“A POOR GIRL’S COURAGE”
May I have a dollar please, she asked as she saw me come out
of the car
I was a bit surprised because she was so small, and not to
mention her expression
Hair half did, torn up under shirt, no slippers, feet looked
like she walked from afar
Couldn’t believe what I saw so my mind lost track of the
question
Where is your mother? Where are your shoes? Why are you not
in school?
With some bright eyes, and loud as a bull horn, she screamed
school is for fools
“Im from the streets, Im in the streets, that’s all I know”
she bellowed
You could have stayed a mile away and hear the vibration as
her little voice echoed
Still plagued as to why such a young girl with so much
spontaneity was on the streets
She screamed at me and said “mister, you gonna give me or
what, because I want something to eat?”
So I reached down in my pocket and I gave her a 5 and 2
singles which was all I had
She said thank you, walked away, then came back, hugged me
and said Im not that bad
I walked with her to the store as she bought a bun and
cheese and a small soda
Her movements were so vibrant that of any strong and sturdy
child
She ate it right there and then but was kind enough to ask
me if I wanted back the money that was left over
In an instance my heart melted and I was lost for words and
all I could do is smile
I asked again for her parents but it seems as if she knew
why she didn’t answer
She looked up at me then down again, then said “I heard my
mom died from cancer”
I felt so bad but at the same time worried, then I asked,
where is your family
She said I have none, she only knew that they left her
lonely when she was a baby
8 years old walking the streets, begging for money with no
food to eat
I can’t possibly think how the life she lives is her fault
at all
I wanted to feed her, I wanted to clothe her, I wanted to
put a shoe on her feet
But I couldn’t so Im thinking what could I do and who could
I call
So all I could do I did, so I took her home and I made her a
part of my family
Now that little eight year old, is twenty two, and as happy
as you can ever be
And ever so often she comes around and say thank you for
being kind to me and not leaving me
And every time I hear that voice I remind myself that family
isn’t only about blood but also about loyalty
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