Save The Children ... And Inner-Children

                                          KAI
Oh yeah, don’t start your adoption nonsense, okay?

                                          LEE
There’s a surplus of orphans in the world; why have more kids when you can adopt?

                                          ANDREA
Oops, there she goes again.

                                          KAI
Remember that presentation she did on environmental issues? First she proposed using human skin in place of leather and furs for coats; then she announced to the entire class that she doesn’t believe in saving the environment.

                                          ANDREA
Oh yeah, and that she’s waiting for the next asteroid to collide with the Earth and wipe out mankind. How on earth did we manage find a friend like her?

                                          LEE
I’m special.

                                          KAI
Only if ‘special’ is another word for ‘weird’, darling. In which case everybody thinks you’re special.

                                          LEE
Thanks for the vote of confidence.

:::

Sometimes, I really wish I could keep my mouth shut ... because when you talk outta your ass all the time, it's best for everybody (especially yourself) if you'd just keep that damn cavity firmly closed.

I got accosted by a Save The Children volunteer early this afternoon. He talked about the dismal conditions a lot of children live in, and the ways in which Save The Children is trying to, well, save those children.

He threw a whole lot of statistics and numbers at me; I don't remember anything, except that the figures were appalling. After he caught his breath, he asked, "What do you think?"

I stared at the newspaper clippings in his file (which he'd brandished under my nose) for a moment, and uttered something I've always believed in, even though I've since realized it is spectacularly stupid and incredibly immature: "I think we should stop having children."

He immediately fired back, "Who shouldn't have children - the nations in poverty? People like you and me? Who? Who do you think should stop having children?"

Already quite out of it from the lack of sleep and the glaringly strong sun (and exacerbated by his rapid-fire onslaught), I could only mumble, "No ... uh, maybe ... I don't know ... I don't know ..." when the truth is, I think everybody should stop breeding, should not be breeding - especially me.

After I'd made my absurb statement, I didn't dare tell him that I believe everybody should stop breeding like fucking rabbits until we get every one of the surplus of orphans out there adopted by people who can provide them with the best childhood possible and the best environment for growing up. I didn't dare to mention I think people should be tested (psychologically, especially) before they might be able to receive the license for entering the gene pool.

(Yes, it's fascist, asinine, and short-sighted - and countless other disparaging adjectives - but then I've never claimed to be the sharpest or fastest pair of blades on the ice.)

Finally, he took pity on me. "Yes," he made the white lie, "I know what you're talking about. But ..." And he went on about how I can Save the Children (with financial contributions), and proceeded to lay out different financial plans. X amount a day means Y amount a month, which will benefit a child in some ways somewhere out there.

I'd really like to help out (children being second on my list of worthy causes), but my bank accounts here will be closed in less than two months, and I don't know the account number of the my bank account back home. And, very unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to take a one-off donation.

What else could I do, but mumble a have-a-nice-day (and give him a you'll-prolly-regret-it look when he said he looks forward to visiting Singapore one day), and add Save The Children to the as yet unwritten list of Things To Do Back Home I'm currently compiling; a list I hope will encourage us to look forward to spending the rest of our lives - both me and my inner-child - sweaty and gasping for breath, on the stuffy and claustrophobic island of our births.



(Save The Children - this is inclusive of Inner-Children ... right?)