Childhood童年
The other day,I ran into a little girl on my way to a student’s home in the mountains. She, sitting on the ground, looked up and smiled sweet to meet my greeting. Around 4 years old , she was no longer a toddler. I bent down and tried to help her up but she seemd reluctant. Instead of rising, she extended her arm and wanted to grab my digitcam, thinking it was a toy or something like that. A naughty and lively kid, I figured.
At the point when I took a snapshot, a boy , supposed to be her brother, came over and carried her sister on his back. All of a sudden, I knew she couldn’t stand on her feet and had to rely on her brother. From the talk with the boy, I also learnt that he had never been in school for a single day, helping his parents to attend her sister who suffered from polio. Out of sympathy, I insisted he recieve 100 yuan but he declined. The brother,with a sad and embarraced look in his eyes, didn’t say anthing while the innocent girl giggled and looked exited at the beautiful paper. In the end, the brother,with his handicaped sister on the back, bent his head and hurried to the direction of their home, silently and heavily. It was a distressing sight.
What a contrast between the looks in their eyes!－－－the bro’s is unsuitablly melancholy against his age while the sister’s is pure and even beautiful. Will we be able to read the purity and beauty in her eyes when she grows up a bit more?
i really like this post. good on you, Sam. yes i find this girl very adorable, too. fingers crossed, there will be fewer people living in this poor condition in the coming ten years of China.
Comment by anna — November 30, 2006 @ 7:21 am
A most touching story weaved from a wonderfully sublime observation.
What got me though is that even in the face of absolute despair this young boy understands the concept and worth of self dignity. Something that in my privileged state i am still struggling to come to terms with.
Comment by Anonymous — December 18, 2006 @ 11:55 pm