Update on my stuff

acacia
Originally uploaded by Mikey Holmes.

So, when last we talked about the missing iPod and the creepy crawling through the window, the whole picture wasn't very clear. Now, it's a bit more apparent what happened.

My iPod had actually been gone since Korite - testament to my absent-mindedness. I hadn't been able to find it, and knew this since I was going to play something on it for Beth when she was here, but my mind was on other things so I didn't worry about it too much.

It would be one thing if all of this stuff had stopped with the iPod. But while I was gone on the rural visit last week, after it was already apparent that someone had broken in to my room and we were already suspicious of Makhow, he broke into my room again. He took my cell phone, cell phone charger, french dictionary, all the cash from my wallet and my personal favorite - antimalarials and antibiotics for explosive diarrhea. What's more, after he took all of this stuff, he packed a bag and split, and didn't come home. That was last Tuesday. And the whole time he was gone my family didn't sleep, didn't laugh or talk very much, and spent their nights driving around town looking for some sign of their son.

Well, after we had figured out everything that was missing, my brother and sister told my host dad the grand total. A few minutes later, he came to my room wearing one of his nicest boubous, and explained that they had had trouble with Makhow in the past, but they thought all of that had passed. What's more, the kid hadn't been to school in 3 years. He apologized profusely and said that he believed his son was going to die somewhere in the street. He then handed me enough cash to cover what money was stolen. This was last Sunday when I got back from my trip to the village.

So Monday, I talked with the program directors about everything and they explained how the kid is "a thief, it's as simple as that," and that they just needed to threaten calling the police. This kinda went against everything I knew about deviance being a bit more complicated than that. What's more, when the director and housing coordinator came and spoke with my dad, he started going on about how he thought that his son would surely die in the street and if he didn't then his son would be taken straight to the police as soon as he came home. Strong words from a father.

So I started to feel like I was the only one on this kids side and was really worried about the future that seemed to be developing for him. This worry peaked on the next day when he came back home. The whole day I was at school wondering where he was and if what types of things would be happening to him as he went through the senegalese judicial system. But when I came home, Makhow was still around. And the next day he was still around. Then his friends came over and they were all laughing and joking together.

It was when his friends came over that they found the iPod. Apparently one was just wearing it like an accessory even though the battery had died completely. They recovered the headphones and iPod and gave those back to me and asked if that was everything that was missing. I explained that there was a link cable too, which surprised my family and they went to yell at Makhow and got that back too.

So, lemme recap the wind changes here. Break-in to room. Parents saying i should have locked my window better (not possible), not claiming responsibility, older brother saying it was probably Makhow and we would talk more when I got back from my trip. Second break-in, phone, charger, dictionary, meds + cash stolen, siblings apologizing, parents apologizing, no longer shifting blame. Parents insisting if he comes back, to take him straight to the police, essentially giving up on their son. Makhow comes back, still no apology from him, no action from parents other than paying me and apologizing on his behalf. New, completely different plan of sending Makhow back to school appears, no change in Makhow's shadyness. Me feeling sorry for Makhow, his future and his poor judgment, then confused about parents' judgment in not punishing him.

So all the stuff has been replaced, but things are still up in the air. I still have yet to talk with Makhow.