The Dark Alley: Path to Misery or Miracle? Part One

The Dark Alley: Path to Misery or Miracle?

What you are about to read is a fiction story that at the end, you will think twice about changes and actions that you supposed to act on in your life but at one point you hesitated to accomplished them.  Please join me:

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  Once Upon a Time, there were two friends living in a small village known as Kwetu far from the main city of Zetu.   The city of Zetu was considered for high-end individuals only who can afford to live in that busy city.  As for Chet and Nas, both in their late twenties, all their adult life lived and work in the Kwetu village. 

Is a custom for all young men in their early twenties to get married, even if they are not well prepared for married life and family.  As results, most of the young men like Chet and Nas have their own family. Chet with his wife and two kids and Nas with his wife and three kids.  Life in the village was tough and everyone struggling to meet the end needs of themselves and their family. 

Both Chet and Nas use to sell bread made of wheat cultivated from their farm.  Each morning they meet at the junction near the outskirt of the village, each with their box on the head full of fresh warm bread ready for business. 

“Hi, Chet, how are you doing today.”  Nas greeted.  

“Yes am fine thank you” Chet replied with a smile.

“I hope we will sell all the bread today, as you know, for three consecutive days we return with bread, selling only a few.” Chet viewed his concern.

“For how many years we are selling the bread, Chet?” Nas asked.

“More than four years now” Chet replied.

“Don’t you think is about time to change our routine, finding to sell to other places,” Nas suggested.

Discussion continued while walking to their usual location about 2km away from their village close to Zetu city, roaming vendors were not allowed in the city, there is huge fine if someone found practiced such business. So, most of Kwetu villagers sell their goods near the city corniche street bordering with the main city which was ok for such petty street vendors.

“Where other places?” Chet asked.

“I don’t know, but I will think about it, like this we will not go anywhere, we work hard and still we are stressed at home to meet our family needs.” Nas pointed out his concern.

“My dream is, one day to work in Zetu City, am sick and tired of this petty business.” Nas frustrated.

“How? You think you can? That will be a long daydream, my friend.” Chet replied. 

The day passed like any other day, as usual, Nas starts selling his bread to Northwards of the corniche and Chet to Southwards. They meet again at noon at the same where started, they rest for a while and then they exchange pathways, Chet to Northwards and Nas to where Chet came from so at the end of the day, both can cover all area of the corniche.

Few activities are taking place in the corniche and as result only a few pedestrians and those who ride a bicycle or motorbike passing by.  Few women sat at the side of the road selling vegetables, used clothes, and other items.  Chet and Nas not used to sit in one place to sell their bread they kept walking and advertise their bread to passerby.

“Hi, Bibi.” Chet greeted one old lady who she uses to sell sea shells at the side of the road near Alley.

“Hi my darling, how are you today.” The charming old lady replied back.

“Well, am doing great. How is your business?” Chet asked.

“Not bad, but not like we used to before, not many people are using corniche nowadays,” Bibi replied while looking at Chet and inviting him to sit.

“What we will do then?” Chet worried.

“Ahh, don’t worry, there is always ups and downs, things will get better. So how is your family.” Bibi comfort Chet.

“They all fine, Bibi I need to go, see you tomorrow, here one bread for you,” Chet replied with a tiny hope of tomorrow could be better.

Chet left and met Nas at usual place then walking together to the village.  That day both sold half of the bread and carried half in the basket returning home.

“This is getting worse, never we return home with half bread in our baskets.” Nas pointed again his concern.

“Its only today, we will see tomorrow,” Chet replied.

The situation went on for months and was not getting better for both.  Nas started to walk alone and go to the corniche, few times they met each other while walking at the corniche.  It was going like this for few weeks until Chet noticed one day when they walk back to the village, he saw Nas basket empty, he sold all his bread while Chet remains with half number of bread.

“You sold all your bread or you offer for free?.” Chet tried to ask.

“Does it matter? if you don’t want to change and making fun of my dream” Nas angrily replied.

“Really? are you serious you are still thinking of working one day in Zetu City? instead of selling bread.” Chet jokingly replied back.

“Yes, am serious, I will.”  Nas in confidence replied back.

Few days passed Chet he did not see his friend Nas, he went to his home and asked his wife, she did not know too, all she knows that Nas mentioned to her he will be back soon. Chet, as usual, took his basket of bread to sell at the corniche, back of his mind worried of the worse situation he is in, as business is not getting better, and worried about Nas.

At the corniche, Chet went to Bibi to ask about Nas, in case if she knows what happened to him in his last days at the corniche.

“I saw him for the past few days, but then I never saw him again,”  Bibi replied.

“He was always talking about changes and dream the impossible, and now disappeared.”

Chet sadly said.

“Don’t worry my love, he will be back.” The old lady Bibi comfort Chet.

“So tell me Bibi, I believe you are a wise lady, maybe you can give me advice, on what to do to move from where am today.”

“Just work hard, make more bread, find as many as customers right here in corniche,” Bibi replied

“But do you know where other places within the vicinity of the Zetu city where we are allowed to do our business?” Chet asked.

“As you can see for yourself, we have this stretch of corniche and the path towards our villages only. Oh yes, and that dark alley over there, which I have no idea where it leads to.” Bibi replied.

This Alley located in the Corniche but never anyone uses to pass there, it looks creepy, a bit dark even during the daytime because it's narrow and long. So no ones know where it leads to. 

** An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in the older parts of towns and cities. Wikipedia

“I will try to find out, what do you think?” Chet was curious about the alley.

“I will not advise, Chet you have a family if anything happened there who will take care of them?” Bibi warned.

“But you never heard of anyone went through and back?” Chet asked.

“No, I never, all I know from our times no one passes there. So everyone is afraid to explore it.” Bibi answered."

Go on and enjoy PART TWO Here.