the story of 5 pairs

In front is Mitchell and behind is Sebastian. Both are brothers and this shot is staged.

I believe Sebastian was born with his eyes crossed. The condition was permanent until corrective surgery was administered. Since the operation, efforts have been made to prevent a return to the original state. Sebastian has been handed prescription glasses and an eye patch to wear daily. The glasses are to aid his poor vision and the patch to rest an eye or two eager to cross.

Since my arrival here two months ago, I have only seen Sebastian wearing his awful glasses once. It was during a visit to his home after Alicia, the social worker, reminded his mother of convalescence by way of daily doses of glasses and eye patch.

Over time, Sebastian has had five pairs of glasses donated to him by various charitable organizations. Four pairs have failed to convince him that their rightful place is his face (who knows how many eye patches have failed in the same way?). They are lost somwhere in Peru. The current unconvincing pair, with its inch-thick lenses, and colorless frames, fears the same fate.

And so, Sebastian continues to roam the streets of San Gabriel two-eyed and patch less. I can see his eyes are preparing to cross.