2 A reluctant heart

Tafari gazed at the sky filled with stars whilst he rubbed his arms that had turned black and blue from the bruises he incurred earlier. However, it was nighttime. That meant it was time for him to get back to work.

'I need to learn martial arts as these beatings are starting to piss me off. I don't mind being called a Mouse, but I need to leave some of my enemies' teeth on the floor while I'm running.

He shook his head while lamenting the incident that had led to the beating. A heartfelt sigh was heard before he murmured. 

'This world is one in which the weak get trampled over by the strong. I can't survive like this in the long term. I need strength to survive. I need strength to be in control of my destiny and not to be bullied by these thugs.'

Tafari knew that gaining strength was easier said than done since he had no family or backing to rely on.

There also was no hidden guardian protecting him from the shadows.

He came back to himself when the restaurant's back door finally opened, which led him to push his maudlin thoughts aside for now. 

He noticed that Mr Ming was standing in the doorway with a broom. 

Meanwhile, Mr Ming also gave a cursory glance at Tafari's bruised and battered appearance. A slight smile appeared on his ageing face as he watched with fond amusement at the child who seemed lost in his thoughts. 

'I swear this kid is something else. He seems always to have his head in the clouds.'

Mr Ming had always admired this kid and his resilience; it was something rare he saw amidst the many poverty-stricken orphans in this city.

He had first met Tafari on a night like this. Taf was found in an alley when he was around seven years old. The boy had begged him relentlessly and even asked if he could help him get in touch with someone who could offer him a job.

Mr Ming still recalled the child's determination that night, a glint in the boy's eyes that showed his unyielding character.

Despite begging, his back was straight, as if even all the world's cruelties couldn't affect him. No matter what, he would not be beaten down.

He had said that he was willing to work for the money by doing house chores or anything else available.

Mr Ming had been reminded of his own two kids back then, both at home with warm food and a roof over their heads.

The image pulled at his heartstrings as he observed the decrepit state of the child. 

Thus, they made a deal. Mr Ming would pay the boy three silver coins each week if Taf cleaned the restaurant and took out the garbage.

Furthermore, he was also offered a place to sleep. Although it was a rickety room that housed the cleaning supplies, it was the first place Tafari could finally call home.

It had a tiny discarded bed in the corner that once belonged to Mr Ming's daughter before she outgrew it, was now used by Tafari, who valued it like gold.

All the cold nights sleeping on hard concrete made him appreciate the small things like beds. 

The room was cramped, dusty, and filled with spider webs, but the child hadn't complained. 

Thinking back on it, it was the first time Tafari had felt inner peace and warmth. The dilapidated room had looked akin to a king's chambers to a child starved that had lived his whole life on the streets.

Since then, he had developed an admiration for the Ming family, especially Mr Ming, his principal benefactor.

He had never felt his parents' love as he had never known them. Even though he had known that Mr Ming was just being kind and generous, Tafari had always seen him as family since that fateful night.

To be continued...

Editor: Shiksha_Jerath & Robespierre_K