A Frail but Strong Boy

A shabby and grungy boy was patiently standing along the sidewalk in front of a house. He was staring closely at the front door as if afraid to take a single blink and miss an important sighting. He does this every morning waiting for the door to open. A man from that door will hand him some bread or biscuits good enough to pacify his starving tummy.

The boy does not know his father. His mother has been away looking for good fortune somewhere leaving him to the care of his grandmother. Some heard that she has been sending money for the boy but obviously it was not good enough.

The boy used to stick around in a nearby sari-sari store, doing some errand for the owner in exchange for food to eat. Unfortunately, the store closed and the boy was forced to look for other means to feed his stomach. Then a man who has seen him since he was a child asked the boy to visit him every morning. He told the boy that he cannot promised to give him bread everyday and that he should understand. That he will just go with or without the bread and will not linger around his place. As much as possible this man will share some to this boy and for months they are both keeping their covenant quietly.

The man remembers his childhood every time he sees the boy. He used to roam around the streets without his pants just like this boy. He was not an orphan but he grew in poverty. Bigger children used to tease him because he has no pants to wear. He is still lucky because his parents are there to provide him shelter and enough food. His has been difficult but this boy's life is more troublesome.

Then came the first morning of the year 2014 and for the first time the boy was not there. Another morning passed and the boy was no where to be seen. The man learns that the boy was in the hospital. He picked and played firecrackers during the New Year's eve when a firecracker "Goodbye Philippines" accidentally exploded on his left hand. The boy's left arm has been cut half as a result of that disaster. A month after, the boy is back to his morning routine again. He waits patiently for the man to wake up and to find him just across his front door.

This boy is strong for he is able to withstand all his troubles at a young age. He plays, he laughs and he lives even if he is only six years old.