Daniel was not one of the five boys hospitalized after the mob beating in Lira. At least, not this time around. But he admitted along with Solomon and Ronald that he’s been in jail before, and it sounds like beatings often accompany arrests when it comes to street kids.
Daniel went to live on the streets of Lira when he was 13 years old. He was the most reserved of the three when he told me his story, and I didn’t get a lot of details. But there is one very obvious fact. If Ronald’s story is a story of violence, then Daniel’s is one of rejection.Daniel’s parents divorced each other and remarried when he was a young boy. He lived with his father after the divorce, but his new step-mom abused him. Daniel finally got tired of it and left. He went to find his mom.
But she had remarried as well, and the new step-dad didn’t want him either. So, Daniel left again.
He went back to his dad.
Where he was rejected again.
He bounced back and forth a couple more times, hoping beyond hope for a place where he belonged. A safe spot. A home.
It never worked.
Daniel is now 15 years old. He’s lived on the streets of Lira away from his parents for two years. Apparently, his family agrees with him and thinks it’s better this way. If he was in America, he would be in highschool, doing his homework and maybe playing on the football team. But Daniel doesn’t go to school. He doesn’t even know how to read.
He wasn’t wearing any shoes when I talked with him. I wonder if he has a pair of shoes at all. And his belt was synched up tight, like his pants might fall off without it because he’s so thin.
Daniel would like to learn how to be a mechanic.
(a view of the streets of Lira)
