The Diamond Seekers

Patricija sits, sighing over her remote schoolwork.

Finally, she gathers herself:

“Mom, you tell me, why is it necessary to study? Daminykas is struggling up there. I’m struggling here. And as I understand it, we’ll be struggling like this for many years.”
I push her schoolwork aside.

“If you don’t study, you won’t be able to get a job you like. You won’t earn money. You won’t be able to buy a house, won’t be able to take care of your children, won’t even be able to go to the store to buy food…”
She listens intently.

“What if I find a diamond? I’ll sell it and we’ll have a lot of money. And Do said he’d come look with me.”
I smile.

“And what if you don’t find one?”
My little conversationalist widens her already big eyes.

“We’ll look for a long time! You always tell me, when I lose something: WHO SEARCHES, FINDS.”
So the plan for rescuing her sister and brother from the clutches of evil schoolwork is ready. All that’s left is to grab the shovels and find that pesky diamond.

V.