Bread for the Dead
By portisray
@portisray (503)
Philippines
May 3, 2010 11:09pm CST
I remember when my sister and me went to our friends birthday bash.
On our way home, there’s this middle age woman carrying his small son to her chest and a little boy tagging along with her. They were begging through our window.
I couldn’t help but to keep looking away from them after I shook my head of not giving anything. For if I’m going to give something from them, then I’m just encouraging them to just roam around the road and beg for more for every vehicles stopping by the stoplight… And it is dangerous for them…
That’s when I remember I read a short story about a mother and her 2 sons. When I was still in high school, there’s this short story that I will never forget (but I forgot the author!).
A mother and her 2 small sons live in a squatter’s area. Its nighttime and the younger one said he is hungry. The mother said, “Why don’t you sleep? You won’t feel your hunger.” The mother coughs continuously while she said that because she has tuberculosis.
“I cannot sleep. My stomach is grumbling,” said the younger boy.
The youngest boy asleep beside her. Then the younger one says something that her mother couldn’t hear and she clarify what the boy said. The boy awkwardly said,” Why do we have a lot of bread when father died? I hope someone will die again so that we could have food.”
The mother was astonished hearing her son said that. “ Don’t say that! Stop talking and try to sleep. You will get very hungry if you talk too much!”.
Then the mother hesitated… Her son is correct. Why don’t she end their misery even if just only temporary? She tried to stop her coughing for she don’t want to wake up her 2 sons… She holds a pillow and put it in front of the face of her youngest son… A little trembling body of the boy… and that’s all there is to do…
She realized what she did and screamed, “Help! My son is dead!” The younger boy woke up and he saw his brother still asleep… He knew his brother still asleep but he couldn’t help the feeling they could have lots of bread tomorrow…
A sad story today for you all myLotters!
2 people like this
8 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
4 May 10
no portisray thats not sad thats horrible , just horrible. I wish
I had never read your discussion. one does not kill ones child so
the rest can eat, one tries to solve ones problems humanely not
through wrong doing , thatjust keeps more wrongs.
2 people like this
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
4 May 10
I think it is a sad story and a horrible outcome... And for the mother too... As I said to Hotpogo, the mother has no sane thinking or a better reasoning because of hunger and her sickness...
2 people like this
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
4 May 10
she's that's a horrible lady. She had the idea that someone should die so they could eat, but instead of killing herself (who is dying anyway), she tries to kill her kid? bah
2 people like this
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
4 May 10
Out of misery, for being poor, and her head I think she doesn't have a better reasoning because of hunger and her sickness... She is really that horrible for giving birth to her kid and just to kill him...
3 people like this
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
13 May 10
oh what kind of mother she is. I really felt sad and shocked after reading it. How could she, because they are not eating for a long time that is why she have no brains and heart already? I am really turning my head left and right and very dismay after reading it. Is this a true story? I am really sad knowing this one, and this is possible to happen to poor people. Moreover this is a eye opener. I hope the government will have the chance to read this.
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
13 May 10
I thought it was true. Thank God its not, I thought I will be sad going home later but not now 
. Thanks for the clarification.
. Thanks for the clarification.@portisray (503)
• Philippines
13 May 10
Well, now at least you are going home with a not so sad look in your face... But in reality... it could happen...
@blessing2u (496)
• Philippines
5 May 10
I hope the government will do something to alleviate the poverty in our country or in the areas that are too depressed. Truly, there are many who are in the same or similar situation like the mother and her kids. In our small little ways, I know that we can be of help - one little kid or family at a time. Personally, I hope that I can help someone in my life.
1 person likes this
@tav_8164 (151)
• United States
4 May 10
Wow... that's a really jacked up story. I've met alot of homeless youth here in Colorado. And some people have kids or get pets just to use them to pray off of stranger's pity. Even more, there have been some people that have told me they make like $400 a day begging at stop lights! Can you believe that!?! I've never seen anyone have their kids with them when they beg at a stop light. That's child endangerment and that person could lose custody of her kids for even doing that. At least here in CO that's what would happen. But as far as your story goes, that lady should have sacrificed herself for the survival of her children.
