Why do buses shout? He asked one day. They don’t shout. Goi laughed. They honk. Oh, Solar said, [music] satisfied. Connell did not talk much. He watched everything. He noticed when customers were angry. He noticed when Goi was tired. One day he asked quietly, “Are you okay, Mama?” Goi smiled. I am fine. Tunday stayed serious.
He watched the road. [music] He watched people. He watched Nozi. One afternoon, he asked, “Why are you helping us?” Goi paused. She did not answer immediately. She wiped her hands on her wrapper. “Because someone helped me once,” she said. “The boys nodded, even though they did not fully understand.” “Weeks passed.
The boys came every afternoon. Sometimes Gozi worried. What if I run out of food?” she thought. “What if customers come late?” But every time she looked at the boys, her worries became quiet. One evening, as the sun was going down, Gozi packed her things. The boys stood up to leave.
See you tomorrow, Solah said with a grin. Goi smiled back. I will be here. As they walked away, Tunday turned back. “Man Goi,” he said. “Yes,” she replied. “One day, Tunday said slowly. We will not forget you.” N Goi laughed lightly. Just come and eat tomorrow. Tunday nodded. The boys walked away. Goi watched them until they disappeared behind the unfinished building.
[music] She did not know why his words stayed in her head. That night, as she lay on her thin mattress, she thought about the three boys. She thought about their careful hands dividing food. She thought about their quiet voices. She thought about how small kindness could feel so big.
Outside the night was quiet and across the road, three hungry boys slept with full stomachs. For the first time in a long time, Mosi slept with a soft smile on her face. The next morning, Mosi woke up tired, but her body moved on its own. She washed her face, tied her wrapper, and started cooking like always.
As she stirred the pot, her mind was not calm. It kept going back to the same thoughts. What if I lose customers? She asked herself quietly. What if people stop coming because of the boys? She shook her head and kept cooking. By the time she pushed her wooden table to the roadside, the sun was already climbing. Cars passed. People rushed. Life moved fast like it always did.
Goi arranged her plates and spoons. She stood behind her table and waited. Not long after, the boys arrived. Tunday walked in front. Solar followed, talking softly. Kunnel came last, watching everything. N Goi felt something warm in her chest when she saw them. “You came early today,” she said. “Yes,” Solar replied. “We were hungry.
” N Goi smiled, but the smile did not fully reach her eyes. “She was thinking.” Customers began to come. Some bought food, some stood and waited. The boys stayed close, but not too close. A man buying food noticed them. “Are these your children?” he asked. N Goi. Goi shook her head. “No,” the man frowned. “Then why are they here everyday?” Goi scooped rice into his plate and answered calmly.
“They [music] come to eat.” The man snorted, “Be careful. Street boys are dangerous.” Goi handed him his plate. “Thank you,” she said. The man walked away, shaking his head. The boys pretended not to hear, but Mosi saw their shoulders stiffen. Later that day, Madame Bi arrived. Madame BC sold food two tables away.
She was loud, proud, [music] and always dressed better than She stood with her hands on her waist and stared at the boys. “So it’s true,” she said loudly. “You have turned your shop into a feeding center.” People knew by looked. Goi felt her face heat up. Good afternoon, Madame Bi, she said politely. Madame Bi laughed. “Don’t greet me. Answer me. Why are these dirty boysalways here?” Goi kept her voice calm.
“They eat and go.” Madame BC leaned closer. [music] “You are feeding future criminals,” she said loud enough for others to hear. “When they grow up and steal, remember you helped them.” Solar looked down. Kunnel clenched his hands. Tunday said nothing. Goi felt anger rise in her chest, but she swallowed it.
They are just children, Goi said. Madame BC scoffed. Childhren turn into thieves. She turned to a customer and laughed. See kindness killing business. The customer laughed too. Go’s hands shook as she served food. When Madame BC finally walked away, Goi exhaled slowly. That afternoon, fewer customers came. Some passed and looked at the boys, then kept walking. Goi noticed.
Her heart sank. When it was time, she brought out a plate for the boys. Rice was less than usual. She felt ashamed. I’m sorry, she said. [music] Today is small. Tunday shook his head. It’s okay. They divided the food like always. Goi watched them eat and felt tears burn her eyes. That evening, as she packed up, her money was not enough. She counted it twice.
