First Meeting with Poverty

            I was walking around downtown Athens, Greece with my mom and sister. We saw many stores, many people, but nothing especially caught my attention until I saw this girl, holding a baby. They were dressed in rag like clothes, and sitting on a piece of cardboard, with their hands out asking for help without words.

            Earlier that day, my dad had given me a few euros to buy gum or something at the little store down the street. Before I could get there, I ran into these people, who made me change my mind.

            I passed them, and stopped short. I turned back around, emptied my pockets, and gave the money to the woman. She smiled and said something that I couldn’t hear. My mom turned around, patted me on the back, and we kept walking.

            It was an injustice for her to have to live in such poverty. It was so sad to see their thin faces, and empty hands. I am glad that I could be a little help that day.

--Yorgo Kalaitzandonakes