good morning.

i pass a young boys hostel on my walk to and from school each day.

generally in the mornings they are all being filed into line formation at the gate, dressed in white button up shirts, navy blue sewn trousers, and tennis shoes.

inspection is had by the adults over seeing the hostel. assuring their white shirts to be tucked in just so. standing up straight. shoes tied. eyes looking forward.

i seem to pass by every day at the same time. it has become routine that they look for me and i look for them, lined up in a row facing forward. each day, without being caught by the adult holding a whip, the boys near the front always mouth and sometimes whisper, 'good morning!' in my attempts to keep them out of trouble, i softly mouth back, 'good morning to you!' simple words. perhaps only the few they know in English, but upon exchanging greetings, these six and seven year old boys light up with smiles wide.

it has become my new favorite thing of the morning.