Shy Shai Hills Crossing

It was around 7:12 am on Sunday 12, July 2020 around Shai Hills, when this shy lady crossed the road. Although she was somewhat conscious of the need to get to the other side of the highway, she was lost in her thoughts and might have least expected the vehicle to approach with such speed.

So my good fair colleague who's steering the dark Vibe Pontiac Car at 70km to 75km per hour graciously swerved to the left side of the road in order to avoid hitting her. Though she quickened her pace a bit, she was casually calm with calculated steps, walking as if nothing was at stake. She strolled with a distinct stale experience of life, clad in the absence of stateliness. Yet the mirthfulness in her style signals a striving souls' gratitude for the gift of life. 

Moving steadily, she looked strengthened by the dew bath of the dawn and much ready to walk into the beautiful morning. But buried in her lonely thoughts of many loud possibilities,  she seemed to be relishing the cool breeze that caressed her skin through the gapping sections of her clothes. But I doubt if she really complained or worried excessively about her clothes and most of the things we worry about. Looking at her from the driving mirror before her image fizzled out, I knew she was searching for solace in a world of the sane even as she hugs her condition unknowingly.

Indeed, it's an unexpected but brief encounter that greets one's tenderness and yet a testament of how we have collectively left my lady friend and many others in her situation to their fate. 

It is alleged that sometime when the population of our friends increases on the streets of our cities, they are picked up into some special trucks and sent to a temporary place, from where they are later transported to villages far away from these cities. 

We learn of some steep prejudice against persons with mental impairment who are mostly associated with witchcraft and the belief that most were paying for their evil machination in the past.

Besides, some of the women in my lady friend's condition have been impregnated (by unidentified shy men) and walk on our streets without being cared for. While others are cursed for being on the offensive and attacking sane people, often time their greatest need is to be cared for and not neglected, abandoned, ostracized, and treated scornfully.

So lost in these thoughts after my lady friend crossed the road, I asked my colleague, whether our country really Cares for them?

He promptly responded in a sober tone that we have not done much to cater for these vulnerable persons in our society. 

Sometimes I wonder whether we care for ourselves?

Other times I ponder over how we can collectively care for them and be better? 

But must they beg before we care for them?

It is interesting to know that the asylum and rehabilitation centres in our country are still inadequate and I think we are not doing enough as a people to serve the betterment of every citizen. In fact, by denying them care out of stigma or because of some long-held stereotypes against our friends is an unhealthy practice and an affront to our humanity. 

We are obliged by natural law to care for each other. This is because in their presence we find our humanity, and in their vulnerabilities, we discover our own weaknesses. That's the more reason why we need to reach out to them and help build an equitable society. 

She crossed the road in front of me on Sunday,

And it crossed my mind to share these thoughts with you. Maybe we can show some little care to them and help make a little difference in their lives, especially during this COVID-19 era?

Stay safe. Greetings.

©KYB ✍🏿15/7/2020