The watchman

Ramu is forty five years old and lives with his family in the outskirts of the city.or he did until he got a job in the city. Today he lives with a family and spends his day watching over their home. Why it needs watching is anybody's guess. His job is to keep random people away and to discourage people from entering the house. His only companion is a golden retriever as bored as himself.

His day starts age seven in the morning when he wakes up after a good nights rest. Most night watchman are expected to stay awake and guard the house but if the person works twenty four hours he does need a rest. He wanders aimlessly around the compound watching the neighbour awake,he sees the daily routines of the ma you houses in the vicinity and at about eight the dog will be taken for a walk. The equally bored dog who at best of times ought to be running around also wanders aimlessly hopefully looking to neighbours for a bit of a cuddle and some attention. The rest of the day is spent doing absolutely nothing. Rams doesn't see his family intill the weekend. When boredom drives him to distraction he listlessly cleans the gates,chats with the maid or exercises his legs walking up and down. He jumps to attention when the owner of the house steps out. He rushes to open the car doors for a young man capable of doing it himself but expects to be waited on hand and foot.

A small electric fan keeps him cool in the heat of the city while the family he serves lives in airconditioned comfort. Mosquitoes make a meal of him at night but he doesn't complain. After all mindless work is better than no work at all. His family needs the money,the children need an education to betterthemselves and hopefully not meet the same fate as him. Once in a while he will exercise his power by yelling at anyone who attemps to park cars in front of the house gates. He will make sure no one gets entry to the house and thee are the small pleasures that make him feel important and meet his need for selfesteem and this one day runs into another and on the first of the month his labours are rewarded when the salary is paid and he can go home for a day. Life otherwise runs its course and for that he is grateful.