“Aunty nipee kobole” a voice said near me.
I looked down to see a young boy, probably nine years old, his right
hand outstretched. I clutched my handbag. Would he snatch it from me? I
kept wondering.
“Aunty nipee kobole nikanunue chai,” he continued.
He was dirty and underfed. It was chilly and windy, the little boy
did not have a jacket, neither was he wearing a shirt. I buttoned up my
coat to keep myself warm as I adjusted the heavy woolen shawl around my
neck. My hands were well covered by a pair of gloves. I clutched my
handbag tighter. These street urchins! I looked away and ignored him.
“Aunty nipee kobole nikanunue food.”
The bug! He was still there. Don’t they learn? I looked at him in
disgust. Couldn’t he leave me alone? I clutched the paper bag that
contained the packet of chips I was carrying for my younger brother who
was at home. The delicious aroma was inviting. I looked at the little
boy again. Yes, he was almost the same age as my brother but he was
smaller, way smaller.
My brother would probably be playing with his newest toy, a
playstation that my mother had bought him for his birthday. He loved
that piece of toy. He spent hours just playing games, inviting his
friends over so he could show them his newest toy.
“Siz, nipee five hundred nikanunue football,” my brother had said to me that morning.
I gave him the money of course. He would throw a tantrum if I did
not. He was not spoilt, he just got what he wanted. I hope he bought the
ball, I thought. The few thousand notes I had in my purse were for
buying a new dress from Mr. Price. I mean, my best friend’s birthday was
just around the corner and I needed to look hot for the birthday party.
“Aunty nipee five bob nibuy supper.”
That was the last straw. I was now angry. A taxi stopped and the
driver hooted at me. I opened the taxi door. The taxi pulled away. I
looked out of the window. The little boy was still standing where I left
him, one hand clutching a bottle of glue, shirtless, the other hand
still outstretched.
Funny, he looked just like my brother.
*This story first appeared on http://daystarportal.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/my-street-brother/
