Parental Love
Brierly recounts, “Mum and Dad were very affectionate, right from the start, always giving me lots of cuddles and making me feel safe, secure, loved, and, above all, wanted. That made a lot to a child who’d been lost and had experienced what it was like for no one to care about him. I bonded with them readily, and very soon trusted them completely.” Brierly’s adopted parents offer him love which makes it easy for him to get used to the Australian culture. Although they do not have a genetic bond, they adore him unconditionally. The bonding enables Brierly to blend smoothly into the family. The adopted parents are archetypal guardian angels who are contributory to changing Brierly’s life for the better.
Philanthropy
Brierly explains, "I am assisting with repairs to the Nava Jeevan orphan for orphanage for abandoned babies and lost children. Words can't properly express my gratitude to Mrs. Sood and her dedicated staff at ISSA. If I can help her with her mission to care for children who find themselves in situations similar to that which befell me, I will do everything I can." Brierly's devotion and philanthropy are a proof of gratitude which permits him to give back so that other needy orphans who are weathering circumstances similar to his. Although his life is better, he does not disregard his past. His appreciation is valuable in changing the lives of other orphans.
Regression
Brierly writes, “Occasionally the night-thoughts would spill over into the day. I remember Mum and Dad taking me to see the Hindi film Salaam Bombay. Its images of the little boy trying to survive alone in a sprawling city, in the hope of returning to his mother, brought back disturbing memories so sharply that I wept in the dark cinema, my well-meaning parents unaware of the cause.” Watching the film contributes to Brierly’s regression because the protagonist is facing circumstances similar to Brierly’s. His weeping infers that he has not utterly disremembered his sorrowful past. He cries because he identifies with the protagonist and the protagonist’s suffering reminds him of his struggle. He is upset because thus far he has not retraced his family.
Poverty
Brierly recalls, “On another occasion, I woke early feeling very hungry and found there was nothing to eat in the house …When I reached the field (of tomatoes), I squeezed in through a gap in the barbed-wire fence and within moments I was picking tomatoes, eating some on the spot, savouring their soft flesh. But then I heard a whistle blow loudly and saw a group of five or six older boys running quickly towards me across the field.” Brierly faces poverty before his adoption which forces him to steal so that he can meet his and his family’s physiological needs. Survival is difficult because his mother cannot afford adequate food for the family. The adoption is an act of fate which rescues him from hunger and poverty.
