A nip in the bud is necessary for small thefts

Recently, I watched a locally made movie and its main actor with his moustache, looks like a younger and slimmer Aaron Kwok. This gambler ruined his career as a chef and his marriage, with never ending harassments from loan sharks. His wife who was pregnant, did not inform him but instead decided to leave him, to prevent further verbal as well as physical abuse.

They have a son around 10 years old. With the frequent financial problems, the son started to steal. His first temptation was when he was at a rich classmate's house going through some homework. On the way to the toilet, he was attracted by nice piano music and followed it to where a young lady was playing. Inside the toilet, he saw an expensive watch and at that moment, the temptation was too great, so he pocketed it.

One day, his father took him away, to escape from the fierce loan sharks. When the cheap hotel operator reminded the father for his rent, he took out the watch. Initially, the father was shocked and demanded, 'Did you steal it?' But then again, on second thought, that gave him an idea of using his son to steal from houses where the gates and doors were left open or unlocked.

Once, he was caught by the man of the house and his father came to his rescue saying, 'my son is mentally unsound, please forgive him.' The stealing went on for some time and the son was getting tired and remorseful of the whole idea.

When he was finally caught, the father had to bear the pain of watching him being beaten up. If I remember correctly, the police came to take the boy to the station and he came out to accompany him. On the way, in the car, the boy was so angered by the series of thefts masterminded by his father that he bit off one of his ears!

The story had a good ending when towards the end of the film, a young man was shown asking the hotel man for his watch, offering to buy off him. Then he went back to his hometown to seek out his ex-classmate's father and admitted that he had stolen it and now returning it.

I was reminded of this story because my wife said she could not sleep because yesterday, she caught a 10-year old boy who stole one of her turkeys at the factory! She had just bought 3 to try out, having been successful in rearing some chickens (from some fertilized eggs) which had been looked after by the special hen. This hen, as a chick, was one of two left behind by a lorryman and she had been protected by a female dog! The chick used to hop on to the dog (now a mother herself), and is now a mother hen with chicks of her own!

I used to wonder why people would take the trouble to plant fruit trees when fruits are easily available and cheap, and same with rearing chickens and so on, when these are available on demand sans the trouble. It is difficult to convince others, but one has to be ready to try it and get hooked in the process. I have just bought and planted the special lime which leaves are necessary for certain curries, as well as 'angmo durian' which is much hyped for its goodness. Just watching them grow is a joy.

Anyway, she was concerned about how to make sure that he would not steal again. When caught, with evidence of some turkey feathers near him, the boy said the turkey has been taken away by his older brother. He later showed the way to his house where a woman, presumed his grandmother, had to bring out the turkey! When some policemen passed by, my wife told them to 'nasihatkan dia' (give him advice). I hope this boy learnt his lesson. But more importantly, his brother and grandmother should stop this unhealthy activity, otherwise they are likely to pressure him just like the script of the film.