Kids Will Be Kids...

The kids have realized that if they are hurt or sick, they get extra attention from Auntie Mariel. Lately I haven’t been able to get out of the car without getting a full play-by-play of who is sick and what happened to everyone since I saw them last. After inspecting all the bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes, we move onto the more serious issues:
“CheChe sick.”
“Sick? What wrong with him?”
“His skin be hot!”

Out come the malaria tests. I can’t help but feel a slight guilt when he, completely trusting, offers his little finger to be pricked for a blood sample. I warn him that it will “hurt small”, but that he will be “alright”. The poke comes, he jumps, and big tears roll down his face. I hold him while we wait for the results: definitely positive. We work out the dosing of the malaria meds and give him some Tylenol. I explain to the director the importance of finishing the meds and how to give them properly. CheChe says that he can eat his pills fine, and that’s exactly what he does: chews them, not even grimacing at the bitterness. Then he rests his head on my chest and nearly falls asleep. Before I go I notice his little body already cooling off. I know that next time I go to the orphanage he will be one of the first kids to find me. After being sick there is always a special bond with Auntie Mariel…