Happy Land

"Home"

"I'm tired" my little brother said. I looked through him and my eyes filled up once again in tears.

Michael was only 5 but never went to school. I too didn't but with the help of some friends, I was able to learn to read and write. He was small and worryingly thin and frail for his age. His slippers filled with holes and a face so frail.

We walked back home. We call it home but it is nothing more than a wood walls with a tarpaulin as a roof. We spent our day scavenging for food and still returned home hungry.

As we walk back, we can see men drinking and babies crying. We can hear couples arguing. Children playing through the filthy water. It was noisy.

I saw Michael limping across and stopped him. "What are you doing?" I asked. He pointed down to his toes which are red and dirty. I panicked as I quickly whipped off my slippers. They were dirty and muddy but It would do. "Wear this first" I said as I gave him my slippers.