Poverty in the Eyes of a Child
I think back on the days when Moses, Luis and I had conversations about our child- hood. We used to talk about how much fun we had together as kids; but one of the things we spoke about was how we did not have many materials growing up. I guess you could say we were poor. However, I never felt that way. In my opinion, at no time did I think we were poor. I was a child about six or seven years old, barely in the first grade. My understanding and view of things was innocent just like any other kid my age. After wards, Luis, Moses and I finished analyzing the adversity ofthe past that came upon us when we were kids, we could still reflect on the genuine and pleasant times we had together growing up.
One of these pleasant times we had was when I was about six years old and was going to attend the first grade. It was going to be the first time at school for me. I was not too excited about attending school because Luis and Moses did not like to go to school. They used to be embarrassed to attend school, but they were forced to go by Mother. I did not understand why they always insisted on staying home and why Mother had a hard time with them about school. Nevertheless, Luis, who is the oldest by five years then I, was in charge of taking us to school. It was a cold, wet, cloudy, and dark morning as we walked to school; it must have been the third or fourth week of school since mom had taken me to school the first couple of weeks. As we walked through the street on the way to school, I could see Luis' face was sad and full of agony and misery. I did not know what was wrong, and out of curiosity I asked what was bothering him. Luis told me that he did not want to go to school because he was embarrassed. "Embarrassed of what?" I responded.
Luis responded in a soft, broken; down voice "Embarrassed of wearing the same clothes over and over again!"
I stopped and tried to comprehend the situation, but I had no clue about what he was trying to tell me. I now realize what he was talking about. Luis and Moses were tired of having to attend school with torn, bit-up shoes, and tight, high-water, same old torn up blue jeans with the ugliest, most horrible shirt. So there we were walking to school on a cloudy, windy, somber day and then suddenly it started to rain. I could see Luis' face getting more depressed because none of us had jackets. I thought Luis was about to cry. Out of nowhere, Moses, the second oldest and only four years older than I, suddenly told Luis to tell us a story. This was not odd for Moses to say in a difficult, sad, and hard time. As long as I can remember, Moses has always brought out the best in us and has always made something out of nothing. So Luis told us a story that we will cherish the rest of our lives, and one which we continued to tell each other as we grew up.
Another thing that we reflect on was our three bedroom home on Dyer and Andes. It is a red brick house with the back and front yard grass all the way to your knees, as if the lawn had not been cut in years. The yard had bushes, weeds growing, and who knows what else. This was true because we had not cut the grass in a long time. As a matter of fact, I do not think we ever did because we did not have a lawnmower. This was another thing Luis was embarrassed about. That our house looked ugly and repulsive; and for this reason his friends used to make fun of him. Since I was a kid I thought that having the grass like that was cool. I always thought that mom had it that way so we could play because that's all we did was play in the yard. Luis, Moses, and me would get together and play football on our ugly and repulsive yard. I still wish we could get together and play like we were little kids.
All in all, our favorite memories were in our unfurnished house, where we spent many nights in the dark because Mother could not pay the electric bill. The house was only furnished with a bed in each room that was given to us by my mom's college professor, and our television, radio that sat on top of a broken, beat up, falling apart wooden old table. However, that television, radio was something to look forward to. The reason for that was whoever woke up first had control of the television that is if we had any electricity. I think that's why Luis never brought anyone over. We had many beautiful nights in that house. I loved when the night came upon us, and Luis, Moses, Mom, and I brought out the candles and lit them so we could light up the house. It is an overwhelming feeling to see the brightness, and glowing of the candle glomming, and shinning thought the dark and empty rooms; bringing light and a sense of calmness. Like a real family sitting together on the fire place with dad telling a story like in the movies. Nevertheless, there was no such thing as a fire place or a father. It was just us with our Queen. I will always reminisce on those times when the candles were burning bringing life, love, and joy to our lives and home when we got together and waited for mom to cook our regular meal which was wheat, or bean with rice.
Those where the great memories I had in my days of poverty and will always cherish in my life. I strongly believe that there is no such thing as poverty in the eyes of a child there is only love, innocence, and life in the eyes and heart of kid.
One of these pleasant times we had was when I was about six years old and was going to attend the first grade. It was going to be the first time at school for me. I was not too excited about attending school because Luis and Moses did not like to go to school. They used to be embarrassed to attend school, but they were forced to go by Mother. I did not understand why they always insisted on staying home and why Mother had a hard time with them about school. Nevertheless, Luis, who is the oldest by five years then I, was in charge of taking us to school. It was a cold, wet, cloudy, and dark morning as we walked to school; it must have been the third or fourth week of school since mom had taken me to school the first couple of weeks. As we walked through the street on the way to school, I could see Luis' face was sad and full of agony and misery. I did not know what was wrong, and out of curiosity I asked what was bothering him. Luis told me that he did not want to go to school because he was embarrassed. "Embarrassed of what?" I responded.
Luis responded in a soft, broken; down voice "Embarrassed of wearing the same clothes over and over again!"
I stopped and tried to comprehend the situation, but I had no clue about what he was trying to tell me. I now realize what he was talking about. Luis and Moses were tired of having to attend school with torn, bit-up shoes, and tight, high-water, same old torn up blue jeans with the ugliest, most horrible shirt. So there we were walking to school on a cloudy, windy, somber day and then suddenly it started to rain. I could see Luis' face getting more depressed because none of us had jackets. I thought Luis was about to cry. Out of nowhere, Moses, the second oldest and only four years older than I, suddenly told Luis to tell us a story. This was not odd for Moses to say in a difficult, sad, and hard time. As long as I can remember, Moses has always brought out the best in us and has always made something out of nothing. So Luis told us a story that we will cherish the rest of our lives, and one which we continued to tell each other as we grew up.
Another thing that we reflect on was our three bedroom home on Dyer and Andes. It is a red brick house with the back and front yard grass all the way to your knees, as if the lawn had not been cut in years. The yard had bushes, weeds growing, and who knows what else. This was true because we had not cut the grass in a long time. As a matter of fact, I do not think we ever did because we did not have a lawnmower. This was another thing Luis was embarrassed about. That our house looked ugly and repulsive; and for this reason his friends used to make fun of him. Since I was a kid I thought that having the grass like that was cool. I always thought that mom had it that way so we could play because that's all we did was play in the yard. Luis, Moses, and me would get together and play football on our ugly and repulsive yard. I still wish we could get together and play like we were little kids.
All in all, our favorite memories were in our unfurnished house, where we spent many nights in the dark because Mother could not pay the electric bill. The house was only furnished with a bed in each room that was given to us by my mom's college professor, and our television, radio that sat on top of a broken, beat up, falling apart wooden old table. However, that television, radio was something to look forward to. The reason for that was whoever woke up first had control of the television that is if we had any electricity. I think that's why Luis never brought anyone over. We had many beautiful nights in that house. I loved when the night came upon us, and Luis, Moses, Mom, and I brought out the candles and lit them so we could light up the house. It is an overwhelming feeling to see the brightness, and glowing of the candle glomming, and shinning thought the dark and empty rooms; bringing light and a sense of calmness. Like a real family sitting together on the fire place with dad telling a story like in the movies. Nevertheless, there was no such thing as a fire place or a father. It was just us with our Queen. I will always reminisce on those times when the candles were burning bringing life, love, and joy to our lives and home when we got together and waited for mom to cook our regular meal which was wheat, or bean with rice.
Those where the great memories I had in my days of poverty and will always cherish in my life. I strongly believe that there is no such thing as poverty in the eyes of a child there is only love, innocence, and life in the eyes and heart of kid.
