Hard Reality
Today while driving back from my kids school I gave a lift to a boy of no more than eight or nine. His left foot was heavily bandaged and his right foot shoeless. I saw other kids with their mothers happily walk on the road but he was hobbling alone.
My heart went out to that little child. And before I knew it I broke my cardinal rule of never giving lift (I believe it isn't safe to hitch rides from cars) and stopped next to the child and asked him whether he wanted to be dropped to the nearby bus stop which was about a kilometer way.
The child nodded and got in the passenger seat. The smell of coconut oil filled my car and I glanced at him as I drove. He was squeaky clean, his bag heavy straining against his shoulders and hair was tightly combed back. He came from a loved home but obviously one which was poor- why else would a parent let a child in pain hobble to school?
I dropped him at the bus stop. He didn't thank me and I didn't expect one given how shy he was. He hobbled on in the other direction and I drove on towards home.
Posted by
Deepti Lamba on August 27, 2008 05:29 PM 
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Comments
you are a kind soul...i would have been more happy if i dropped that kid at his home...
but still, you did the best what you could have done...
Posted by: tanay | August 28, 2008 07:46 PM
there was something very romantic about your post. :)
i just landed on your blog. let me explore it.
Posted by: swatie | August 29, 2008 01:20 AM
Tanay, he was going to school :) And I had guests at home who needed a drop as well. But, yes kids and animals tug my heart
Swati, thanks for stopping by and I hope you like what you read.
Posted by: Dee | August 29, 2008 10:17 AM
Good on ya. sometimes you have to trust your instincts and succumb to your better nature
Posted by: Temple Stark | September 1, 2008 08:50 PM