IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE STARS - AN ACCOUNT OF LIVES IMPACTED BY 'EVERYDAY ADVERSITIES.' PART 15.

5

It might have been thought that, with Kazaliwa’s brother, Mzaliwa, having been doing well in his school work, and acquiring dozens of house points. 

That Kazaliwa, despite his probably higher academic potential, felt unable to cope with the pressure of ‘trying to live up to his brother.’ 

However, it seems unlikely that that would have played much of a role, and that it was more a matter of him just not having any motivation of strong interest in learning. 

Despite the fact that he learnt to read at an early age and clearly had the ability to do well. It was more a matter of not wanting to, rather than of not being able to.

It did not help that, by the time he was about 13 years old, Kazaliwa had started 'experimenting' with cannabis. And that he would graduate to taking others, including Class C drugs. 

All of which would see him becoming addicted remaining so for several years. 

This addiction would see Kazaliwa sinking to rock bottom, as it were, as he become an established member of the local drug network in Stafford and Stoke, moving from ‘one den’ to the ‘next.’ 

 It would see him stealing scrap metal from a local scrap yard to get money to buy drugs and food. 

It would lead to him stealing from shops, going about with his carrier bag with his several tins of alcohol in it.  

As he spent his days moving from the home of one ‘friend’ to the next.  

Or simple meeting up at some semi-secluded location in Stafford, such as the little park between Crooked Bridge Road and Corporation Street. 

 Kazaliwa remained living in this hades-like world for literally a number of years, becoming more and more unresponsive to his parents' and family's attempt to help him. 

As he made what was to 'normal people, a fearful and destructive parallel world, his normal habitat.

To be continued!