2/16/2010 ? Beggar Boy

Something I forgot to write about, that left a striking impression on me, happened after I met up with my friends in the evening on the first day in Shanghai, and before we went to search for the restaurant. Although I had been to the ATM, I hadn’t had time to exchange some of the USD that I had brought with me from the states. So before dinner we walked back to the bank.

On the way to the bank we came to a cross walk where, across the street on the side walk was a little boy of about nine years old laying on the side walk, occasionally twitching. Already wondering if this boy is actually hurt, sick, or laying a trap to pick our pockets, my friends and I cross the street and ask if he is ok. Of course we are asking in English and who knows if it would have been helpful. This boy had good clothes on and was holding two bags of items so it truly appeared as if he was going somewhere and collapsed. Once we were closer I could also see that his eyes were open, but they were fixed on a certain area and did not move like he had control of them.

We did not know what to do. All too aware that helping this boy without knowing the real situation could be dangerous for us, we stood there debating if we should do anything at all. Then a group of elderly women crossed the street and went around the boy without a second glance. We pointed at him to the women, but they just shook their heads as they walked by and continued their conversation.

We took this as a cue that the boy was fine, and he was trying to get attention and moreover, money.  We continued toward the bank. About halfway down the block one of the Michael's turned and saw the boy getting up, picking up his things and moving on with a lively pace. 

I was furious. I don’t generally get angry with beggars. I might get annoyed but at least they are straightforward. This was my first encounter with someone so young preying on the caring, and kindness of others in a deceitful manner. This was a boy, a young boy who was crying wolf. It made me angry and sad. I couldn’t help but wonder, what happens to the young boy who does have a seizure on the street? Do old women just walk by? Do tourists pass and point saying, “Look at the boy in the street”?

This experience made me look at how we build society and develop trust. How we need trust to function and feel safe. I was sad that a boy so young was learning to destroy trust and breakdown the basic foundation of any community.