Tonight I had Christmas dinner at a friend's expat bar here in Bangkok. Late in the night a little boy came in selling flowers. Nobody wanted to buy, so after the staff let him eat a free dinner, he headed to the pool table in the back (a coin-op bar-box) and played with the three remaining balls on the table. He noticed that I was watching him, so he asked me if I wanted to play. He didn't have the money to play a game.
The idea of a young boy selling flowers late at night was disturbing to me. He should be getting a good night's sleep to go to school the next morning (Christmas is not a Holiday here.) But seeing that he was fascinated with the game, I said OK. I asked him how old he was in Thai. He was seven. He said if I won, he would give me a flower, and if he won he would get 100 Baht. I let him win.
After a couple games, I asked him how much to buy all of his flowers. But the staff told me not to buy. They said if he came home without flowers, his parents would take all of his money. At least by losing games to him, he would have some money that was his. The staff also gave him some money, but didn't take any flowers.
No amount of money would change his situation. It turns out that a Saudi in the bar had agreed to give him $100 a week if he would go to school. But his parents took all the money and put him back on the street. At least the bar gave him a safe haven to eat, rest, and enjoy an occasional game of pool.
The best I could do for him was to let him enjoy a few games of pool for Christmas.
The idea of a young boy selling flowers late at night was disturbing to me. He should be getting a good night's sleep to go to school the next morning (Christmas is not a Holiday here.) But seeing that he was fascinated with the game, I said OK. I asked him how old he was in Thai. He was seven. He said if I won, he would give me a flower, and if he won he would get 100 Baht. I let him win.
After a couple games, I asked him how much to buy all of his flowers. But the staff told me not to buy. They said if he came home without flowers, his parents would take all of his money. At least by losing games to him, he would have some money that was his. The staff also gave him some money, but didn't take any flowers.
No amount of money would change his situation. It turns out that a Saudi in the bar had agreed to give him $100 a week if he would go to school. But his parents took all the money and put him back on the street. At least the bar gave him a safe haven to eat, rest, and enjoy an occasional game of pool.
The best I could do for him was to let him enjoy a few games of pool for Christmas.
