His name is A-long. A six year old orphan. His parents died of AIDS. His father was the last to die. Neighbors realized this when they didn't see him for a long time. When they went to his house, they saw that he was already dead. A-long calmly told them his father died just like his mom. He didn't shed a tear which made it more heartbreaking. He just silently sat beside his body. His medical examination showed he has HIV, therefore his neighbors don't want to come near him for fear of catching the disease. He has been living alone in a small shanty where his only companion is his dog.
He feeds the chickens and his dog and tries to live a 'normal' life by trying to study alone, reading anything he could get his hands on, doing his laundry by standing on a stool and eating rice and vegetable without any kind of spices.
He has relatives but they don't want to take him in. Social workers and kind-hearted people would visit every now and then to give him food or clothing. The Government has been trying to help him by making sure he has food but he really needs more than that. He is HIV positive and needs medical care every now and then. He needs the love of a caring family who will be with him to raise him.
Readers all over the world marveled at how this little boy can carry on living alone barely getting the most basic needs from strangers. Makes you think of little brats who throw tantrums just because you didn't buy their favorite candies in the grocery or complain that you give them curfew. A-long would probably give anything to have someone forbid him from eating too much sweets or staying out late. If only Brangelina can adopt him...
No comments:
Post a Comment