Children Should Not Hustle!

Young girl hawking sachet water.
Image: The Guardian

The little girl ran up to me, somehow balancing the crate of boiled eggs on her head and trying to keep her falling wrapper in place. Her feet were clad with slippers that were well worn and designed with holes. She couldn't have been more than eight years old and as she reached me, the smell of her unwashed body repulsed me more than she could have imagined. As she raised her head to ask if I wanted the eggs, I had a full view of her face. 

Ripple Effect (II)

To get acquainted with the first part of the story, read (here)

After what seemed like eternity, the lights came back on.

He opened his eyes and saw himself. He looked around, noticing how small he had become, how very insignificant and...trapped!