so.. yesterday, Alan (my neighbor) lent his motorcycle to someone. They used it all day, returned it out of gas, and broken. Things have not been going well next door. D'oh has been sick, and they have very little money. The rainy season is here, and Alan's car repair business is slow. Petit and Patricks school money and living stipend have not come from thier parents. The kids come over regularly to eat here, as they have nothing at home. Alan took it very badly that this man took advantage of him. He apparently beat the living shit out of him, and was only stopped from killing him by other people around who convinced Alan that this guy could work off his debt around the compound better if he was still alive. When I told Petit this story, he said: "oh, I was wondering who the bruised guy doing housework was".
Thatcher (yes, after Margret), the older little girl next door, has been causing trouble lately. She has no mother, but is being taken care of by Yo Yo (Alan's sister). She has been doing things to make sure she gets attention. Breaking things, taking things, and generally causing trouble. The past few days, she has been a bit sheepish, and quiet. Yesterday, she came over to sit in the house. Lolita (yes.. another neighbor child) told her to show me her arms and feet. They were swollen and lascerated. Apparently Yo-Yo wailed on her something fierce. Jen said she heard a child howling for a long while in the afternoon.
These are my good neighbors. It just flat out sucks to be a Cameroonian child sometimes.
So... the rule in my house is no hitting, no fighting. Hard and fast... the kids know that I am serious, and if they start, and I even start to get up from work, they all start to file out.. knowing exactly what the consequences are... they will be kicked out. But, for next door... there is not much I can do, or even feel comfortable judging.
Posted by mrsclean at May 18, 2004 05:37 PM