Bladewire

In 2003 I was in Fiji with my son and I happened across paying the wrong guy to guide us through. He kept taking us to overpriced vendors (which I wouldn't pay for) and shitty off T-shirt salesman (which I bought from) and he kept giving me, not my kid, free drinks. Long story short in humid hot Fiji, at one point later in the day I really had to go-to the bathroom, he took us to the nearest place ( I was young then ) I gave him all our bags and I rushed to the restroom and he was with my bags and my kid. I foolishly thought if I left him with my stuff alone it would all be gone but left him with my kid nothing would happen.

I didn't realize until after I sat on the toilet that I had left my son with a complete stranger that I knew was a crook. I panicked got up and went out to the hall and he was there looking very nervous. Long story short at the end of a long day, hours later, the guy tried to juice me for more money, I refused on principle, he gave me my bags of the overpriced stuff ( that I knew he got commission for ), he was visibly upset, I paid him his fee plus a generous 50% tip, and that was it. We got back to our villa and I went through the bags, he had stolen half the stuff.

I knew then that I was a test run for him in Suva city. I knew that he knew if he could do the same to other tourists, but take the child, he would be a ghost to other tourists and they would come out never knowing who to report to the police. I know it might sound off but Have you ever done something completely stupid then afterwards put the pieces together and realize you were manipulated?

I was genuinely scared then. Sometimes you don't know the evil you've encountered until it's too late, and if you're blessed for even just a moment, you can be forsaken their curse on the rest of your life.