Matumbe Becomes A Human Shield

Six Year Old Little Matumbe™ squealed with delight as she spotted the group of people near a bridge.

"Look!," she cried. "A whole bunch of new friends for me to play with!". Clapping her hands, she ran to the group of people.

As she approached, she could hear them chanting quietly in unison, "No blood for oil, no justice no peace, hell no we wont go, if the glove fits...."

Matumbe tugged on the arm of a kindly 68 year old woman. The woman stopped chanting and turned toward the little girl; a smile streaking across her face like sunlight breaking through a patch of storm clouds.

"Why hello young lady, how are you?"

"I'm not a young lady....I'm a little girl," Matumbe corrected her.

The woman shook her head gently. "Oh no, you are very mistaken. You are definitely a young woman, ready to burst forth and shower the world with all the wonder of the female mystique."

"Oh...ok then." Matumbe gestured toward the rest of the group. "What are you all doing? Are you singing party songs? I just LOVE singing party songs!." She began to bounce about in a funny type of stilted dance.

"No, honey. I am afraid this is much more serious than that."

Matumbe stopped her little dance. "Oh...did someone die?" She was immediately sad that her new friends were in such distress.

"No....noone has died...not yet anyways. We are here for something very important that goes well beyond the life you know...this goes past parties and singing songs and playing in the fields and jumping into swimming pools. This is all about stopping a madman from killing a bunch of women and children like you and I."

"Oh my gosh! Who is this madman?

"He is the so-called president of our country...Mr. Bush. Have you heard of him?"

"Oh yes. I used to like him but then I met someone who told me all about how mean he is and he doesnt even know how to properly say the word "nuclear". Is he the guy who wants to kill you and me?"

"Yes, young lady. So you do know of the horrors of Bush. Someone has taught you well. Would you like to join us here at the bridge?"

"Sure!!" Matumbe jumped up and down with excitement. "This looks like so much fun! What do I have to do?"

The woman used her free hand to guide Matumbe to the center of the group. "Jacques, do we have another set of chains for our new friend?"

Jacques nodded and handed the woman a set of sturdy chains.

The woman gave the chains to Matumbe. "Here you go. Just lock them onto the side of the bridge like we have and then slip your hand through the cuff and close it up real tight. That's all there is to it."

Within minutes Matumbe was chained to the bridge just like the rest of her new friends.

"Ouch!", Matumbe cried. "These cuffs are too tight!!"

"Dont worry, honey. Eventually you wont notice them."

"Oky doky."

Then they all formed another circle and began to chant softly....

"No blood for oil, no justice, no peace, the chain shall be unbroken..."

Matumbe could no longer contain her inquisitiveness. "What if I need to go pee?"

"It's ok honey, you're amongst friends. You can just go here."

"Is that why there is such a smell?"

"That is the smell of conviction and fortitude, young lady. It's the smell of people yearning to break free from oppression all over the world. Simply put...that is the smell of peace."

"Uh...ok." Matumbe was doubtful but the woman seemed to know what she was talking about. Besides, she was kindly looking and Matumbe was sure the woman would never tell her anything that wasnt true. She lifted her arms up.

"Will I ever be free of these chains?"

The woman spoke with the wisdom of the ages and not necessarily the wisdom of aging hippies hopelessly trapped in a sixties flashback, "Not until the peoples of the world are free from their chains."

"Oh...ok. Hey...what's that sound?" The group stopped chanting and turned in unison toward the east. They could hear a far off howl that grew louder with each passing second. Something was headed their way...fate perhaps or maybe it was just destiny.

The woman's eyes flickered with fear. "OK EVERYONE...THIS IS IT!

They began to chant ever louder. Little Six Year Old Matumbe™ joined in, secure in the knowledge that she was with friends.

The howl became a massive shriek as the bridge exploded in a gigantic fireball.

"OUCH!!!"

Posted by Mr. Helpful at February 5, 2003 10:26 PM