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Weng had grown up in a neighborhood where gangs were a
common sight. As a kid, he had seen how they would terrorize hawkers, extort
"protection" money, and force children to join their ranks. He always felt a
sense of unease around them but, being a small and unassuming child, he
never drew their attention.
Things changed for Weng when he entered high school. The gang that had been
a mere background noise in his childhood began to focus on him. They
approached him, demanding two dollars per week, and threatened him with
violence if he refused. Weng, however, was not willing to give in. He
believed that the school authorities could help him, and he decided to
report the gang's activities to the teachers.
Weng's decision to speak up was not an easy one. He knew that the gang would
not take kindly to his actions, and that he could be putting himself in
danger. But he also believed that it was the right thing to do. He wanted to
stand up to the bullies and show them that they could not intimidate him.
When the teachers learned about the gang's extortion attempts, they reported
the matter to the police. Weng felt relieved that he had taken the right
step, but his relief was short-lived. When the police came to investigate,
none of the other students were willing to come forward and corroborate
Weng's story. Without their testimony, the police could not take any action
against the gang. In the end, they stopped their investigations, and the
teachers told Weng that they would keep a lookout for his safety.
Weng knew that this was not enough. He was well aware that he had become the
target of the gang now, and that each day they waited at the school gates
for him to appear after school. Yet, each time he had been lucky, for they
got tired of waiting fruitlessly for him and left. But such luck would run
out, Weng knew. He only hoped that when the time came, his legs would carry
him to safety.
The days passed, and Weng tried to go about his school routine as usual. He
would try to avoid the gang by taking different routes home, but he knew
that they were always watching him. He felt a sense of dread every time he
left the school gates, not knowing when the gang would strike. |
