KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

KINDNESS OF STRANGERS:

NEPALESE MAMA


We had lasted through the long night, a collection of random travelers clinging to the youth hostel’s patio, as the sky brightened, then went electric blue. Stars twinkled and were lost as the lake caught the first morning light. It was time for the comfort of my own rented room. I’d been in Pokhara, Nepal for an extended stop. Two days had extended into two weeks. As morning dawned and I was heading homeward along the water’s edge I was joined by a beautiful Mama with khol lined eyes and a babe on her hip. She invited me to sit for tea. Lead into her family’s one room home, I sat as she filled two earthen cups, while her husband dressed their big girls in tattered school uniforms. And then she made her plea. Anything would help. Yes I see. I would love to extend my comforts some. The price of breakfast at home would buy them a new girls dress. All I had, equal to $7 U.S., I pressed into her palm, and was grateful for the chance to impact their lives some, as they had mine.