I've been scarce as I've been battling both a bad case of flu and a deep depression which made almost any activity seem like I was performing it in a bucket of suffocating molasses. Both ailments seem a bit better today and I hope it stays that way! This post however is about the terrible misfortune of my neighbours at the shop.
My new shop is situated next to a block of rundown flats which house mostly refugees from other African countries. Over the last month or so one of the children, a 7 year old boy from the Congo has been spending his afternoons after school at my shop. In one casual conversation he told me he was hungry and I discovered he often doesn't eat at all until supper. I now keep bread, jam and peanut butter at the shop and make him a sandwich in the afternoon. He loves the shop and spends hours here. It can be tiring as he is very active, but I don't have the heart to send him away. Other young children from the flats also come, but they are just naughty and I don't allow them to stay.
Yesterday one of my customers came in after spending quite a while outside and told me the worst news I have heard in a long time. He was talking to someone he knew from the flats and was informed that on Sunday a little boy was in the bath, and the geyser which was situated over the bath fell down and crushed the little boy in the bath to death. (Actually, it was so painful to even type that.) The customer told me the family was from the Congo and I almost had a panic attack, imagining the little boy who spends all his free time with me crushed to death.
Fortunately there is a street barber who works across the road from the shop who resides in those flats and I sent one of my staff to find out in it was "my" little boy who was killed? To my relief it wasn't, but that relief was tempered by the horrendous tragedy. It turned out the boy who died was "my" boy's cousin. When the little boy came to the shop after school I hugged him so tight. Fortunately he is too young for the tragedy to affect him too badly. Now I find myself imaging the faces of all the other kids that traipse in and out of my shop, and wonder which one is missing?
It is so sad that the family came to our country to escape difficult situations only to suffer such an appalling tragedy.
@onetree
Aww that is so sad - How horrible for the family :(
Hello!!
How are things?! Hope you are all keeping well and healthy.
Post some photos of your cats!!
Cheers.
Hey! To be honest I am struggling with stress and depression, things are tough here. BUT my family and cats always make me feel better. I know I'm going to come out of it, I always do eventually. I actually wanted to contact you. Someone told me about Weku, a clone of Steemit. The currency is not worth much at the moment, but maybe it might pay to be an early adopter? Apparently you can repost your Steemit articles there. I have joined and done an introductory post under my same username. (PS: here is my email [email protected]) I hope you are well???
I just found your post on Weku.
Cheers.
Hi @onetree - hope you are OK - we keep hearing how bad things are there and I'm checking to see if you are hanging in there.
Best wishes from @kiwideb too. (I've changed over to my other Steemit account @frot which is why this one is quiet)
How are you today?! Have you fully recovered from your illness?!
Take care.
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Thank you @kaminchan I have fully recovered. We're going through some hectic times this side, but hopefully we'll come through the other side soon! I really appreciate your friendship.
Good luck!
Take care and see you soon!
Hey you're back!!! Was looking for you just yesterday! It is just terrible what happened to the boy. Very sad, but NEW South Africa and the buildings are not kept up to standard. What a tragedy. Just keep feeding the little boy...
Thanks @giantbear :)
This is a tragic loss for the family and quite a shock to all.
Very say indeed when a young child passed away in terrific accident.
May his reincarnation be in a much better surrounding.
It's so very sad and unnecessary.
Have you been posting on Weku?!
I still haven’t got the time to sign up! Couldn’t think of a new user name!!
Hope you are feeling much better!!
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really really sad story !
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Hope all is well and manageable!
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Haven't heard from you in ages! Hope all is well with you, the family, cats, and shop!
Hello!
Hope all is well with you and things have worked out positively!!
I am still trying to hang in there!
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Hi! Apologies for popping onto your comments but have called out to most people on a post with very little feedback. I have just launched the new @steemsouthafrica account and discord server and would be thrilled to have you join us! We are trying to build up some SA STEEM momentum again – organising regular meet-ups etc. If you are interested, you can hop onto the new server HERE – hope to see you there soon! Oh, and you are welcome to start making use of the #steemsa tag on your posts so that we can support them with an upvote and resteem!
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