A group of street kids was hanging out on a street corner smoking Fortune cigarettes. As soon as they saw me, they ran over and asked for money.
I said no and told them that I knew that they’d just use the money to buy more cigarettes. I explained that cigarettes were bad for their health … especially at their age. They laughed and asked if I could take their picture. They posed and we became fast friends.
After several shots, a nun (whose name I later found out was Stella) miraculously appeared over my shoulder. In Tagalog, she further counseled them on the danger of smoking.
With respect for her, they listened, threw away their cigarettes and touched their hands to her forehead (a Filipino custom.)
Just as quickly as they appeared, my flash mob of little cigarette smokers again disappeared into the streets and alleys that they know so well.
