16/10/2022
The teary old man.
As 7/11 coffee enthusiast, I went to a close by convenience store to get myself a cappuccino yesterday. Set next to the store’s doorway and have the cappuccino magic flourish as I read through JUBA MANENOS between BOL ABUK and K2 fi Hot in Juba. Had a bit to laugh at the comments section.
Next to me was mid 70 years old man who was seemingly distressed. Didn’t want to pay much attention as everyone in this country is seemingly taught to deal with themselves/mind their business.
At first, I thought he was just angry and would eventually get over it, only to realized he was actually crying 😢. I still uncomfortably kept quite. Few minutes later, he wiped his tears and apologize to me. He said, “Young man, I’m sorry you had to see an elder crying. It’s never a good thing to happen. I somehow comforted and assured him that, it was alright though, I felt nothing much I could do in his situation.
He went on to narrate how he worked hard all his life to raise his three kids who are currently in their fourties’. Two boys and one daughter who became successful in life only to forget and abandoned him. He said, none of his kids even rings to ask of how he’s doing, let alone providing for aged parent. He said, he lives on community feeding to which at times, he doesn’t get anything to eat.
Deep down, I cried but never wanted to drop a tear which will eventually make him weaker. I so much tried to comfort him. Bought him few stuffs and gave him $50 that I had in my wallet.
You never know where you end. This life is really hard.
