Short story: Two ways
This is a short story written from the prompt “Start or end your story with two characters going in opposite directions (literally or figuratively).” Additionally, I challenged myself to write it in 30 minutes (Quite a challenge!). Enjoy. :)
“This isn’t the way,” Henry said suddenly as they passed on unfamiliar building and went down a street leading the opposite direction from where he knew.
Jeremy threw Henry a glance, “Look, if you want to go your way you are free to do so, but this time I want to take the long way around. Besides, it’s not like it is night or anything.”
Henry was growing cautious about this “long way” around. Litter scattered the sidewalks and it looked like there were homeless encampments between the buildings. Once or twice he fancied he saw broken windows.
“I-I’m not comfortable with this,” Henry stammered, “Did you see that guy?,” he leaned close to Jeremy, “It looked like he was doing something nefarious.”
Jeremy sighed, “You want to go back?”
Henry glanced around nervously and nodded, “Of course, I mean these streets look dangerous.”
They had come to a particularly narrow part of the street, and though it was day, it felt foreboding. Jeremy shook his head, “It’s all in your mind.”
Henry suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked as if he might turn around. He gestured his desire to go back and take the other way.
Jeremy slumped his shoulders at his friend’s insistence at going the other way. “Alright, go then,” he huffed irritated, “I’ll meet you there.”
Jeremy only paused a second to see Henry walking back before continuing on in this longer way. He walked for a long time before realizing that he was foolish to not go back and walk with Henry. Two friends shouldn’t separate over something as silly as which route to walk.
He continued to walk, though, feeling that is was too late to turn back. He’d walked quite far, and when he looked behind him he didn’t see Henry. “Guess he went back quite quickly,” he murmured.
It was about thirty minutes later that he arrived at his destination, a small yellow townhouse on the corner of town. It was his parent’s house and his childhood home. He waited, lingering by the porch and gazing down the street Henry was to come down. Where was he? Henry should have arrived sooner. Finally, he began to walk down the road. He walked quite far until he reached the point at which they’d turned down the street he called the longer way around.
For a moment Jeremy panicked. Henry was nowhere he could see. Gazing down the street he’d walked, he could didn’t see anyone walking on the street whatsoever.
He decided to walk further down the street. He arrived near the place where they had parted ways, and to his surprise, he found Henry having a conversation with one of the homeless men. He drew nearer to them and seen that it was the same man whom Henry had thought to be up to mischief.
When Henry seen Jeremy approach he apologized, “Oh, I’m so sorry Jeremy. We just got talking and I lost track of time. This is Mr. Graves.” The man offered his hand and Jeremy shook it heartily.
“Mr. Graves was telling me about how he is a part of an outreach to the homeless in this community. I misjudged him entirely and I have a new perspective about this street. Thanks so much for bringing me this way,” Henry explained excitedly.
For a moment Jeremy was stunned. Indeed, he hadn’t intended to go down this street except for curiosities sake, but now he was glad he had insisted they go this way.
THE END