I was sitting on a bench under a big, umbrella-looking tree and typing on my computer. The sunset painted a peaceful glow across the sky. I felt some people were approaching me. I turned up my head. There were three little boys. I instantly felt nervous for some reason. I don’t know what I am scared of. When I was at the nearby primary school, the locals warned me against the little kids for stealing bags. So my instinct told me to hold on to my bag. I turned around, grabbed my bag, and held it tightly next to my chest. Yes, I looked really stupid.

Their height is about the same as mine when sitting down. I’m guess they are around 6 to 7 years old.

“Hi,” I said.

One of them looked at me and said, ”Do you buy mangos?”

I hesitated, “It’s okay, thank you.”

Another one said, “My friends are playing basketball.”

“Ok,” I said. I didn’t know what else to say. After a bit of silence I finally said, “It’s okay, thank you.”

They didn’t say anything and walked away.

I was so nervous and cautious. I was almost panicking because I didn’t know what to do.

Not even five minutes later, I realized that I actually want mangos. I realized that they were just innocent little kids who wanted to sell the “muzungu (white person)” some mangos for money. I realized that I could’ve been so helpful to them by buying some mangos. I realized that I have such a hard heart.

I realized that what I’ve learned from the “real world” all my life does not apply here in Uganda because things here are actually real, genuine, and simple.

Staring at the sky, I felt so empty.