Boy Nine: The Privileged And The Pillaged

Surrounded by so many bold, tall, perfectly-curved, angel-faced boys, like Baby Jay and The

Two New Yorkers, I feel unfair and frustrated at times. After all, life is not as good as it gets.
At initial, I didn't know Boy Nine much, though we were in the same troop during the military service training; the only image I had on him was that his registered number was often called and blamed by our captains. However, my parents knew him earlier than I did, for they are acquainted with Nine's parents. My parents and Nine's family group came together to visit us on the "Family Visit Date".

Two families sat together. During a short period of chat, some stories of Nine were revealed. Strictly speaking, though he is not significantly mentally retarded, he has had severe delay in development and learning since he was born. His mom said, back when Nine was an infant, he had problems digesting and eating. Afterwards, he went to school; he could get good grades in history and geography, not too bad in language, but desperately terrible in mathematics. He tried to keep up, his parents still encouraged him, but grades were always at the incredible bottom. And it's through numerous setbacks and letdowns that Nine finally made it to the college and acquired a bachelor degree.

Nine is tall and fat. His teeth is well located but seemingly too prominent. A smile was on his face all the times. In that chat having him around the table for barely a minute, I could instantly tell something different in Nine. He could not catch the nuanced changes and implicit hints in people's words and facial expressions. When he quickly regarded me as an acquaintance of his parents, he talked to me excitedly and let all words out on me. He was too naive I thought. His reactions were also too slow.

After our parents left, in the last two weeks in the training center, Nine had a hard time. While most people were getting familiar with the captain's orders as well as the absurd living style in the army, Nine behaved distinctly awkward and sluggish. One day, he missed an order. The result was, he was commanded to stand in front of our more than 100 comrades under the cruel sun, undergoing a series of demeaning curses and harsh damns. One by one, the captain and other leaders took turns calling him names at his face. The scene was rather like in Mainland China in 1960s, when the Communistic soldiers attacked and punished the "impure thinking" villagers. I saw Nine keep his innocent smiles, not knowing this look would irritate the relentless officers. He did not explain himself why he repeated the same errors; he did not know to apologize, either. At that moment, I thought I had the responsibility to do something for him. I should go to the officer and explained for him that, he was a little bit impaired. With all these, I drew back; I was afraid I would be involved by minding others' business. I chose silence.

Leaving the training center, we were sent to different units, but once in a while I 'll inquire my parents about Nine's recent conditions. Knowing he leads an easy life now, I feel relieved and comforted. He has a good nature; he has a crowd of family caring for him; but the society is callous. He needs more understanding and protection.

Last weekend, I visited Nine and his parents. His mom was at 50s but still energetic and optimistic. She told me, sometimes she would blame herself for doing something imperfect or inconsiderate to let her child worse developed than others. To name some, some mysterious power interfered with her baby during pregnancy; the water she gave Nine as an infant was too raw and too irritating, etc. We all understand, it's never difficult to recite a thousand excuses to account why you tripped on your way growing up. I told her, I usually regret as well for throwing out the unpalatable lunch box and didn't eat a meal at noon at high school; I guess that's why now I'm 173 cm in height, not 183. She laughed.

We are always comparing, because we are always competing. Encountering a privileged person made us feel pillaged, and vice versa.