Several years ago, in a valley far away between the twin Nta'a mountains⛰ where resided the people of Nta'a-Cōh, lived two very ambitious friends called Abong and Nchùâbeh. They both were very industrious young men who had always believed that they will one day leave their village to the city to make money and better their lives, that of their families and community. https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTC7qV85EyhsRZM6knQsJFgNvotqGnWAXTKwRq7rdZnC9/2_20241001_221306_0001.jpg _{Created on Canva by me} Nta'a-Cōh was a very small community whose main activity for subsistence was farming. They farmed all year round and exchanged their farm produce at the local market on íjōng market days, with people from neighboring communities. They traded their produce for small amounts of money which they used to buy other needs like fish🐟, matches, salt, kerosene, meat🍖, hot drinks🍷, clothes etc,. https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVP8rL22kboukDWqqGdp7ubnrrihWnBKuHAukfXFoVtYe/1_20241001_221306_0000.jpg _{Created on Canva by me} Abong and Nchùâbeh soon got tired of this monotonous life style and decided to leave for the city. After receiving blessings, advice and some small amount of money from their parents and the community they left for the city very early one morning 🌄. The city was not a short distance from Nta'a-Cōh, so most of the journey was made on foot. They each wore a pair of patched "nchang shoes" (rubber plaited sandals) and the heat from the sun on the dusty road, through their rubber shoes was so hot that they prefered to take them off and walk bare feeted.

https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeVd8ytQ21svfhi5MAudjFKmFZ2eWAcEoJCujgKqYUDk7/White%20Collage%20Flower%20Shop%20Instagram%20Post_20241001_222124_0000.jpg _{Modified by me on Canva}

https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmW8Kvqp4vMCrXt5fXHaiFaRNF1NS9Wg45498tz69uNHLC/White%20Collage%20Flower%20Shop%20Instagram%20Post_20241001_223130_0000.jpg _{Modified by me on Canva}

After several kilometres of trekking, they finally got to Nchoom, a small village where cars🚍 from the city would stop to transport those going back to the Wusâh, the city. It was already 5h45pm and the last car to the city would leave at 6pm. They were both covered in dust like two apprentice ghosts 👻 who mistakenly made appearance in broad day light. They hurriedly stopped under a shade tree at the car pack and dusted themselves and then quickly paid their tickets and filled the last two seats left. The driver took off. The driver was a middle aged short man, whose face looked as though he was always smiling😃. He wore a brown shirt tucked into his short khaki trouser, a black hat, a pair of black stockings and white nchang shoes. Anyone who dressed as such was known to be very stylish. To top it all up, his music 🎶 list was made up of sounds from great guys like Francis Dom, John Minang, Taneulong, just to name a few. Every one in the car was listening to the rich lyrics and nodding to the beautiful tunes which reminded them of where they were coming from. Abong and Nchùâbeh would constantly exchange glances and smile😊, probably warmed up by the thought of finally leaving the village in search of better. It was a three hours trip and they got to Wusâh at about 9pm. Back at Nta'a-Cōh that evening, the families of the two friends and a few well wishers gathered in the Abong's family compound to pray and pour libation for the protection of their children... **STAY TUNED FOR SEQUEL 2** Dear steaming Steemians, that was how these two friends turned brothers left their village to the city for a better life for themleves, their family and community. Will they regret this decision, what really awaits them at Wusâh in their search for greener pastures and will their friendship survive out of Nta'a-Cōh? We shall surely know more as the story unfolds in the next sequel. Until then, keep steeming.