Joash winced as his grandmother gently held his left foot in her firm but loving grip. The pain had been growing for days, the tiny parasite burrowing deeper beneath his skin, making every step unbearable. He had tried to ignore it at first, pretending it wasn’t there, but now, with the swelling and the itching turning into a constant throb, there was no more avoiding it.
In the dim glow of the kerosene lamp, his grandmother’s experienced hands went to work. She had done this before, countless times, for other children in the village. Jiggers—tiny, sand flea parasites—had long plagued their community, infesting bare feet and causing pain that was far worse than their tiny size suggested.
Joash clenched his fists as his grandmother took a sterilized needle, her steady hands prying at the swollen, infected skin. “It’s almost out,” she murmured soothingly, her voice a balm against the sharp sting of the needle. Joash bit his lip, forcing himself to remain still as she continued to extract the tiny invader.
His younger sister, Amina, watched in silence from the corner of the small hut, her wide eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and fear. She had seen other children limp around, unable to play, and she knew that if the jiggers weren’t removed, they could spread, making walking impossible.
Joash gritted his teeth as his grandmother finally pulled out the parasite, setting it aside in a small tin. He exhaled deeply, relief washing over him even as the wound continued to sting. His grandmother cleaned the wound with antiseptic and wrapped his foot carefully in a piece of clean cloth.
“You must wear shoes, Joash,” she said firmly, patting his knee. “That’s the only way to stop this from happening again.”
He nodded, though they both knew that shoes were a luxury his family could barely afford. He had outgrown his last pair months ago, and most of the children in the village ran barefoot through the dusty paths, knowing no alternative.
As he lay down that night, his foot still throbbing but free from the tiny invader, Joash made a silent promise to himself—one day, he would have shoes. And maybe, just maybe, he would help others get them too.
