As I have recently started on a new project where my client’s premise is in town, I find myself taking the train to and fro via Sommerset MRT station every work day or night. Every evening, for the past week or so, I noticed an old lady, standing right outside the station entrance, holding out a packet of tissue and biscuit, willing the passersby to make a purchase. Admittedly, like most people, I have quickly walked past her on my way down to the train station on numerous occassions. I am sure many, like myself, have struggled with the notion of buying something from her, even if we did not want the wares she was touting. Perhaps it was the sense of guilt that led us to quicken our steps past her. Then two nights ago, as I was a little earlier than usual, I noticed that the lady was not present that evening at her usual spot. That was when I resolved to buy something from her the next time I see her.
This evening, late around 10pm, I hurried my way towards the train station again, on my way home. As I neared the station, I found the familiar figure, streching out to passersby selling her wares. I halted my feet right beside her and asked her, “how much?”. She mumbled something about her throat and coughing, $4 for 2 packets and $5 for 3 packets. I quickly passed her $4, she handed over 2 packets of stuff, and I was off. Tucked the goods into my bag and took flight for the next east-bound train.
Upon reaching home, I took out the goods that I had bought and stared at them for a while. $4 had bought me a packet of NTUC tissue (“Soft” was printed on the packaging), and a pack of what appears to be self-wrapped plain crackers (3 pieces). I decided to bring the biscuits to work, in case some colleagues have a sudden hunger attack. Rip-off you would think? Just take heart that the $4 you will have kindly contributed to her family could mean a lot more to her than it is to you.
In our society today, nothing much is being done to help people 2 generations ahead of us. These old folks never had the notion of insurance or investing in funds for future retirement. All they had was an idea to survive, to make a living and provide for the family, to survive the War – yet they still have to work in their old age to meet the basic needs. Our generation is much more fortunate, yet we’ve grown into a much harder and heartless society. The next time you see an old person selling things on the streets, or a person with a vision disability singing, would you reach for that $4 that totally means nothing to you and hand it over, instantly increasing the value of those notes?
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