The next decade....what's in store?

Kemar & Co.

I think the kids who are on the street selling have been to some training courses. One day last week, I encountered two of them in the Lane Plaza where Superplus is.

The first was was Kemar.

Kemar: Good day miss. How are you today?
Yamfoot: Fine thank you.
Kemar: Miss, would you like to buy a dish cloth or wash rag? I'm selling them to help send me to school.
Yamfoot: Lemme see what you have there? ( I don't need anything but I am so impressed by his politeness and well spokenness. I pick out two dish cloths) How much are these?
Kemar: Miss, $80 for one.
Yamfoot: Ok, I will take these two. Oh, but I don't have any Jamaican money on me. Will you take a US$5.00?
Kemar: Yes Miss.
Yamfoot: What's your name?
Kemar: Kemar
Yamfoot: What school do you go to Kemar?
Kemar: Denham Town Primary Miss.
Yamfoot: Oh, you come far. You do well in school?
Kemar: Yes Miss
Yamfoot: How much you usually come in your class?
Kemar: 1st Miss.
Yamfoot: Good. Keep it up. You know that education is what is going to make you not have to sell on the streets right?
Kemar: Yes Miss. Thank you Miss.
Yamfoot: Ok, Merry Christmas.
Kemar: You too Miss.

Later that day, I encountered another one selling shamoys. I really didn't need that and where as I could find use fo the dish cloths, I could not with the shamoys. He then asked me for some small change to buy something to eat. I asked him if he was sure he wouldn't throw it back at me, as I have had done to me before. He looked shocked that anybody would do such a thing, and that I would even suggest that. Anyway, I found what I could and gave him and he said thank you.

I thought they were both so polite. If only their mothers hadn't put them in the circumstances they both find themselves in, who knows what they could become? Well, they still have time to make something of themselves. I almost felt like calling Denham Town school to find out more about Kemar the Grade 5 student. His diction was excellent, and so was his grammar, something unusual for kids who are on the streets.