Reality

You saw several kids playing in the yard. You went closer and picked one of them up. The little boy held out a book he was reading to you. He mumbled something you couldn't make out, held the book back closer and showed the page he liked the most. Then he smiled knowing that you cared so much about his interest. The kids were having fun and everything seemed normal.

Except that it wasn't. These were not normal kids. They're special. We were at a Special Care center for a little planning on our community outreach. There were plenty of kids. Some were diagnosed with HIV since birth. Some were abandoned since birth. There were also single mothers. Some were HIV positive. And a few persons with AIDS.

Where were all the fathers? Gone. Prison. Dead. Or still wondering around out there living a "supernormal" life? Or 'subnormal'. It wouldn't matter. They're gone.

As I held the little boy, the caretaker warned the men not to play with them kids for too long. They could become emotionally attached. Any fatherly figure. She said, when project done, you guys left, the kids would cry and get sick/fever. Let's not leave them at that.