Mussel Man

Barely enough muscle to shoulder the mussels.

Snapped these 3 kids during a stroll through the old neighbourhoods of Istanbul, flanked on both sides by decaying wooden Ottoman houses interpsersed with the odd concrete structure. The little boy with the tin tray on his head was peddling mussels on the streets and the other two girls kept him company whilst pinching his wares. I don't know if he did make many sales and at the rate they were pinching his mussels, I doubt he had much left to sell. The little girl in the centre was obviously the fiesty ringleader who clearly lorded over the boy. The taller girl was a follower, not soft enough to be exploited but too big to be bullied. We have it easy here. Most of us have had a comfortable childhood. Not many of us had to peddle wares after school, or at the expense of school. The street is a tough place to grow up but it most definately builds character. On the street, it is true that that which does not kill you can only make you stronger; Very true.