homicidal, in need of therapy
Malling is one of my stress outlets. Not that I'm a shopaholic. I go to the mall nearly every day to walk. It's a couple of blocks from my office and my daily exercise. Plus retail therapy when needed.
Walking in Manila can be disturbing. You have to contend with the filth and traffic even at short distances. There are also street people everywhere, the occasional tourist and employees going about their daily business.
I am jarred everytime I see a Caucasian man in his forties or fifties holding the hand of a small, elementary age child, just walking somewhere. At first, it was only odd. Then I overheard my friends who worked in Department of Social Welfare and Development (closest equivalent to local child services) talk about it. Followed by the city ordinance setting a curfew for minors.
Today I saw a Caucasian man in his fifties walking around the mall with a little girl about the look of my six-year-old nieces. They were being trailed by a teenaged boy in walking shorts. The man was evidently a tourist. The little girl wore a short skirt and a backless blouse. I saw them again. This time the man bought the girl ice cream while the boy hovered.
Try as I might, I can't think of any other plausible reason that they would be in this tableau save the worst. And the boy is probably the "relative" or "guardian" the law mandates that accompanies the child, the loophole. And I can't do anything about it, not even call the police or the DSWD. I can wish him dead. Or the little girl saved. But that's about it.
Now I hope I can still function for the rest of this very long day.
Walking in Manila can be disturbing. You have to contend with the filth and traffic even at short distances. There are also street people everywhere, the occasional tourist and employees going about their daily business.
I am jarred everytime I see a Caucasian man in his forties or fifties holding the hand of a small, elementary age child, just walking somewhere. At first, it was only odd. Then I overheard my friends who worked in Department of Social Welfare and Development (closest equivalent to local child services) talk about it. Followed by the city ordinance setting a curfew for minors.
Today I saw a Caucasian man in his fifties walking around the mall with a little girl about the look of my six-year-old nieces. They were being trailed by a teenaged boy in walking shorts. The man was evidently a tourist. The little girl wore a short skirt and a backless blouse. I saw them again. This time the man bought the girl ice cream while the boy hovered.
Try as I might, I can't think of any other plausible reason that they would be in this tableau save the worst. And the boy is probably the "relative" or "guardian" the law mandates that accompanies the child, the loophole. And I can't do anything about it, not even call the police or the DSWD. I can wish him dead. Or the little girl saved. But that's about it.
Now I hope I can still function for the rest of this very long day.