Hard times 🙉 Chapter 5: The Depth of Despair Tendai's family had never been more desperate. They had lost their home, their garden, and their livelihood. They were forced to live on the streets, scrounging for food and shelter. Tendai's father was a shadow of his former self. He had lost all sense of purpose and pride. He spent most of his days wandering the streets, begging for scraps. Tendai's siblings were struggling to cope with the loss of their mother. They were constantly crying and screaming, and Tendai's father was at a loss for how to comfort them. Tendai himself was feeling the weight of responsibility. He was the oldest child, and he felt like it was up to him to take care of his family. But he was only a child, and he didn't know how to make things right. One day, as they were walking through the streets, Tendai saw a group of children playing together. They were laughing and smiling, and Tendai felt a pang of jealousy. Why couldn't his family be happy like that? As he watched the children, Tendai noticed a woman standing nearby. She was watching him with a kind expression, and Tendai felt a sense of hope. The woman approached Tendai and his family, and introduced herself as Mai. She told them that she ran a small orphanage in the area, and that she would be happy to take them in. Tendai's father was hesitant at first, but Mai's kindness and generosity eventually won him over. They agreed to go with her to the orphanage, and Tendai felt a sense of relief wash over him. But as they arrived at the orphanage, Tendai's hopes were quickly dashed. The building was old and run-down, and the children were dirty and malnourished. Mai showed them to a small room, where they would be sleeping. The room was cramped and dirty, and Tendai felt a sense of despair wash over him. As they settled in, Tendai couldn't help but wonder if things would ever get better. Would they ever find a way out of this desperate situation? As the days turned into weeks, Tendai's family struggled to adjust to life in the orphanage. The conditions were harsh, and the other children were rough and unfriendly. Tendai's father became increasingly withdrawn, and Tendai's siblings struggled to cope with the loss of their mother. Tendai himself felt like he was losing hope. He had always been a resilient child, but the hardships they were facing were starting to take their toll. One day, as he was walking through the orphanage, Tendai saw a group of children fighting over a small piece of bread. He felt a sense of anger and frustration, and he knew that he had to do something. He approached Mai, who was standing nearby, and asked her why the children were fighting over bread. Mai looked at him with a sad expression, and told him that the orphanage was struggling to provide for the children. Tendai felt a sense of determination wash over him. He knew that he had to do something to help his family, and the other children in the orphanage. Here is the continuation of Chapter 5: As Tendai looked around at the desperate faces of the children, he knew that he had to do something. He couldn't just sit back and watch as his family and the other children in the orphanage suffered. He approached Mai and asked her if there was anything he could do to help. Mai looked at him with a mixture of sadness and admiration. "Tendai, you're just a child," she said. "What can you do to help?" Tendai thought for a moment. He knew that he couldn't do much on his own, but he was determined to try. "I can help with the chores," he said. "I can help with the cooking and the cleaning. And I can try to help the other children with their schoolwork." Mai smiled, a small, sad smile. "That's very kind of you, Tendai," she said. "But it's not just about doing chores. It's about finding a way to make a difference. To make things better for everyone." Tendai thought about this for a moment. He knew that Mai was right. Doing chores was important, but it wasn't enough. He needed to find a way to make a real difference. And then, suddenly, an idea came to him. "Mai, can I talk to you about something?" he asked. Mai nodded, and Tendai took a deep breath. "I was thinking," he said. "Maybe we could start a garden. Right here in the orphanage. We could grow our own food, and sell some of it to the market. It would be a way for us to make some money, and to have some food to eat." Mai's eyes lit up, and she smiled. "Tendai, that's a wonderful idea," she said. "Let's do it!" And with that, Tendai's journey began. He worked tirelessly to build the garden, enlisting the help of the other children in the orphanage. They worked together, planting seeds, watering plants, and harvesting crops. As the garden grew, so did Tendai's confidence. He realized that he was capable of making a difference, of creating something beautiful and useful. And as the months passed, the garden became a symbol of hope for the orphanage. It showed that even in the darkest of times, there was always a way forward. Tendai's family was finally able to eat nutritious food, and they began to thrive. The other children in the orphanage were inspired by Tendai's determination and hard work, and they began to work together to build a better future. And Tendai, the young boy who had once felt so helpless, was now a leader, a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. To be continued 🥹