“3200”

Before I join CDM, I was positioned at the Gagam base at Kachin for an operation. The operation was in a jumble and we hadn’t made posting changes for a year. It was so long and we were tired. That’s when a message arrived telling me to attend an administrative officer course at Pyin Oo Lwin. You can say I was lucky. So I came back and prepared my belongings, take required paperwork and went to Pyin Oo Lwin in the military convoy with other attendees. I was the senior out of all so I sat in the front with the driver. Whenever we stopped, I report to HQ and order the driver to arrive at our destination quickly. I was pretty tired and that’s because we were using the trucks from the military. The roads were pretty bad so the car was jumping all the time like we were on a playground rollercoaster. The seat has no cushion so my bottom hurt every time the car jumped. It was so bad that I had a hard time getting off the car. But the driver was quite chill. Every time I told him to look out for bumps, he just smiled and said nothing. He was like less words and more action to make us suffer. And everyone in the car were like monkeys due to the car having no covers and the roads were dusty. They were covered in dust. We need to take a night’s rest at Mandalay because the trip was a long one. Before arriving at Mandalay, we stopped at a restaurant in Thabeikkyin for dinner. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant exactly. It was around 8 PM. We were so hungry and ate so much that we thought our stomachs might explode. When I left the restaurant, I heard a girl’s voice saying, “Uncle, please buy snacks from me now.” When I look for where the voice came from, I saw a little girl, only around 6 or 7 years old, holding a tray with 3 packs of Burmese Pretzel. When I replied, “I just had dinner,” she said, “ I know. You said you would buy from me after you have dinner. You were eating for a long time. My legs are getting sore waiting for you.” I realized the kid had mistaken me for someone else. So, I looked at her closely. She was wearing a ragged dress in the winter. Even the colour of the dress was fading. I wondered if wasn’t she cold because even someone like me wearing an overcoat was shivering. As much as I was surprised, I felt sympathetic. Her slipper was already worn out. She held a plastic bag with notes in one hand and the other hand had rubber bands. But her face was as clear as the blue sky on a summer day. She was a cute girl. So, I couldn’t deny it. I didn’t want to tell her that she mistake me for someone else. I kneeled before her and take out the changes the restaurant gave me back. It was only 3200 kyats. I put the money into her hand and told her, “How about you take this money and go back straight home. I have already eaten my dinner so I won’t take your pretzels. I need you to go back straight home. Don’t go anywhere else. And eat the remaining pretzels. How about that? Will you promise me to go back home?”Her face lightened with happiness. She put the money into her plastic bag. I just wanted her to go back home and stay warm. She said, “Yes. I promised I will go back home for sure.” “Go back quick. It is cold out here.” She said, “Yes,” and ran back home. “Don’t go anywhere else,” I shouted at her back. She turned back and waved, “Trust me, uncle. I will. Bye-bye.” I didn’t know why I watched her until she was out of sight being all full of joy. It was good that she mistook me for another person. Else, who knows how long she will be waiting near the restaurant waiting to sell her pretzels. My money was only 3200. But I am sure giving 32000 is also worth it for a child to go back home when the weather is too cold even for an adult. Also, I cursed at whoever gave a false promise to the girl. I only came back to my senses when the car driver blast the horn for departure. I got on to the car feeling warm in my heart. Even the car jumping from the bumps didn’t seem painful anymore. The winter chill wasn’t bothering me either. Just those Thanaka on her face won’t get out of my eyes. The driver looked at me smiling and asked what I am smiling at. I just smiled and said nothing back, just like him. I was not something of a big even but I just remembered it so clearly. Thinking back on this, I noticed some things that coincide with the current revolution. Also, I have a few things to inform and remind people about the revolution. Don’t give false hope on things you aren’t able to carry out. The promises you gave carelessly contain hopes for other people. The next thing is even the small amounts accumulated can bring about the hopes and dreams of those needing them. Some teams need lots of 3200 for their work. Helping out as much as you can brings back family together faster. And some people can turn a blind eye to the revolution but they still participate as much as they can. Value them. Also I want you to feel the bliss you get from helping those who really need it. Even if it is a small thing for you, it can mean a world to those. In this revolution, some lives have many of other lives invested in them.

Thank you everyone.

Htet Myat (CDM)

Translated to English by Anonymous