Knock out the Knockouts - We would probably be better off without knockouts and burning of tires

I was finally home. I stretched myself out on the bed, The smell of chicken stew wafted in through the open windows, causing my stomach to rumble in sheer delight. I sipped from the bottle of malt I had been welcomed with upon arriving at the house as consolation then closed my eyes, trying to get some sleep before dinner was ready.

Source
I had drifted off into slumber land when sounds like gunshots permeated the air, causing me to jump from sleep abruptly. I looked around and listened again, my siblings were playing a game of Monopoly in the sitting room, and I could hear them burst into delightful laughter every minute.

I peeped out of my window, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever was going on outside. I could make out small-bodied figures, converging as if in conspiracy just outside my room window. They were talking in low tones and giggling while at it. I wouldn't have paid attention to them if I hadn't heard,

“Take it to the other window, when I whistle, we will light it at the same time”.

I put my flip-flops on and marched outside, to the surprise of family members who thought I was still sleeping. My younger brother followed after me. I saw the boys crouched in a disorganized circle, arranging knockouts to be shared amongst themselves, waiting to cause havoc.

I motioned at my younger brother to wait so we wouldn't scare them off then headed over to the gate and locked it. By the time I came back to them, they all scampered about, leaving their nylon of knockout and fireworks but interestingly, there was no place to run to.

“So it's the five of you that wouldn't allow people in this compound to sleep peacefully? Do you even live here?” Three of them indicated that they did while the other two shook their heads. I collected every single knockout and firework from them, but not after I had twisted their ears well causing each of them to writhe in pain.

When I explained what had happened to the rest of my siblings at home, my mother who had been seeing a movie on her phone hissed.

“Imagine those miscreants. That's how they eventually become criminals!” My siblings burst into laughter commenting on how pained I was.

“I thought the former president banned these fireworks and knockouts of a thing. Most times, we are the problem of ourselves” my mother added.

“What's the significance of knockout during Christmas and New Year?” I asked pointing to the bag of knockouts I had gotten from the boys. “I'm trying to understand why it has become a tradition over time. And I don't think the whites do it o, it's just us.”

“Which significance? It doesn't hold any significance. Smart people just found a way to rob kids of whatever money they would be given during the festive period, that's it.” My older brother cut in.

“And children now use it to perpetrate evil. Why would they even want to raise an alarm where there is none?” My mother asked, now getting irritated by the entire situation.

“We've not even talked about burning tires on the 31st. What does that one mean?” My older sister who had been silent all along, inputted. I shook my head.

“And that one causes very serious air pollution. There's no junction where tires do not get burnt on New Year's Eve. I mean, what sense does that even make?” I concurred.

“I think these people just do it for fun. And it's mostly done by street guys. Or have you seen a responsible family man on the streets burning tires?” My older brother meant it to be a rhetorical question, but I answered anyway.

“Even if there was one amongst them how would you know? People in this country need to set their priorities right”. Everyone burst into laughter at the last statement I made.

“Treasure, I can see you're hungry and tired. Your food is covered in the kitchen. There's a lot of salad, just as you like it. Maybe when you're done eating, you will calm down” my mother said amidst the laughter of every other person in the room.

“You guys are making fun of me and it's not fair,” I said feigning a frown but deep down, I was stifling laughter. My family members were an amazing set of people. As I scooped spoons of salad into my mouth, I allowed my mind to roam, the events of the evening playing back in my mind.

“I think we would be better off without knockouts and burning of tires. There are other ways to have fun besides those mediums please” I soliloquized, taking another bottle of malt to go with my meal.