VEDASTUS ZANGULE: EACH DAY CHILDREN LINE UP FOR MORNING ASSEMBLY BEFORE ENTERING THEIR CLASSROOMS. THEY CHANT AND DANCE TO A RIGID DRUMBEAT, BRINGING THE SCHOOL TOGETHER AS A UNIT. WHEN VEDA LINES UP THE OTHER CHILDREN IMMEDIATELY PUSH HIM OUT. HE WALKS TO ANOTHER LINE, ONLY TO ONCE AGAIN BE PUSHED OUT AND REJECTED. HE TRIES ANOTHER, AND ANOTHER. UNTIL FINALLY, DEFEATED, HE WALKS HOME. WHEN KIDS IN THE VILLAGE GO FISHING THEY TELL VEDA TO COME WITH THEM, IN CASE THEIR BOAT SINKS THEY CAN CLIMB ON HIS BACK TO PREVENT THEMSELVES FROM DROWNING. IN VEDAS VILLAGE IT IS A BELIEF THAT ALBINOS FLOAT ON WATER. THIS YOUNG BOY DEEPLY AFFECTED US AND WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT CHARACTER TO LEAVE BEHIND. HE SAT IN FRONT OF US AS A CHILD, BUT TOLD HIS STORY AS MATURELY AND AS POETICALLY AS IF HE WERE A GROWN MAN. HE SPOKE CLEARLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABOUT HIS LIFE, FROM THE TIGHTNESS OF HIS SKIN TO THE VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE HE RECEIVES DAY AFTER DAY. HIS STORY IS A VITAL ONE AND ON TOP OF THIS DAILY STRUGGLE, VEDA'S MOTHER IS DYING OF AIDS. HE WILL SOON JOIN THE MANY OTHER AIDS ORPHANS SUFFERING ACROSS AFRICA.
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