Still not enough. She sat on her bench and stared at the road. The [music] boys stood nearby, waiting. Go, she told them softly. It’s late. They nodded and walked toward the unfinished building. Goi stood up slowly and followed them with her eyes. As she turned to leave, she heard voices. She stopped. The voices were low, coming from behind the building. [music] She recognized them.
The boys goi did not mean to listen. She really did not, but her feet froze. Solar spoke first. Do you think she will stop feeding us one day? He asked. Kunnel answered quietly. I hope not. Tunday was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Even if she stops, we must not be angry.” “Why?” Solar asked.
“Because she already did too much.” Tunday said. Go’s chest tightened. Solar sniffed. I wish we had clean clothes. Kunnel added, “I wish we could sleep inside a room.” There was a pause. Then Tundday said something that made N Goi press her hand to her mouth. One day he said we will come back for Mean Goi.
Solar laughed softly. With what? With something. Tunday said, “We will not forget her.” Goi felt her knees weaken. She leaned against the wall, tears sliding down her face. She turned and walked away quietly so they would not see her. That night, did not sleep well. She turned on her mattress again and again. Madame Beast’s words played in her head.
You are feeding future criminals. She looked at the ceiling. What if she is right? Goi whispered. She imagined the boys growing up angry. She imagined them stealing. She imagined people blaming her. Her chest hurt. [music] The next morning, Goi woke up late. She sat on the edge of her mattress and stared at the floor.
“Maybe I should stop,” she said to herself. just stop. She did not move for a long time. Then she stood up slowly and started cooking. Her hands moved without joy. When she reached her shop, she noticed something quickly. The boys were already there. They stood across the road waiting. Solar waved when he saw her. Goi forced a smile.
Customers came and went. Her eyes kept moving to the boys. Her heart argued with itself. You can’t help everyone. one voice said. But you can help these three. Another voice answered. Around noon, Madame BC passed again. She smirked, still feeding them. Goi did not answer. Madame BC shook her head. When business dies, don’t cry.
She walked away. Goza’s throat felt tight. She looked at her pot. Food was not much. If she fed the boys, she might not sell enough. She closed her eyes. When she opened them, the boys were still there waiting. She picked up a plate. Her hands shook. She served rice less than usual. She added stew. She walked toward the boys. They looked surprised.
“You came?” Solar said. Goi placed the plate down. The boys divided the food. Kunnel looked up at her. “Thank you.” Goi nodded. That simple word broke something inside her. That evening when she packed up, she was tired. Her feet hurt. Her back hurt. Her heart hurt. But when she thought of stopping, her chest felt even heavier. She walked home slowly.
As she lay on her mattress, she spoke out loud. “I don’t know how long I can do this,” she said. “But I will try.” Outside, the night was quiet. [music] Across the road, three boys slept close to each other. And even though the world kept shouting that kindness was foolish, and chose it again.
The trouble did not come suddenly. It came slowly, like a shadow that kept growing every day. For weeks after Madame Beast’s loud words, business became worse. People still passed Go’s table, but many did not stop. Some looked at the boys first, then walked away. Others whispered as they passed. Goi noticed everything. She noticed the way people avoided her eyes.
She noticed the way customers hurried away after buying food. She noticed how her pot became empty faster, but her money stayed small. [music] That morning, Goi woke up with a heavy chest.She sat on her mattress for a long time before standing up. I will manage, she told herself. just today. She cooked with less rice than usual.
[music] She cooked with less stew. She told herself she would cook more tomorrow. When she got to the roadside, the sun was already hot. She set up her table and waited. The boys were not there yet. felt strange. They are probably late, she said to herself. Customers came early that day. One bought food, then another, then two more. And served quickly.
Her pot became lighter. She looked inside and frowned. This is too fast, she whispered. She glanced across the road again. Still no boys. Her heart began to beat faster. What if they don’t come today? She wondered. She tried to focus on serving food. By midday, her pot was almost empty. She wiped sweat from her face and [music] stared inside the pot again.
There is nothing, she said quietly. Just a little rice stuck to the bottom. Just a little stew. Go’s throat [music] tightened. She looked around the street. Then she saw them. Tundday was walking in front like always. Solar was talking, [music] waving his hands. Kunnel walked quietly behind them. They were smiling. They were coming for food.
Go’s heart dropped. She forced herself to smile back. You came? She said as they reached her table. Yes, Sola said. We were hungry. Goi swallowed. She turned toward her pot slowly like moving too fast would break something. She lifted the lid. Nothing. The boys stood quietly behind her. Goi felt heat rise to her eyes.
