WAITER BOY
Rooftop Restaurant
Varanasi, India
July 2015
A small boy waits on my table and brings me food every day. He
is very slight and quiet. He is probably 12 years old but he looks to be about
9 or 10. But poverty can really stunt a
person’s growth. He is a hard worker. He hustles all day long. He is very good about anticipating my needs. He
is here at 8:00AM and stays well beyond 8:00 PM, every day, seven days a week.
I have asked him a few times if he goes to school. His
English is pretty good. I am sure he understands me because he gets my food
order right every day. So I am sure he
understands when I ask him, “Do you go to school?” He answers, “Yes” each time but I don’t think
he goes to school. And I don’t think he says yes to lie to me but rather to survive
and avert my potential judgment of disapproval.
