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A Profile

To see her is to love her, unfortunately for her I think. Usually she is running barefoot, about hobbit size, twisting through the crowded notorious streets of our city. Sometimes she is asleep on stairs, sitting cross-legged, back bent with her head resting on the pavement so it looks bowed, hands out-stretched around her money cup; to the average person it looks like a bow asking for money. But I know she is secretly catching some shut-eye, since at 10pm she still has another 7 hours of "work"!

I first met this little one crossing an overpass one night, she was pig-tailed, cheeks painted red, baby powered face giving her a china doll look. She refused the banana's offered saying she likes Ovaltine. Thinking this at least has vitamins we walked to 711 and got it for her and her little brother. I have since then bought countless Ovaltines, Durian, Satay, even subway as we sit and chat on the street.

She is about 8; beautiful and full of life, savvy and resilient in the way that a kid on the street needs to be. Savvy in the way that I not sure whether it is my constant supply of Durian (a fruit) or witty attempts at Thai that have won her affection! I have watched from a distance as she runs along side a man (probably on his way to one of the many prostitution bars) pulling on his hand, smiling sweetly like you would at your father, jumping up and down, relentless until he hand her twenty baht. I usual get angry at the man for making her beg that hard, the situation, and think is 20 baht really worth her doing that to the wrong tourist, the tourist who is not looking for a twenty something bar girl but would prefer this petite version.

I said she is savvy, i think she is the families primary bread winner at age 8. I regularly find alone walking streets i would never let Elijah as a teenager walk, but this 8 year old is carrying cups of soup or other food that presumable someone has bought back to her family.

She need your prayer! She needs a chance! I fear for what seems the inevitable progression for this little one.

this is her flashing us all the peace sign, lets pray this for her!