About a week back, Kor-Kor showed me a notice from his primary school informing parents that there were a number of incidence where parents received calls that their child has been kidnapped and a ransom is to be paid for the release. The notice reminded parents to check with the school first, to confirm whether their child is still in the compound, before making any move. Most times the child is still at school & those sickos are hoping the ransom will be paid before the child is back from school.
Also about a week back, a neighbour's house 3 doors down was broken into. Four nites ago, a new Honda Accord (of a neighbour's at the opp. road 5 doors away), gated in by stainless steel auto gate, was driven off in the middle of the nite. Three nites ago, this family's neighbour (meaning 6 doors away from us) was robbed of his notebook right in front of his house. What was so sickening was that they swing an AXE to his wrist when he tried to hold on to his notebook. Not satisfied, those sickos pushed him down to the ground and gave him 5 other 'souvenirs' on his back with parangs. That neighbour is about 60 years old!!!!
Scary, isn't?
About 2 months ago, Kor-Kor walked back from school BY HIMSELF after his basketball practice (though I already told him under no circumstances, he is to walk out of the school gate) because mommy was late to fetch him (as I thought he would want to continue to play with his friends like he normally does). He didn't get hurt, but...
Our house is only about 5-minute walk away from his school (3 with longer strides). To reach home, he would have to cross 2 roads, one of which is serviced by an overhead bridge and the other is a busy residential road. Let's see what COULD have happened. He could have:
fell down the monsoon drain near the overhead bridge.slipped & fell down the overhead bridge which is quite steep.knocked down by a vehicle.kidnapped for ransom!taken away by sickos who like boys, if u know what I mean.etc...And what did happened was that he got an earful from me and was punished to stand in the corner for half hour. Until I was very sure he understood the severity of his actions.
The funny thing is that 30 years he would have been praised for being so clever. Heck, if my school is so near, my parents would have me walk to school once they are relatively satisfied that I no longer blur-blur at crossing roads. Heck, I would think most children worth their salt walked to their neighbourhood school then. Or take the bicycle.
Between then & now, what had happened ? Why now we are so afraid ?
