6) Mohammed (And The Men Of The Middle East) Part Ii Comments

Mohmmed (Iraq)
(And The Men of Mesopotamia)

If I wasn't heading to Europe, I would have brought it back and given to one of the young boys that we say hello to when driving from one place to another down the streets of Iraq. A lot of times we are driving slowly enough to throw candy out of the window; and a lot of times I'll grab some of the chocolate sports bars from off of the table, a sandwich or fruit, sneaking it into my pocket and hopefully will not have eaten them by the time we are ready to pull out. Sometimes they will, when we are moving slow enough, or have stopped for a few seconds waiting to cross a bridge or fix a flat tire or something like that, the little boys and girls, they are more enduring than adults as we know, the energy and enthusiasm of a child, something we always long for, will walk up and ask for food, water or candy, and the majority of the times you'll see whatever the driver has go flying out of the window. I usually stop by the PX and grab a case of soda, or some snacks, (unless we're leaving at night when there will be basically no one on the streets) , and take whatever I have or what I want need before making it to the next stop, as I said, usually something to drink or snack on, and either throw or hand it to any one of them standing out there. Though, during the day, you know that there will be children lined up and down the streets, so bringing something to hand to them is usually premeditated, though you don't know when or where they will be, and yet they are always truly grateful for what's given. There is still caution for many reasons, besides the admonishment of not to throw anything out of the window at all, usually for the safety of the children out there, running up to get what is thrown out. So it takes a few faces to reach over and grab what's in arms reach; a bottle of water, a can of soda or some candy and throw it in the direction of a group of excited children.
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