War
“Are you going to the Monkey Temple?!?”
It was asked with an odd urgency by a merchant on the road up to the temple. I said no, because I wasn’t planning on it. I’ve seen plenty of monkeys and plenty of temples already, I was just out for a walk.
“Hello. Monkey food. HELLO? MONKEY FOOD!”
“No, no thank you.”
Man, everyone is trying to sell something.
“MONKEY FOOD!”
The temple was closer, but I still considered myself out for a walk, and if I happened upon the temple, I wasn’t planning on feeding monkeys.
“Stick?? STICK??”
I didn’t need a walking stick, no thanks.
Everyone on their way down was giving me an odder stare than usual, but I thought nothing of it. A group of young couples was walking along side me, they were fine without buying food or walking sticks.
As I neared the top, I was knocked forward as a little body latched onto the back of my head. The next second I was blind. A monkey stole my glasses. I turned to find them, maybe they dropped, but I’m legally blind with out them. It was middle school all over again. I started swearing at the monkeys, when a monkey food seller came down.
“No no, don’t chase! You must exchange food for it.”
“I’m blind! I’m blind!”
The man walked over to the trio of monkeys waiting for their offering and set down a package of food. The monkey took it and ran off, leaving my glasses. When I put them on I could see a crowd above, watching. (If anything ever happens here, a crowd instantly forms.) I paid the vendor for the food and also bought a stick from him. I walked up the rest of the way, one hand on my glasses, the other swinging the stick around my head.
At the top was a war between monkeys and humans. One old lady selling monkey food was constantly keeping them away with rocks. Sticks were constantly swinging at monkeys getting too close to purses, earings, anything. One man almost hit a monkey. I was hoping he did.
When I tried to go back, a monkey was in my way, staring at my glasses. I hit the stick to the ground, hoping the “bang” would scare him. Nothing. I lunged with the stick, faking a strike, He just jumped towards me. Backpedaling, I tried to play it cool. Stare him down, point my stick. Eventually, one of the many street dogs came his way and he retreated.
At the hotel, I went inside and up the stairs. Passing me on the stairs, on his way down, was a big monkey. He ignored me and continued on his way, as the receptionist laughed at my fear. What could I do? I could still feel the thief monkey on my head. From the upstairs balconey I heard a commotion. The monkey stole a packet of nuts from a vendor. He got on the roof below me to eat, looked up, saw me, and started coming my way. I doubled my pace to my room, as the Sikh standing outside his room laughed at me.
