I open the curtains of my one-room flat. After almost a week of grey cloudy skies, the sun is at last shining. It's a perfect day for birdwatching in the woods near my home. I get dressed and pack my camera bag. I want to try out my new 500mm lens, and hopefully take somes shots of green woodpeckers. I should be able to get some great close-up shots for my collection. Before I leave my room, I remember to pick up my binoculars and make a flask of hot tea. It's sunny today, but still a little cold. Photography has been a good hobby for me. I am not married and have no kids, so it stops me getting too lonely or bored on weekends. I've entered a few competitons over the years and once won second prize. They put one of my photos in the local newspaper which made me proud.
The woods cover a wide area and are a haven for many different birds. There are a few deer, badgers and foxes there too. It's a popular place for people to take their dogs for a walk, but dogs are a little noisy for me. I like quiet places where I can just listen to the sound of nature and birdsong. I find a place in the trees, and wait quietly. My green jacket and trousers camouflage me very well. It's easier to take good photos when I hide and make no sound. I put the new lens onto my camera. It makes everything look so close. Looking through my camera I see a young lady walking her poodle along the path. This is a good opportunity to test my lens. I take a photo of her and her dog. I take another photo as she walks closer. She can't see me. My new lens is excellent. I can't wait to see some woodpeckers. Birds have always been my favourite creatures - I love their freedom. The girl walks past me without seeing me in the trees beside the path. I continue waiting quietly.
Five minutes pass. Suddenly I
see a flash
of bright green on a tree about 20 metres away. It's a
woodpecker. He starts tapping
on the bark
of the tree, drilling with
his long beak,
looking for
insects. He is such a beautiful bird. Then I see the female, slightly
smaller, but still beautiful. I take many shots. The lens is excellent,
the birds look so close. I am so happy - this is great. But suddenly, I
hear a scream! It came from along the path. Maybe it was the girl? What
should I do? Perhaps she is in trouble? I quickly put my camera in my
bag and run along the path in the direction of the scream. My heart is
beating fast. I hear the sound of her dog barking so I follow the
noise.
The barking is coming from some bushes
beside the path. It's the
girl. She is on the ground with her little dog next to her. I
think someone has attacked
her. I bend down. She is making noises
and has blood coming from her head. Poor girl. 'Are you okay?... Can
you
hear me?' I ask her desperately.
Her breathing is very shallow.
'Please open your eyes!' I say loudly.
Suddenly, she opens her eyes and looks at me, 'Help me.... please,' she
says weakly.
Her eyes shut again and stay shut. Her body goes limp.
I check her
breathing. She is still alive, but I must get help. I have no mobile
phone - I hate them. I check in her bag and find hers. But how do I use
it? I wish I had learnt how to use these things. I'm too old for all
this technology. I decide I will have to run for help. I put her bag
under her head and put my jacket on her to keep her warm. There is
blood on my hands as I run as fast as I can out of the woods to a phone
box. I dial 999 and ask for an ambulance to be sent.
I am running back to the
woods when a police car and ambulance arrive at the entrance. A
policeman stops me and
grabs hold of my arm. 'Where are you going?' he asks me sternly.
'I was the one who phoned you. I need to show you where the girl is.' I
tell him.
We rush
down the path to the girl. On the ground next to her is my
camera bag. I try to pick it up but the policeman stops me. 'I'm sorry,
but that's evidence. Put it down please, sir.'
'But it's only my camera,' I tell him. Then I remember that I took
photos of the injured
girl. I start to panic
and the policeman sees
I look
scared. 'I think you'd better come with us to the police station,' he
tells me.
'You're making a mistake!' I tell him, 'I didn't do anything! I was
trying to help her.'
'Come with me,' he says angrily.
As I sit in the back of the police car I am afraid. I hope they don't
check all my photographs back in my room. I took photos of other girls
too. But I never hurt anyone. It's only photography, it's my hobby.
It is three months later, and I am standing in court. The girl is still unconscious in hospital. She has been in a coma since the day of the attack in the woods. And it is me who is accused of attacking her. The police found her mobile phone in my pocket and the photos of her on my camera. They found the other photos too - the ones in my closet at home. I've been so stupid but now I'm going to be punished for something that I didn't do. My family are ashamed of me and I lost my job. There is only one person who knows the truth, and she is lying in hospital. I can only pray that she will someday wake up and tell the truth. Tell everyone that it wasn't me. Suddenly, a man rushes into the courtroom. He whispers something to the judge. The judge looks surprised and looks straight at me and smiles. In the distance, I can hear the sound of a woodpecker. Perhaps I'll soon be able to take some more photos. Or maybe I need a new hobby - a safer one.