A story of a boy from Ampara a reflection of the state of our ‘Rural Youth’ Part 4

a continuation from the previous blog entry

As if that was not enough, I think these growing boys need to eat more than three meals a day, constantly angling to eat. My problem was that I am not completely set up for a cooking experience! And still have to get the gas cooker oven serviced. As I eat seldom or eat out, it does not bother me, but buying three meals in Colombo 7 is not an easy task and inevitably the amount given to him for food, exceeded his monthly wage. I had budgeted on it being equal to his monthly wage but not a lot more! Over and above what was being consumed from the tea and biscuits type which are bought it separately and are not part of the budget.

I was always a little concerned about him walking the streets of Colombo 7 at night in order for him to pick up a dinner or go to a supermarket to pick up some milk. Gregory’s Road may be today arguably the best designed street anywhere. One side is for pedestrians as it is part of the Defense Secretary’s daily evening walk, and the other side is for parking vehicles cross ways in demarcated parking bays. There are about 20 uniformed policemen on duty 24 hours a day due to either the Embassies or the Ambassadors residences being on this road. In addition there are about 40 people who are 24 hour security personnel guarding the entrances of pricey homes or by-lanes. He could be liable to be picked if he was not dressed in suitable attire. His choice of attire is not to my liking so each time he went out, an alarm bell rang about his the likelihood of being stopped and questioned sans ID.

The final crunch came when he refused to go to the farm to help his nephew with washing the dogs. He was just being spoilt, never having to do anything in his life, part of Sri Lanka’s youngest son syndrome, where they are really good for nothing and can do nothing but yap and complain and talk back when corrected.

What sets him apart from the numerous people I see who are looking for jobs, with qualifications and degrees, who in their 30s are still looking for their first job is the confidence he has in dealing with people, and total lack of respect for anyone. When you get someone who has rarely been corrected in their lives, and possibly not been controlled by anyone even their school teachers, authority is something alien to them. I while realizing this, thought the army would have taught him some respect for the elders.

He realizing that he could not take any more correction, decided to go back home on his own wish, and fortunately did not drag his nephew along with him, who is on the farm exclusively taking care of my dogs, as I am not in a position at the moment to spend time with them except one day a week when I play with them.

Ironically there was no ill will between us. It was simply that he could not obey!

Concluded (I intend visiting him one day in his surroundings to get an idea of his environs)