Saturday. Up to the hospital for morning problem rounds. A lot of patients on the men’s ward including 6 eleven or twelve year old boys with wounds in various states of healing, or with HIV related disease. Their bodies are still small. Dr. S has said that puberty comes late here. They look at each other giggle when I greet them in Shona. They have and amazing ability to run up and down the halls of the hospital fast and silent, almost as if their feet are not touching the ground and they are just gliding along the newly waxed floor. Though they are on the mens ward, the entire hospital is their playground. During the day, I see them peeking around corners and dashing off in this or that direction. Gerald, the 12 year old who told me English is his favorite subject in school is the leader of the pack.
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