The High Profiled Society: Die in Misery

At the early age of nine, Alexander experienced different struggles and hardships as he battled to survive every day. His father was irresponsible enough to provide for the needs of his family. He would go out to join his peers all day long. They would gather outside to gamble with their friends or drink alcohol. That's his day's activities while his mom is working double jobs to feed them. He has four other siblings, and all are females. He is his one and only son. "Where's your father?" Merian asked her son Alexander as she arrived from work. His mom is in her mid-thirties, but she looks older than her real age because of scarcity, pollution, stress, and all due to being deprived of a good life. She works as a food reseller and a street cleaner along the city highways of Rocinja, Brazil. Their place is the second-known slum in the country. He pity his mother so much that he wanted to help, but she would always decline his offer to extend a hand. "Isn't he outside? He was just right there," he said, pointing out the blank table and chairs where he would always see his father chit-chatting with his friends. His mom blurted out while crying. "He wasn't there. I just passed through it. That guy has the nerve to gamble all the money I earned and didn't even think of buying us or preparing a good meal for his children." "Mom, let me work so I can help you," Alexander begged for his mom to grant him so he could help to work and earn some more. His mom continued, "You're too young to carry the burdens of this family that we're supposed to be responsible for. I regret keeping your father with us. He is no use at all! "Let me at least help you cook meals for my siblings and you. Let's not think about him. Please just give me some of your money if you don't want me to work, but let me at least help you in any way I can," he offered. His mom looked at him sadly and nodded. She gave him the remaining coins she had and he ran towards the store nearby. He bought two packs of noodles and paid for them at the counter. It was his first time doing so, and he was a bit uneasy but happy. "Boy, is this all you got?" the salesperson asked. He nodded and handed him his money. "Your money is insufficient to buy these two," the salesperson told him. "That's all I got. I'm sorry! That's what was left in my mom's wallet," he reasoned sadly and started to walk away. The salesperson said while smiling, "Hey, kid. You come back here. I'm giving them to you, and please return this money to your mom. It might help you have something for your next meal," the salesperson said while smiling. The kid's face brightened up and smiled. "How can I pay you back?" he asked. "You don't have to. Just follow my orders. Besides, you are too young to worry about all this," the man said with a weary smile. He offered what he could do to return the favor to this man. "Okay, you better go home now!" he pushed through the door and waved to bid goodbye. "Bye!" the happy kid once said. He was on his way home when he saw his father walking from afar. He looks so drunk that he can barely walk straight. He hurriedly ran towards him, but he pushed him away. The poor kid cried while his father was trying to stand up and he was grabbed by his peers. The kid was left crying and started to take the path of going back home. He found his mother and his siblings sitting while waiting for him to come back. "Is that food?" her sister Anne asked and checked what he had brought home. "Wow, Mom! Alex has noodles! It's my favorite!" she exclaimed in a very happy voice. He explained, "The salesperson at the convenience store paid it for me and he wanted me to keep the bills you gave me. I applied as his store cleaner and I hope he will accept my offer." His mom can't stop herself from crying. "Mom, don't worry about me. I can do it. Let me cook these noodles first," he assured his mother, not to overthink what he had just said. "Don't worry, son, I'll make it up to you once we pay the rest of my loans," she promised. They're poor as a rat. Garbage is everywhere, plastics are all scattered, and even their house is made of patches of tarps. They make use of anything they find useful in the streets. They're lucky if they have food on the table for two meals a day because most of the time they'll fall into a deep sleep with an empty stomach. "Anne, the food is now ready. Please call everyone!" he commanded his younger sister. They gather around and sit on the dirty ground. Alexander began to give everyone their share. "I'm okay. I have eaten at work. You can give away my share to your siblings," Mom said. "No mom, we should eat together. No worries because we still have money," the young boy assured his mom, Merian. "Thank you, son. I am lucky to have all of you. I hope your father will realize soon enough what he's been missing," she wished. The siblings have been starving since this morning. It's their first meal of the day. Their cravings were satisfied, and they all went to sleep, aside from Alexander, who'd been worrying about his siblings. He loved them so much that he couldn't just watch them suffer. He waited all night for their father to arrive, but he seemed like he had no plans to go home. He picked himself up and went straight to the convenience store. The man he talked to was absent. He has no choice but to wait until noon. He is holding the remaining bills he has and buying them small portions of rice and beans. He was thinking of cooking porridge with beans for the family. He was walking while carrying the items he purchased when he was barred by a group of children. Someone from the group kicked and punched him from the back. He was so helpless and could barely stand. They took the items that he was supposed to give to his family and ran away. The man from the store helped him to get up and brought him back to the store. "Don't mind them. I'll give you some more noodles for your family," he assured the young boy. He cleaned him up and gave him a new shirt. "Thank you. I was here this morning but I haven't seen you. I was supposed to start my job cleaning the store but you weren't here, so I decided to go," he explained. He doesn't look hurt. "Are you this persistent? You're too young to work on that stuff. What's your name, boy?" he asked. He brushed his hair up and started packing the noodles he was giving away. "My name is Alexander. I live nearby with my four little siblings. My mom is the only one working for the family while my dad has gone away. He hasn't come back yet for two days now," the boy answered. "I'll let you help me here in the store, but you should wait for my instructions. I don't want you to carry heavy loads of work, alright? I'm going to give you food that you can take to your family, would that be okay?" he gladly accepted the kid's proposal. He was jumping with joy and couldn't wait for him to arrive home to deliver the news. "When will I start working?" he asked excitedly. "You can start today, but I want you to bring these packs home first. Then you should go back here," he instructed, and the boy agreed. He was screaming with joy, and all his siblings were playing around the corners. "Where did you get all of this?" Merian asked his son with curiosity. She wanted to get mad at herself because she wasn't capable of raising them and giving them what they needed. She felt worthless. "My new boss gave it to me. He said I'll send this to you and I'll go back to work for him. I have a job now, Mom! He doesn't want me to work heavy loads and he wants me to become his assistant," he told everyone. He was really excited about his new job. This will be a big help for his family. "Congratulations! I'm proud of you! I am sorry, son. I was sick and wasn't able to get to work today. I will do better next time, I promise," she said happily and gave her son a nice hug. She was trying to keep up with his pace. "I'll take care of your siblings for a while, and we'll wait for you tonight so we can dine together," his mother said in a low tone. He rushed back to the store wearing his new shirt and pants, given to him by his boss, Magno. "You are looking good, boy!" his boss shouted. He was smiling all day, waiting for his boss's instructions and following all of his orders. It was a wish come true for a young boy to be able to help feed his family. He is excited to share his experience with his family.