If I remember correctly, it was 2004 that I was cycling to the MRT, when suddenly a woman 10 metres ahead of me suddenly waved at me to stop. She had a very troubled face.
I immediately e-braked just in time to avoid hitting her. In very pitiful and slow Mandarin, the mid 40 year old explained her mother is in hospital and her family has no money for food, and followed to ask for some money. Seeing that her expression was grimaced in real agony, I pitied her and passed her $5.
A few months later, along the same path, I chanced upon the same auntie, but this time she was convincing another kind soul for money.
I started to think, maybe she was only putting up a show.
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Over these years, I had seen the same auntie a couple of times, around the same area, but she wasn't engaging in any pitiful begging.
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Today, I was running errands at Tampines Mall and bumped into her at the TM junction. She looked quite the same, except that she had put on slight red lipstick. She stopped me. Upon recognising her, I waved her away. However, a few steps later, I turned back to take a look, to see her chanting away to a teenager girl. The girl looked like she was very taken aback and didn't know how to react.
I back-tracked.
I asked the auntie what was going on. The auntie turned her attention to me, and the girl slowly backed away. The auntie started to explain her story to me - this time her family hadn't eaten for days. She had the same pitifully grimaced face, and edged very uncomfortably into my personal physical space.
I totally ignored her and told her, "Auntie, 5 years ago you told me a similar story over there," I pointed to the cycling path 100 metres away.
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The auntie went silent and stared at me blankly, seemingly trying to recall. After a few seconds, she rebutted, "Don't have, don't have."
I stressed, "Yes, you did. After so many years, you still haven't found a job?"
The auntie responded 'no' very quickly, then further edged very closely in front of me, asking if I could recommend her any job.
I said, "Sorry, I cannot help you." And walked away quickly.
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Thinking back, I am wondering if the auntie had been in such a pitiful state for so long. Maybe I should have helped her. But I didn't, instead doubted her honesty and the mask she donned.
How would you have reacted?
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I would have done the same thing my pal.
ReplyDeleteI fell for a similar trick too. There was once when I was visiting a friend at Boon Keng MRT. A lady who was wearing really worn and tattered clothes approached me.
She was holding a baby picture, a new-born and she explained to me the kid has not eaten for days and hoped that I could help her. I think I gave her $10 bucks.
A few months later, I happened to chance upon her in the same area. She was much properly dressed and wearing lipstick (not sure what's with the common feature with the lips sticks, buying some stuff @ 7-Eleven.
When she saw me, she quickly looked away and left shortly. I think she recognised me as much as I did.
Till today I still wonder is she really needed help then...
ask her where did she get the lipstick from...
ReplyDeleteIf you want to go a step further, can bring her to the CDC (for welfare assistance), or alternatively, the police station (for arrest).