A Donkey on your roof?

Paul and his family lived in a small Villa just off Jumeirah Beach Road. One morning Paul received a call in his office from his wife. She wanted Paul to come home immediately. There was a monkey trying to get into the house. She explained it was a "mad" monkey, spitting and snarling and throwing itself against the windows. Paul was home in a matter of minutes. He soon saw there was nothing he could do - it was a job for Dubai Police. Paul didn't think explaining the situation to the Police over the telephone was a good idea so he drove to Jumeirah Police Station.

Paul's Back Yard

The Explanation

Paul was taken to the Duty Officer's Desk. As Paul explained about the monkey the Duty Officer's eyes slowly clouded over (in Paul's words). When Paul had finished the story, the Duty Officer asked quizzically "How did the donkey get on your roof?" Paul quietly pointed out it was not a donkey on his roof but a monkey. The Duty Officer's eyes lit up. He began shouting instructions. Soon the Duty Sergeant appeared with a length of rope and two bananas. The intention was obvious. Paul said that approach would not be effective in capturing a monkey more interested in breaking into his Villa than eating a banana. The Duty Officer understood and began shouting more orders. He then told Paul to "Follow me" which Paul did - out of the Police Station to where a Police Landrover was waiting with six Policemen in the back, each with a rifle, and a Sergeant in the front seat. The Officer told Paul "We will follow you". So the convoy set off for Paul's Villa with the Police Sirens blaring and flashing lights flashing.

The Action

The convoy arrived outside Paul's Villa. The Sergeant and six Policemen leapt down from the Landrover. The Sergeant was first to spot the monkey sitting on Paul's roof above the front door. He didn't have a rifle. He was a Sergeant so he carried an automatic weapon. He immediately opened fire with a prolonged burst. He missed the monkey but left a trail of bullet holes up the side of Paul's Villa. The monkey fled to the safety of Paul's back yard. The Officer drew his pistol and beckoned his men to follow him into Paul's back yard.

There were four Villas built back to back with adjoining garden walls. These Villas had been thoughtfully built with concrete window boxes under each window. None of the Residents had ever put flowers in these boxes. The monkey must have been grateful for that because these window boxes now provided a safe refuge. Periodically the monkey would leap from the safety of one window box to the safety of another. Each time that happened the Police opened fire. The monkey did not confine its leaping to one Villa. Occasionally the monkey would take off across the garden wall to seek refuge in an adjacent Villa followed by the Police and a hail of bullets.

The End

Meanwhile Paul and his family waited in relative safety inside the Villa. Eventually the shooting stopped. After a little while there was a knock at the front door. It was the Officer reporting they had shot the monkey. There were hand shakes and smiles all round. Paul had no sooner closed his front door when there was another knock at the door. It was the Officer. "Could Paul please take a photo?" So the Officer, Sergeant and six Policemen lined up outside Paul's front door with the Officer holding the dead monkey aloft by its tail while Paul took a photo. Sadly Paul did not get a copy!

Believe it or not!

A tall story? The Villas are still there and the last time I looked the bullets holes in the walls were still there. You can check for yourself!