admirable children

In Pakistan, children enter the life of vagabondage at an early age. Its easy when nobody cares about you. Many children are simply expected to grow up and become laborers, so there is no vested interest in advancing things we take for granted like education. That's also partly due to the fact that poorer families need additional sources of income, so their children start working as shoe polishers, delivery boys, "sales" persons (selling sunglasses, little toys, socks), and beggars. Its a sad and imprisoning cycle of which there is seldom escape.

In Multan, my cousin Riaz bhai and his family have brought in a young boy to work in their home. Altaf is actually from our village, #65, and he used to spend most of his time roaming aimlessly, playing marbles, and occasionally helping his family to cut wood. His life, like many others his age, was void of an education and learning. Was it void of love too?

In my cousin's home, he is like their fifth son. He does many of the household chores, he is well fed, clothed. My cousin's wife, Shamshad baji, has been teaching Altaf how to read Urdu and Arabic. He is scolded and disciplined; for when he would sneak food to snack on for later or cut corners in his chores. In play, Riaz bhai does his signature slap on Altaf's back real hard so it makes this pop sound. I know because Riaz bhai does the same to us. It hurts so bad it feels good. It feels like love.

We all went to Village #65 from Multan. Altaf came also to visit his family. One morning my nephews, my brother, and I walked over to his place to pick him up. When his parents called for him signaling that we were here to pick him up, he came running out, hugged us and said, "Lets go."

"Umm, Altaf did you finish your breakfast?" we asked. He thought about it for a second, and went back inside. We waited for about five minutes. He came back out and said, "Lets go."

"Umm, Altaf did you say goodbye to everyone?" we asked. He thought about it for a second, and went back inside to say goodbye. He came back out and said, "Lets go."

At first I thought that maybe there was never any love for him in his family. How his life was already a dead-end waiting to hit before coming to Multan and how easily he walked away from them to be with us that morning. Then I thought about it some more. Altaf's biological parents did love him, because they agreed to send him to a place which would be better for him. An environment that would help him grow, an environment where he could learn, an enviornment where he could be loved more than even in his own home.

But it was Altaf's gratitude that struck me more than anything. I have never seen a happier worker. Seriously. A reminder for me especially, to be thankful because we've got opportunity here. Young people like him that recognize such signs of mercy are only to be admired.