Fairuz had, as usual, come to borrow something and had knocked and knocked, or so she said, and nobody had answered. Fatima had already gone to the shop and I was still sleeping. So the girl tried the door handle, found the door was unlocked, and came in.
I remember how Fatima had screamed when she had found the girl sitting by my side, because she had made no effort to get up even when Fatima had come to stand right in front of her. And, to make matters worse, she had been dressed in the same type of clothing, the kind that barely concealed her full body. I had just woken up and was more surprised than anything to find the child sitting there. I could just gape flabbergasted as Fatima practically threw her out, and for a long time they never came to borrow anything. I had tried explaining to Fatima that I had no knowledge of the child's intentions, but Fatima was adamant that if I wasn't so accommodating in giving them food and money, and anything that they asked for, they wouldn't be so forward, especially the girl!
"Sweetheart...Sweetheart..." Fatima got through my reverie, and handed me a glass of cool drink. There was no accusation or anger on her face. She was just smiling broadly. "Who or what are you thinking so passionately about? Hmmm?"
I kissed her on the lips. "You, of course!"
She laughed. "Thank you, Sweetie. I believe you. With all my heart." And she went back to the house.
I winked at Jameel, and thought how lucky I was to have someone like Fatima by my side. Not only was she an understanding kind of person, but also someone who couldn't bear a grudge against anybody. Whether she had seen Fairuz there with us or not, she would not harp on it. And should they come looking for food or anything else, she would not turn her back on them. But I wondered, as I finished my drink, what she would have said if she had known about that one morning when Fairuz had gone to the shop for me and on returning had been alone with me in the house.
Article comments
1 - Jennifer Bogart
Sadly many, many children are forced into prostitution. They are victims who often have no other choice - beaten into submission, held against their wills. It's a terrible thing. Thankfully there are even now agencies working to rescue child prostitutes and teach them valuable life skills. We can do more than pray.
2 - Ruvy
Ismail,
Just curious as to where you are writing from. R100 is 100 rupees? Or are we talking about a different unit of money?
You wrote a fine article, BTW. Excellent characterization for a vignette about being saved from sin and evil, which is what this article was really about. But the title was misleading. It indicated that you would actually deal with the question asked in the title.
3 - Joy Lightning
I was mislead by the title as well. I read this through and I feel like some things are missing. Where is the compassion? It sounds like this girl, you don't trust her, partially because you are untrustworthy yourself.
I wonder why her father isn't working. It sounds like you don't know about what's put this family into this condition.
I wonder why you are angry with the girl and not with your friend. How is he treating this child who I assume could be the age of his daughter if not his baby sister? You are assuming things. Could she be caring for his kids so he and his wife can have a night out? Is it possible that there is an innocent reason for her being in his car? You could ask your friend to see why he's dropping her off.
For me it was compassion that is missing here. The family needs assistance, she's the poor on your doorstep, can you help her without risking your soul? I think you can. Maybe it could be only your wife who gives her jobs to do. That would be kind, and completely proper.
4 - Cindy
You asked, so, here goes. I will tell you why this child does what she does. Are you sure you want to hear the answer?
In Hawaii, it is common for children to call women they know 'auntie'. Such a title is like an honor, it brings with it the cultural recognition that women will care for all children and treat them like their very own nieces and nephews. They will bear the responsibility of being the adult, as children sometimes need us to be, not being adults or having enough experience with the world to always make the best or safest decisions alone. Sometimes children need protection, sometimes the right kind of help. But they always need the adults they associate with never to fall down on their job of acting like loving, protective grown-ups who never expect that the child should be the adult instead of they themselves.
I assume this is a similar cultural practice for this child to call men 'uncle'. I think there is a sort of trust in accepting such an honorable form of address.
Before I get to the reason, let me get this out of the way. That you are raising your voice to a child and demanding she settle an account between yourself and another grown man is a boundary problem. Adults do not act appropriately when they do not attend to their own business and, instead, they expect a child to do this for them. Consider the reason you would do this. Are you afraid to take care of your own business?
That you responded to the girl's inappropriateness with more inappropriateness yourself suggests another problem with personal boundaries. What do you think an 'uncle' would do when greeted with such an inappropriate suggestion from a child? What do you think any appropriate grown-up would do when met with a child whose dress and behavior is suggestive? Would someone who cared about that child take advantage?
I'll make a guess that your sex life with your wife could use some help. Only because this is sometimes what leads an otherwise reasonable man not to recognize when he is doing the wrong thing. Yes, it's you, not the child. The child needs help, instead you offered her someone who would take advantage of her unfortunate choices. She is a child who does not have a reliable adult to guide her. You, like the rest of the adults in her life, failed her as well.
The reason children become prostitutes is because there are men who treat them the same way you did. If all men they met treated them like the misguided children that they are and acted like supportive, caring adults, there could be no child prostitution.