Reader (countryhumans)

21: Timor Leste

Timor... 

Timor grew up in a family where everything was lacking. They lack food, water, clothing, and even shelter. They went from one place to another. He grew up in that environment all his life. He realizes that his life will never change. 

He tried changing it but he met a harsh truth. And a harder life after that. So, he accepted that his life would never change for the better good. He realizes that when he's ten years old. 

His mother is always drunk from the pub she works for. However, most of her earnings went to the client's drink. They tend to lure customers in with free taste, which was not included in the pub's bill. It was theirs, the employee's salary. They need to do it to gather customers to make a living. 

Everyone knows that a pub is not the better place to work. It is one of the worst. Everyone knows that. Timor's mother too. But she doesn't know any jobs. She's always too drunk to even talk sense to her. 

Working in the pub, Timor's mother got to learn of another way to earn money. So, she mostly focuses on this new job she learns and comes home less and less drunk. Timor is happy. He did not know his mother's job. He tried to ask, worried for his mother when he was 9, but she only told him he'll know soon when he grows up. So, Timor listened and waiter for him to grew up.

This went on for months until he notices her mother's stomach started to bulge. He questioned it and his mother told him the truth. He's going to have a sibling. He's surprised at the same time glad. Now, he has someone to play with. He's having a sibling, another family! He's innocent stayed thanks to the constant 'locking him inside the house.' 

When his sibling is born, her mother let him care his younger sister. He's scared at first, and panic. He only stayed calm when he felt warm embracing the child. The baby is quietly sleeping in his arms that he tears up from his younger siblings' warmth. It reminded him of how her mother hold him years ago before she went drunkard. 

They never hug or kiss to hold hands together anymore. It is unfortunate, Timor once thought when he's still the innocent kid, that he grew up. His mother told him he's already old for those, he wanted to complain but he hates it when he made his mother sad and mad (because of him... being nosy, noisy, annoying; just like his mother always told him when he speaks). 

"You will be taking care of your younger sister from now on." 

His mother said without question. 

Timor not understanding the real meaning behind it, he said yes so enthusiastically. Her mother smile, and he was sudden looking at it. It was the first time he saw him smile like that in years. He held his sibling tighter in his arms. It was then that he swore and determine to protect his family no matter what. That belief implanted in him since then. 

For the first two months, his mother is always around the house. They have money to eat two times a day. He never questioned where he got it. 

By the following months, his mother rarely visits. Each visit, the less she gave budget for their food. Until Ermera.-, the younger sister, is one year old; their mother never came for two months now. Timor is forced to find food for his baby sister. He did his first odd job then, and with a baby in his back. Thankfully, the job is not that hard. 

When he got his first payment, He firstly bought a can of milk for his sister. He did not immediately start to do jobs hoping his mother will come. One weeks after, the milk is already in its last. So, he did another job. And the following week too. By the fourth time, that's when he realizes his mother will not coming back. Not because of hard it is to work but from the mouth of others.

He was cleaning at the back with his sister in his back, sleeping, when he heard his employer talking about them.

"Poor kids, they need to work so young to provide themselves."