I’ll be the first to admit that I usually like children like I like a piece of plastic sitting on a table: quiet and not bothering me. But even a grumpy old fuddy-duddy like me occasionally enjoys the company of children and the unabashed evil innocence they display. With the knowledge that I – gasp! – may even have one myself one day, I’ve tried to soften up a bit as I lurch toward old(er) age. But when I saw this poor kid sitting in the 7-11, I didn’t really know what to think. Pre-pubescent masochist? Victim of bullies? Or just one really bad babysitter? You decide.
As I was shopping with my girl at the Khlong San market (well, following her around as she bought shoes), I popped into the 7-11 to get a drink and saw this poor little bastard sitting in the corner. I happened to have my camera with me so I snapped a quick picture; I guess what I should have done was ask someone: “Uh, has this child been abandoned or some such sad fate?” However, I don’t know the Thai word for ‘abandoned’ so I just let it be and assumed he made it out of 7-11 alive and ambulatory.
I mean, assuming he got really hungry, he could probably snap those anyway, right? Right??
The boy could have been a child of someone who lives in the neighbourhood. Some Thai parents do not seem to be bothered about letting their kids run around in the area where they live. Looking at his picture just makes me smile.
I reckon all that cocaine powder all over his face might lend a clue as to why he is incarcerated.
If the kid was a victim of an abusive babysitter this teaches us one lesson: to make sure that the nanny is trustworthy through conducting background check. Though he is smiling, I pity the kid. He doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.