For the Children

                                                                     For the children

 By Vaishnavi Pernenkil

A gaggle of children approached. One hiding behind the other, the one in the back covering a smile with her hand. 

“You are pretty,” she said snickering to herself.

“Little one, why are you hiding? I see you lost a tooth.” replied the woman.

“Yes,” replied the little one shyly.

The woman held on to the best of her ability as she was on the motorbike, grasping the shoulder of the translator as she was pushed through the crowds of cars and scooters. 

The translator Da said, “We have a loaded schedule today mam, are you ready?”

“Yes I am,” said the woman.

The children were the priority, educating them and guiding their light. As the woman made it to each school, the children waited patiently for the translator to review her words.

    “Akun chren.” said the woman after she was done, and the children all laughed at her attempt to speak Khmer. 

    It was the memories of the laughter of children that echoed in the woman’s mind, as she went school to school teaching. After the genocide in Cambodia, the children are the new generation that determine the fate of the country.

*Akun chren: thank you very much in Khmer