Tissue Papers. Power Couple . Uncle
This happened when i was out on lunch with my colleague.
At Hong Lim Complex Hawker, the pivot of under-previliged elderlys and crisp powersuits, the stark difference comes to light with a red-cheeked tissue seller.
We were sharing a table with this white-collared couple. The female was immaculately dressed in a pink chiffon top and picking at her food. Sorry to say, but there is this smirk on her face which simply spoils my appetite .The male was all cufflinks, striped shirt and yakking on his SGI. In between his comments on the economy, were injected with the "walaos" and "what the hells".
Then, the protanganist of the story into place with a big blue carry-all and peppered hair. My guess will be that shes in her late forties or fiftys. She just threw packets of tissue papers next to Female and stared at her, while wiping tears from her eyes. Female ignored her and made a futile attempt of saying no. Male finally gruffed with a "okay, since she's so persistent, pass her the $2." Tissue-seller turned her back and fumbled with her bag.
Male: "Hay, get her to pass me 3 more packets of tissues, we should be getting 6."
Female nudged Tissue-Seller, "Hay, 3 more, 3 more."
Tissue seller gave a wide eye look and pulled out the additional packets, turned and walked away.
Female: " See la, if never say, she will just pretend" while tucking nonchantly to her food.
At this point of time, i have an impluse to get some more tissues..
But, at the next table, guess Tissue seller meets someone with more conscience. A balding Uncle was standing next to Tissue Seller, while stuffing her hands with coins that he poured out from his small clear bag (his wallet, i guess) and waving her tissues away. And the Tissue Seller just stood there, staring at him.
...
The first thing that swam my mind was how cutthroat, professional and unfeeling the couple was. Everything seems to be just a transaction to them. Maybe it is only in this way that our world can progress orderly, fairly, predictably. Or are we actually regressing by miles in terms of humanity? Are We Not?
The Uncle was in his crumbled shirt, just your average Uncle you can find at the voiddecks or drinking their kopi at kopi-tiam. A normal folk from the heartlands. But maybe that's the difference, he has a heart.
.......
[The above comments are based on the biased opinions of the author.]
At Hong Lim Complex Hawker, the pivot of under-previliged elderlys and crisp powersuits, the stark difference comes to light with a red-cheeked tissue seller.
We were sharing a table with this white-collared couple. The female was immaculately dressed in a pink chiffon top and picking at her food. Sorry to say, but there is this smirk on her face which simply spoils my appetite .The male was all cufflinks, striped shirt and yakking on his SGI. In between his comments on the economy, were injected with the "walaos" and "what the hells".
Then, the protanganist of the story into place with a big blue carry-all and peppered hair. My guess will be that shes in her late forties or fiftys. She just threw packets of tissue papers next to Female and stared at her, while wiping tears from her eyes. Female ignored her and made a futile attempt of saying no. Male finally gruffed with a "okay, since she's so persistent, pass her the $2." Tissue-seller turned her back and fumbled with her bag.
Male: "Hay, get her to pass me 3 more packets of tissues, we should be getting 6."
Female nudged Tissue-Seller, "Hay, 3 more, 3 more."
Tissue seller gave a wide eye look and pulled out the additional packets, turned and walked away.
Female: " See la, if never say, she will just pretend" while tucking nonchantly to her food.
At this point of time, i have an impluse to get some more tissues..
But, at the next table, guess Tissue seller meets someone with more conscience. A balding Uncle was standing next to Tissue Seller, while stuffing her hands with coins that he poured out from his small clear bag (his wallet, i guess) and waving her tissues away. And the Tissue Seller just stood there, staring at him.
...
The first thing that swam my mind was how cutthroat, professional and unfeeling the couple was. Everything seems to be just a transaction to them. Maybe it is only in this way that our world can progress orderly, fairly, predictably. Or are we actually regressing by miles in terms of humanity? Are We Not?
The Uncle was in his crumbled shirt, just your average Uncle you can find at the voiddecks or drinking their kopi at kopi-tiam. A normal folk from the heartlands. But maybe that's the difference, he has a heart.
.......
[The above comments are based on the biased opinions of the author.]
posted by Rae at 3:04 PM
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