Numbed

Walking back home today, I was busy savouring chocolate bar, a make-good for the boring lunch I had endured. I shuffled towards my house with a heavy bag burdening my tired body. Just as I was turning away into my apartment gate, I noticed a cluster of young boys, looking at a flame which lightened their young faces. I thought to myself - 'Such young kids should not be allowed to play with fire unsupervised.' I trekked up the stairs and peeped through the railings at the growing darkness. My eyes befell on those young boys with flamed cigarettes between their lips. No older than eight years, they were quite an alarming scene. There was a hollow laughter reverbating from the group, like they were mocking us adults. I stared at them, so did a dozen heads bobbing about in the darkness. The silence was a helpless reflection of how democracy can be pushed to extreme. A car swerved and halted with a screech. I could not tell who the driver was, but he must be someone with power and authority. The boys scampered off and glancing backwards to check if he was catching up.