That Monday morning (around
7am) as we drove past Iju Road, hurrying to avoid the traffic usually associated
with the first-day-of-the-week-resumption, my senior colleague who was driving
felt something was wrong (with the car).
He parked to the
nearest sensible spot. It was the right front tyre; and it was gradually
deflating. Luckily, right beside us was a vulcanizer’s shop.
As we called out to him (I am yet to see a female vulcanizer), a boy (barely 12 years) hurried towards the bad tyre with the vulcanizing machine pipe. I didn’t need to ask him what he was doing there.
He and his younger
brother were obviously the managers of this business; and their father the CEO.
The CEO was still at home but his hardworking managers were out for the day’s business.
Yes, schools are on
break but the younger one’s uniform wasn’t on break. The senior’s outfit wasn’t
any good either. They didn’t look like they had even taken their bath.
As we drive past this
route every morning, I can't help but look out for these little boys.
Call it Child Labour, Abuse or anything else, this is far from my dream for the typical African Child!
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