostalgia. "Son, farming here is such that once you plant, you don’t need to plant again. It’s always green. The plants have grown so tall that it’s hard to reach the fields because of the bushes," Father shared, a hint of pride in his voice. "That’s amazing, Father. Are the grandchildren there too?" "Who stays here anymore, son? Everyone, like you, has moved abroad or to small towns."
"Alright, Father, I’ll tell the grandchildren to visit there," Son promised, sensing the loneliness in Father's words. "No, my dear butterfly, why did you all leave me and settle in the city? You must return home immediately!" The plea in Father's voice was unmistakable, a yearning for the warmth of family and the laughter that once filled the home.
Father watched as the car drew nearer, anticipation and hope mingling in his heart. Inside, Son reassured the eager children, "Alright, children, this is your birthplace. It won’t take long to reach home now." The children’s excitement was palpable as they peered out the windows, eager to meet their grandfather.
The children called out, "Grandpa!", their voices echoing through the stillness. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and from the shadows emerged a terrifying jackal and a wild dog, their eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. Father's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward, determined to protect his family from the creatures that had taken over his once-peaceful home.
