DIANA
I watched him devour the pizza and I was so pushed to ask him somethings.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked making him look at me.
” Sure. Go ahead.” He replied staring at me.
” How do you try to survive? I mean it is so hard.” I said and he smiled looking over the river.
“I have always survived and I will keep surviving till I found a good job and change how my life is.” He said facing the pizza again.
” While you were very young, who took care of you till you were conscious of what you were doing?” I asked again.
” Some children on the streets. After my parents died, I was dumped on the streets by my family. They said I was bad luck. So some children found me and began to take care of me. They were also abandoned children. So they took me as their own.” He narrated and I saw his contenance change.
“I can stop if you want me to.” I said and he sighed shaking his head.
“Continue. I have been looking for someone to share my story to for a very long time. Someone who would be really interested and won’t look down on me no matter the looks.” He said and I nodded.
” So how did they feed you?” I asked again staring at him.
“Trash, leftovers from the garbage. That’s how I survive till date.” He replied and tears rolled down my eyes.
“I am so sorry.” I said and he nodded sadly.
” They all died by one thing or the other, some accidents, some malnutrition, some the bad guys, some raped to death.” He added.
” You had ladies among you?” I asked in shock and he nodded.
” Ladies and guys were both raped and this killed some of them. That’s the street for you Diana. I may not last till tomorrow. I seeing a new day is one of the greatest gift I have ever received.” He said and tears kept dropping none stop.
“That wasn’t easy at all.” I said and he nodded.
” I got my clothes from the ones that have been disposed and I washed them making them look presentable.” He said and more tears dropped down my eyes.
“How do you sleep?” I asked in tears.
“I sleep anywhere. Under the trees, at the road side, on benches around the corner, close to garbage. Anywhere the night meets me.” He said and I saw tears drop down his eyes.
“I am so sorry.” I said with constant water dropping.
” I tried securing a job. But no one, I mean no one wants a street child in his working place. No one trusts us. And that’s why I keep wondering when I would stop eating garbage. Because I have been to several shops, companies,factory to just give me the work of a cleaner. But just my appearance. They chase me off, saying Street children can never be trusted.” He narrated and I reached for his face cleaning the tears.
“It will be fine.” I said and he smiled.
” I have that hope. I am Alive, and no one knows tomorrow.” He said and I smiled.
” How old are you? If you don’t mind.” I asked.
” Will be twenty in few days time.” He said and my mouth curved into a *wow*.
“That’s beautiful. You look 27.” I said and he laughed.
” People say that. Suffering makes you older than expected.” He said and I sighed.
” When is your birthday?” I asked nervously.
” Thursday.” He replied.
“Where would you be?” I asked.
“At the temple very early in the morning. And after that, i will be back on the streets begging for what for to eat.” He said and I sighed.
” I am so sorry about all these. I made all the memories fresh.” I said and he shook his head.
” It’s fine. Now can I ask you mine?” He asked and I looked at my wrist watch.
“Time is fast spent and I am sure mother has other orders for me to deliver. I am sorry and I promise the next time we see I will answer all your questions.” I said standing up.
” Sure. Thanks for the pizza and soap. I really appreciate the fact you say with me for more than an hour. No one has ever done that.” He said and I smiled looking at him.
” It’s fun being with you. People just don’t know what they are missing if you aren’t close to them. You made me forget all my saddening thoughts in less than two minutes.” I said and he smiled.
” Because of my pathetic story?” He asked.
” Of course not. You are the only one I can also talk to. I am the extra troublesome type, so people don’t relate to me that much. I gat no friends.” I said and he smiled.
” I can understand that quite well. You should get going, you can’t keep your mom waiting.” He said and i nodded putting on my helmet and sitting on the scooter.
“I hope to seeing you soon.” I said igniting the engine.
” Me too.” He replied waving at me. I waved back and then hit the road riding back to the shop.
TBC….
