The little boy was on the verge of turning seventeen, even though calling him “little boy” no longer felt quite right. From a young age, he had to take on responsibilities that even adult men sometimes avoid. He lived with his mother and sister. His father died when he was still a child, due to an accident at work that could have been prevented. Of course, the manager did not take responsibility. His father was a laborer, a seasonal worker. According to the law, seasonal workers are not required to be insured.
When the accident happened, many people asked: Don’t workers have safety harnesses and helmets when working at such a height? Not long after the incident, a new law made it mandatory for all employers to ensure safety measures for every worker, no matter what the type of contract is. But the manager never took responsibility. He only said, “I don’t owe anyone anything. Not your father, and not you.” The manager added, “I wasn’t the cause of the accident, and I am not the one who should pay for it.” And he was right; no lawyer could charge the manager with manslaughter. But if the accident had happened just a few months later, everything would have been different. The manager would have been held responsible.
So, from the day his father died, the little boy was no longer a little boy. He worked alongside his mother. He still went to school. In the early mornings, before sunrise, he worked as a street sweeper. The rest of the day was spent selling goods on the street or doing manual labor. The situation wasn’t normal, especially with his mother’s back pain. She could no longer handle cleaning houses.
That morning, around 4 a.m., while it was still dark, the boy walked slowly, sweeping the length of the street. Lost in all kinds of thoughts, in the dim morning light, he noticed a small bag in the corner of the street. He bent down, picked up the bag, and opened it. The poor boy had never seen so much money in his life and it was foreign money, too! He stood frozen for a few minutes, staring at the money. Then he closed the bag. There was no need to look around. No one was there. The little boy was completely alone. He tucked the broom under his arm and started walking. There were so many things he could do with all that money.
The next day, when his friend found out about what had happened, he stared wide-eyed in shock and said, “You stupid boy! Don’t you know the rule? Whatever you find is yours!”
The little boy looked away. He stayed silent for a few moments and did not answer. Then he said, “If I went back, I’d do the same thing again. The money wasn’t mine.”
Some people do not need to be reminded of what’s right, they just know.
To be continued…