1 person likes this
@tav_8164 (151)
• United States
4 May 10
Yeah, didn't figure on that. I'm back on here after being gone for a while and I forgot MyLot is all over the WORLD. I'm in the U.S so I couldn't even imagine. That has got to be really tough, even the lady with her kids would use that cc stuff?
2 people like this
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
4 May 10
Yes, even the lady with her kids would inhale the contact cement...They put the CC in a plastic and inhale inside it... So that they won't feel hungry... If you happen to pass them by, you'll smell the CC in their shirt...
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
4 May 10
Begging at a stop light here (Philippines) is really dangerous... A lot of reckless drivers..So if someone gave them money or food( if you give them money they will only buy contact cement as we all know that it has chemicals if you continue to inhale you won't feel hunger)... We call them here rugby boys...
It doesn't matter here if she could lose custody or not because the government here do not do anything about beggars wandering around the streets...
2 people like this
@dpalais (130)
• Philippines
4 May 10
I cannot really judge the mother about what she has done but I think if only she had tried her best to look for something to eat then the little boy will say something about the bread
For me the beggar mother is better than the mother at the story.
1 person likes this
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
4 May 10
Of course! The beggar mother is better than the mother in the story... But still, they were both the same...giving birth to their sons without giving them a good life they couldn't live with...
1 person likes this
@Aphroditei_5279 (2465)
• Philippines
4 May 10
Hi Portisray! That's a very creepy story. I don't find it sad. I think nowadays the ending would be, she might end up killing all of them to end up their misery including herself. Like we saw on the news sometimes, but not only in squatters areas but also in overseas workers' families and even in other country.
Depression, remorse, guilt, hunger, lack of education and no support emotionally and financially can lead to traumatic outcomes. But you can also see the bright side of the Filipino family. That stays together no matter what. I hope someday our government will have a concrete solution for people living in the streets.
But sometimes, some beggars choose to be beggars. Because they earn a lot of money in begging. There is one old man we saw before down the side of a very steep road I forgot in what province we were. So we ask him if he wanted to ride with us. And from the long ride, we found out he was going to the other near province to attend the "fiesta" and beg. Really! And he was doing that for years. He has a home and children, that he said, were in college or graduated. He choose to continue begging because it is easy money. And you only need your feet to do it. That's sad.
I don't give to beggars. One, because it encourages them to have that lifestyle. And it's dangerous especially when they are in the middle of the street. Two, because some are part of a syndicate that only used them to earn. That's so wrong. And three, because I always believed that you practice your charity and responsibility at home or in your surrounding first. And I prefer to give away food than money. Because some of them, are even insulting you if you give only five pesos or piso. That's so wow-speechless. (^^,)
@Aphroditei_5279 (2465)
• Philippines
5 May 10
Hehehe...You're very welcome! And hope I haven't bothered you with my so lenghty response.
But a worthy discussion deserve a very long elaborated response. 
Keep up your good work. I love your discussions so very well thought too. (^^,)
But a worthy discussion deserve a very long elaborated response. Keep up your good work. I love your discussions so very well thought too. (^^,)@portisray (503)
• Philippines
5 May 10
Hmmmnn... What a long thoughtful response you have Ms. Aphroditei! I don't know what else to say but I'm very thankful for your response!
1 person likes this
@sharay (2769)
• India
4 May 10
Its a miserable story with regards to moms like that on earth, this is not at all possible...it is not sad to read the story, in fact i feel strong hatred towards the mother who has done such an horrible thing, i just feel like finding that mother and do the same to her and get her son and bring him to some orphangae and leave him in safe hands, who knows, if she finds no food later after some days, she might kill the other son too...
