Even tough boys need love…….
The Green Bamboo shelter for street boys is where Silas and I have been spending our Friday morning’s for the past few months. One of our favorite kids is Tri. He befriended Si the first day, and every week we look forward to seeing him. Lately Arlo’s been coming along with us and now he and Tri are good friends. In fact I think Arlo would move in if I’d let him.
Today Tri met us at the door. He was unusually somber and didn’t follow us upstairs. Disappointed, Lolo waited in the hallway with their coloring books…
I went in and started talking with some of the other boys… I could hear a child crying somewhere in the house. Tri came in. His eyes were red, his cheeks were smudged with dirt. I sat next to him. Water pooled below his dark brown eyes. He wiped his face, he tried to hold it back….he wanted to be tough, but it was too much, the tears came hot and fast. I moved closer. Tentatively he layed his head to my chest. Slowly he wrapped his skinny arm around my waist then his hand gripped my shirt. I folded him into me.
Tri should be given what he’s crying for. What he craves to his core is his birthright. I know that he is not the only one. His voice is an echo of so many others. Every nation on the planet knows this pain. These cries are not for food or water but it is just as much a necessity. He speaks English but today through his tears comes the language of his land the language of his circumstance, but I recognize the name he calls out. We all do.“Mer…Mer.” His request is simple, he cries out for his mom. I understand this. We have all wanted it from our own mothers and I’ve felt the need for it from my own sons. To be held and cared for. To feel unconditional love. It’s like the sun and the rain to a blade of grass. It feeds our souls.
I hold him closer until his crying stops. Arlo quietly watches then sets up a coloring book and some crayons at another table. Tri looks up and he wipes his tears; a small smile crosses his beautiful face as he joins Arlo. I ask another boy if something happened. He told me that some of the boys had gone to visit their families but his mom didn’t want to see him. My heart breaks into a thousand pieces.
It almost time for us to go, Tri doesn’t want us to leave. He holds on to Arlo. He draws a heart on Arlo’s hand then writes “Don’t Forget me” on his arm.. Arlo gives Tri the coloring books and markers.
Tri leads Arlo to the “sleeping room” (no beds just a hard floor for 30 of the 60 boys) and pulls a box of old cookies from his locker. He gives them to Lolo. Arlo hugs him tight.
We hear laughter as we head downstairs. Their are a bunch of boys packed into a room getting their hair cut. Life goes on in the shelter……….
As I lay in bed that night I wonder how many of those boys that seem so tough cry themselves to sleep each night. It brings tears to my eyes. I go around the house taking turns laying next to my sleeping children whispering words of love into their dreams. I wish I could do the same for the boys at green bamboo.
What a sad story…brought tears to my eyes just reading it
Nikki, you are doing a good thing. A hard, but good thing.
I am happy to see you have blogged more. Off to see the rest.
thanks for sharing your amazing journey with us. dear niki- i think you must have a book in you- you are such a wonderful writer. and those boys are going to be true world citizens with the compassion of a 1,000 lifetimes. y’all are doing the best thing you could possibly be doing right now. miss you and love you, sierra
Oh Nikki, this just breaks my heart! I know children are homeless, abandoned or not cared for everywhere, but I don’t actually see it and feel it. I LOVE that you and the boys are there sharing some time and care with them. I thank you for doing this and being such an amazing woman, mother and midwife- in all that you do and are. Mother Mary lives in your heart.
What a wonderful thing for you to do — and beautifully written, too. We found this in Chiang Mai. That the children really need to be picked up, cuddled, loved, something carers are always too busy to provide. I often wonder whether our own children’s homes are actually any better at providing this. Certainly in the UK statistics on children who leave care suggest that we’re doing something horribly, horribly wrong.
The more I travel, I realize that our similarities outweight the surface differences. It’s so nice you’re there to comfort him! Sending peace and love!!
oh how I wish I could be there with you, lolo and Silas………………….a heart wrenching day for you all and thanks for verbally capturing it for all of us that were not there…….what can we do to help—send them books, toys????? (write them letters?) xoxooomam
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Oh my, Nik! First, let me point out the obvious… Arlo is soooo d@mn cute!!! But your story was heart wrenching… especially being someone who works with children all day. Send Tri over here!!
Yes, I see someone above asked what can we do to help… I know you are “gone” already, but if you share what is needed and a place to send items I will have my leadership students at school gather items to donate. 🙂
That would be fabulous Tina!! Philip goes there once a month and his shop in Asheville sends packages there regularly. So, you could send the stuff to Astral then they can ship it to Philip and he can bring it to the shelter!! Arlo misses Tri so much..so do I. I’m hoping to get involved with an orphanage here soon to fill the gap. How’s the new job? Not exactly sure what it is ??? Hope to see you again someday soon!! xoxo
Nikki,
You are such a good writer and your experiences are indeed unique. Thanks so much for publishing this! What a genuine story. I am reading it on Christmas morning and it has really grounded me in basic humanity and clear, simple love.
This brought tears to my eyes. Those poor children. Such a basic human need, to be loved. It’s so sad that not every child in the world gets it.