Sunday, January 21, 2007
ah bengs of Singapore unite!!
Never in my life have I noticed that the elderly staying in my area are so fascinating. Especially the ones at the market opposite TJ. Heh. My observation skills for old ladies have heightened considerably over the pass few days...(call it being a busybody if you like. But Whatever.)
Anyway. I seem to recall reading some highly disconcerting news articles on the discourtesy of people nowadays. Singapore is even ranked somewhere near the bottom on the courtesy list published in the Readers' Digest. Imagine!!
I was having dinner with my family at the above-mentioned market...when this old lady at the next table caught my attention. Number 1, the poor dear was wrinkled like a prune (meaning that she qualifies to be put under the category of 'ancient') =/ Number 2, she was struggling valiantly to pick out all the vegetables in her bowl of fishball noodles. (Heh. Who says only kids hate their greens?? Adults won't have this excuse for ammunition any more!! Hooray!) Number 3, she'd dropped her handbag onto the floor and was trying to bend down to pick it up.
Now. Look at reason number one, and you'll have cause to assume that she's not gonna be able to pick up that handbag. And you'd be right. She
was having quite abit of trouble. I was about to get up to help her, when this ah beng walked over, bent down and reached for her bag. His sleeve rode up his biceps, and revealed a slew of tattoos that we can only imagine on a gangster. This ah beng, is complete with gold chain, cigarette in mouth, as well as the whatcha-looking-at?! glare and the devil-may-care slink. He was clad in a tight tshirt, and trademark long pants. In other words, this ah beng is the one that many parents whisper frightenedly about, albeit just a
tad scrawny.
If my mother had seen what I'd been looking at, she would have thrown down her utensils and rush to the aid of the poor dear who's about to be robbed. But my mother didn't see, and that's just the point isn't it?? Well. The ah beng, picked up the handbag in question, and
handed it back to the old dear.
Bloody MARVELLOUS I say. Where are all the tourists?? Come away from the snob-ridden CBD and discover the kind heartedness of the heartland ah bengs!! If only Reader's Digest had taken the survey in the hawker centres of Singapore. The CBD working executive is precisely the one who'd sit on the outside seat of the bus, thus effectively preventing other more needy people from having a seat. And the gangster is the one who'll help you as he sees fit. And yet some people claim that it is the lack of education that's eroding our manners. -.-"
Talk about IRONY.
8:10 PM
;and the DODO has the final say.
