The self-claimed full-time author, who goes by the name Daniel, escaped a deadly fire accident, which gave the fire brigades a bloody three hours of fighting, yesterday. Of course there were casualties, but property loss was what everybody was talking about. Is it life or material that comes first? The scene was horrible. All in the neighborhood were running for their lives.
When such accidents happen, a wheelchair-bound person would even get up and run with the speed of a fighter jet. Mankind’s life is that much precious!
But mankind’s soul suffers because its bearers don’t notice the preciousness because of negligence and a material obsession.
We happen to take notice when such deadly bonfires or bloody floods happen. Fire accidents or floods may destroy our homes. We can rebuild homes or even cities from ravages. But once life is gone, there is no coming back. These were the thoughts of the author who still didn’t write a single line from the wretched life he stumbled in just to paint characters for his novel.
Walking with many of his miserable thoughts and grief, he arrived at Etalem grocer. It is not an actual grocer but a local liquor house. Young alcoholic people named it after the beautiful Lulu’s mother. Etalem is a sincerity name given for adult women in Ethiopia.
However, this Etalem doesn’t want to be taken for someone who is finishing her adult days and joining her golden ages.
Even if her provincial girl manners and decent accent drag her back a little bit, she tries to talk and act competently with her sweet young daughter Lulu, whom every alcoholic in the house is in love with. There is something magnetic about the girl. It looks like she is spellbound. Alcoholics, who are resident customers of the house, say her mother may have put a spell on her bewitching eyes to keep them coming every day.
“Alcoholics going to a liquor house every day by magic spell ha ha ha,” Daniel, the author, muttered for himself and laughed from inside. But everyone desires Lulu. “What’s the point of being an alcoholic and dreaming of a girl’s love? A dead man’s fantasy!” said this to himself again.
This time he was sitting next to Masho, the aggressive young girl in the house. They say the devil himself cannot contemplate quarreling like she does. Oh, her voice, Daniel hates her loud scratchy voice. He thinks it was caused by too much alcohol, smoke, and yelling at the top of her voice against her friends.
“Welcome Dani. We are all back to our daily routine. We were supposed to be dining on the protein-rich meals, but who would let us? The old woman’s magic spell is working on us. May our souls rest in peace”, said Fapplaw a funny customer of the house.
The old woman, he meant Etalem. She was sitting on the other corner flirting with another young customer.
Daniel politely responded to Fapplaw’s warm welcome as he sat in front of him. As usual, he would sit quietly, looking numb but calling it observing characters for his unwritten novel. “Lulu”, he said with a low voice that’s barely audible even for him. But Lulu, that not beautiful but attractive, young girl, who is always active and full of life, has heard him. She also has a loud scratchy but sweet voice. Daniel likes it. “Yes Dani.”, she said inquiringly. Of course, she knew what he wanted. It’s the Araki (ale), the local drink she sells. But she loves playing foul with her lover boys. She loves it when they beg for the drink they pay for. She loves it when they go mad impatiently waiting for the drink. Whatever she does to drive them crazy, they don’t let go that house. They don’t stop loving her. “But it is not love. It is just alcoholic fantasy. They cannot fall in love with her. With what moral? With what heart? These fouls don’t have hearts. They are already in love with the Araki. They can’t love Lulu. It’s impossible!”, he was gritting his teeth; the author.
Lulu brought a cup and poured araki for him and went back to her seat next to Fapplaw. He thought she was going to sit next to him like the other days. Not today.
Fapplaw was smoking a cheap cigarette. He is the only drunk who never seems to fancy Lulu. “Fappe?”, Masho called out for Fapplaw politely.
“Yes, my sweet, dear”, answered Fapplaw.
“We too need to smoke sweetheart. Can you pass the cigar?”
“Tobacco is bad for lungs, woman!” Said Fapplaw laughing by way of a jock watching the smoke float in the air. “Fappe my darling, It’s my morning smoke. I didn’t stand a chance for a puff the whole morning. Could you please pass it for me?” She begged. Too much politeness from Masho. It is like a miracle.
“Easy woman! It’s my morning smoke too. I haven’t even smoked half of it. You want to scratch your back with this whole big stick?” Again he laughed by way of sarcasm or something like a jock to him.
“Okay dear. Smoke quicker and pass it to me!” this time Masho’s voice was not polite. It was rather evil.
Instead of a deadly big fire accident, a passionately drunk araki and arrogantly smoked cigar are killing the generation in this block. Somebody has to do something about it before it drains the blood of the youth in this country, again the full-time author muttered to him.
Fapplaw threw the half-smoked cigar towards where Masho and Daniel were sitting side by side. The one who was cursing about smoke surprisingly threw his hand to grab it for himself. But Masho was fast enough to catch the burning cigar with a speed of a fighter jet. Masho was surprised to see Daniel scrambling for a piece of cigar, which he had never done before. He was surprised by what he did. “Oh God” Daniel said for himself so ashamed. Lulu was watching him. She applauds “h…e…y. Now Dani is baptized. “He buried his head in his hand both elbows on his lap.
BY HENOK TIBEBU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 16 MARCH 2025
