Gone to Kati- Shaka stays back

I’m in Kati now to celebrate Easter with Irene’s family. As far as our relationship, Irene and I get along just fine on a personal level at least. There are no hard feelings, I don’t think there ever were that many. But on a professional level, we still are not seeing eye to eye, though we don’t express it. In any case, I’ll enjoy spending some time with her family on Easter, but in small doses. Hence why I have devoted my first few hours in the town to the internet café.
It must have been a month ago that I was running with Shaka when he asked why he can’t go a long with my when I leave town. Trying to explain why I can’t favor him over other people, pay his transport and such got nowhere. He finally decided he was going to come to Kati for Easter to hang out with Irene’s son Mamadi. Irene agreed, and so did his mother Dalfine. I explicitly said I was not a part of it and I could not pay his transport. “We know, “ said Dalfine, “he’ll find the money.”
But when I was all ready to leave today Shaka came to me and showed me the money he had. About 40 cents. Round trip to Kati is almost $3, and he asked if I could help him out with the money. Why do you do this to me? I’m in such a predicament now, I know he wants to go so badly, but I can’t put myself in that position. I know no other volunteer that would even think twice about doing it. I told him, “Shaka, I told you long ago that I wasn’t paying for your transport.” But he knows I have the money. He cried, guys. He cried. I pondered about it, prayed about it. And I still don’t know if I made the right decision. What did Jesus say about helping the poor? “Do unto others as you’d have done to me.” It’d be great for him to go. But then what? He’ll want to go to Bamako, and I know, I just know, he’ll beg to come back to the states with me. Everyone in the village already thinks that he is going to. They know I favor him, but who wouldn’t? The kid runs with me everyday, pulls my water, gets me mangos and vegetables, accompanies me to the market. Sure, I never really need or ask for his help, but he offers it freely. He’s a good kid. And I wanted to show my appreciation.
“When I was hungry you gave me to eat.” Alright, we’re working with malnourished children.
“When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink.” We’re fixing people’s wells and treating water.
“When I was naked, you gave me clothes.” Well, there’s plenty of people running around naked or half naked, but that’s their choice. They all got plenty of clothes.
Nowhere did I find “When I wanted to travel, you paid my transport.” The boy’s father has the money, but refused to give it to him. But then- how selfish of me. I feel incredibly guilty. I have the ability to make this kid’s whole year perhaps, but I turned my head. “If you run there, I’ll bike beside you.” It’s about 15 miles on the main road in the hot sun. I offered him the opportunity, and I would have watched him carefully. He pondered upon it, and finally turned it down. I don’t blame him- he make a good decision. I give this kid a lot- buy him stuff at the market and so on. That’s already overstepping the lines as far as Peace Corps sees things. But he gives me a lot too. And I’m still in the quarry of whether or not I made the right decision. I think I did (your comments welcome here!) But I made him cry. And on the week where I want to feel like a good Christian, I’ve turned my head on the poor. Was it for the best?