A LITTLE BOY

One day, when I was sitting in my mom’ stall. A little boy went down the street without sandal under the sun. taken some brooms . He stopped in front of my mom’s stall and look at a glass of green nut mush. I know he was thirsty, so I called him to come in. I gave him a glass of water and a glass of green nut mush. He wore a dirty cloth, no sandal while the asphalt is so hot under the sun.

And this is a short conversation between us …:

Me : Are you thirsty ?

The boy : yes I am

Me : are you going to school? And in what grade are you now?

The boy : I am in 2^nd grade in elementary school

Me : where do you live?

The Boy : I live in Potu, I sell this brooms to help my parents earn money for schooling. (Potu is an area in my home town, it about 3 km from center of town)

Me : why don’t you use a sandal? Isn’t it hot out there?

The boy : I don’t have any sandal ..

Oh God, this little boy, he is maybe just 8 years old. To help his parents he has to walk 3 km without sandal, selling his broom. Two thousand rupiahs per each. No complaint for school. Maybe it’s the effect of poverty, forces a little boy to work for earning money. Actually, it’s time for kids to playing and studying. But I’m sure when he arrived home he must do other homework, and tired in the learning time.

This reality helps me to reflect my life. Sometimes I grumble when facing problems that’s come to my life. Look at this little boy’s life makes me so ashamed. Should I complaint to a small problems in my life while there are million people live in poverty, homeless, hunger, diseases and less education out there?. They may be complaint too for this life, but what can they do. Live in complaint just make their life become more difficult, so the only way is just face It on.

It’s just a small picture of poverty. There are big cases in big town caused by poverty.  And all of that brings people to death, criminality and prostitution.

So thank God I can eat for today, I can sleep on bed, I am not homeless, I can go to school have a better education to build a better life. In every condition I have to thank God for everything. I just can give a pair of sandal for now, hope I can do more someday…..