NO MORE HUNGER

 

Maryse’s heart was very jubilant. She could not believe her sudden change of luck. Two days ago she and two years old son resigned to eating mud cakes in order to avoid starving to death. Someone from the kindness of their hearts left her a plate of food at the entrance of her straw hut. Who could it be? She wondered. She took the plate of fritay and placed half of its content on a banana leaf for her dear Ronald. She savored the taste of the griot, banane frite and patate douce. After eating, she thanked God once again for blessing her with this food , from there her mind reverted back to last year’s hurricane that devasted her village. Nearly have of the inhabitants of Cap-Haitien were killed including her husband and two daughters.   Her goats, chicken all perished never to be seen again. Her only possession is her beloved Ronald who miraculously survived because she managed to hold on tighly to him while holding on to the avocado tree near her home. Oh! How she loves him ! Oh! How he reminded her of her dear husband. Her mission in life is to make sure that Ronald is well cared for.

“Maryse, Maryse, shouted a distant voice, wake-up.” She reluctantly opened one eye and soon realized she was dreaming. The sharp hunger pangs in the pit of her stomach instantly brought her back to reality. She turned her head in the direction of Ronald who was sound asleep on a straw mat. “ Chère amie, you must hurry so we will not miss the Tap-Tap who will take us to Port-au-Prince. “ Maryse gently picked up Ronald and the few gourdes she saved in order to pay for the bus ride to Port-au-Prince.

Ronald being so tiny, he was able to comfortably fit in a small panier layered with cloth. Maryse sat the panier on her lap . Every so often she would glance down on her prized possession as he slept soundly. The trip to Port-au-Prince took nearly eight hours. It was a long and difficult journey. Upon their arrival they walked along crammed narrow alleys. Along the way, she took notice of the poverty of her homeland and how palpable it was. The  abject poverty was very evident in the eyes  of the women covered with soot, who sat on the roadside selling coal made from trees. Many vendors with overflowing baskets perched on their heads walked past her. Her stomach gnawed with a sharp hunger upon seeing the mangoes and other tropical fruits. She quickly reminded herself why she made this journey, it was for her son.

After walking what seems to be for an eternity, Maryse and Josette arrived at her final destination.   They stood motionless for a few minutes contemplating their next move. They stared at each other, made the sign of the cross and prayed silently asking God for forgiveness for what they were about to do. Josette stood guard as Maryse entered the building,   from there she walked straight to the woman’s bathroom. Her heart pounding in her chest, she laid down in a corner her sleeping angel, Ronald. She quickly left to go rejoin Josette .

A large concrete building housed the “ International Adoption Agency.” This agency was well known for its benevolent works.  The executive director, Madame Wilson is a well liked and respected woman in the community. Now in her mid-forties she started the agency ten years ago. In her early teens she came to Haiti on a mission trip with her church. She and other church members spend the summer helping rebuild homes and shelters that were destroyed by hurricanes. She quickly fell in love with the Haitian people. It was hard to comprehend the harsh reality of a country so steep in poverty. All around her the poverty screamed back at her with a force that shook the inner depths of her heart. It was during that unforgettable summer she decided she would one day return to Haiti.

“Oh mon dieu, madame Wilson, “ screamed her personal assistant michèle, “ I found this child in the bathroom.” Michèle held the straw basket ever so carefully. In it Ronald was curled up like a lazy cat. His body was frail, his thin limbs and reddish hair showed the telltale sign of acute malnutrition. Next to Ronald was a shriveled piece of paper with the following message: Plz hep ma chld dye of no fd to eet. Madame Wilson knew too well, she retrieved Ronald from the basket and went and sat down on a nearby wicker chair. Her first thoughts, we must get this child something to eat right away, and then to the local clinic that her husband runs. Later she made phone calls to her many local contacts, within the hour she was able to find a temporary home for Ronald. Her top priority was for this child to recover from acute bouts of malnutrition.

© Nicole Weaver 2009