KIDSTUFF: Angel’s Wish

Angel is a transfer student from one of the private schools in the city. Since her dad died, Angel’s mom has been having a hard time making ends meet.

Her dad used to work as a hotel manager. He took care of everything that their family needed.  Her mom’s salary as a bookkeeper was just enough for their daily needs, so Angel was transferred to a public school.

“Hi, I’m Alvin. Welcome to our school. I hope we can be friends.” Alvin offered his hand to Angel who shyly shook it. She looked around. It was her first time to see pupils wearing dirty clothes. Some students gathered around her and just stood there gawking at her. She smiled and waved to everyone who met her eyes.

“What happened to your clothes? Why are you so dirty?” Angel asked Wilson, one of her classmates. He just smiled and didn’t say anything. “Why are your hands and arms full of writings?” She asked another boy who just glared at her and walked away. “Why do you smile when you scratch your head like that?” She asked her seatmate, Lucille.

These kids would not have been allowed to enter her former school. The guards would send them away. Angel could not imagine why the kids in her new school were like that – dirty. As much as she’d like to spend time with them, she couldn’t stand their smell.

As classes went on, she quietly sat at the back and observed her classmates. They fought over petty things. Two fought over a piece of paper. One of her classmates cried because she lost her pen. And then she saw many of the boys drawing on their skin, from their hands to their legs. She learned that most of them only had one notebook for all the subjects, so they had nothing else to draw on.

When she turned to look at her seatmate, she was so shocked to see so many lice eggs on her hair. She even spotted some lice walking up and down Lucille’s hair strands. As if on cue, Lucille smiled and raised her hand to her head and scratched that part vigorously. She couldn’t stand the sight anymore so she excused herself and went to the restroom.

She saw a small chapel at the end of the lobby. She went inside and prayed, “Lord, I’m sorry that I complained a lot about our situation now. I am now thankful for everything I have. I didn’t know how blessed I’ve been. I’d like to share my lice treatment shampoo with Lucille. I’d like to give my extra notebooks to those who need them. I wish there’s something I could do to make their lives better. Please help me, God.”