Angry Samaritan

30th Dec 2004

There is a session of mahjong with Jerry, Yik Ley and Edmund this night. Heading to Hougang, I took the train to alight at Yio Chu Kang to take a bus from there. I could not recall which is the bus that goes to Edmund's house, it's either 72 or76. But anyway the queue was super duper long. So I thought I'll go to Ang Mo Kio to take 159 instead. As I headed back to the MRT station, a malay lady in her twenties approached me, in a hysterical state. She told me her husband had met with a car accident, and was admitted to Changi Genneral Hospital. She had no cash and she needed to pay for the registration fee of $265. She pleaded me to follow her to CGH to settle the bills, so that her husband can go through the surgery. I was doubtful about her tales. Nevertheless, I agreed to lend her money despite it was the end of the month when cash flow is near depletion. I told her I had to check how much I have with me. So we hailed a cab to the nearest ATM.

The balance read $203. I had $50 on in my wallet. I drew out $200 and grudged the cash to the malay lady, Farra. I told her since I do not even have enough to foot the bills, I suggested that she get someone else who can afford to lend her the total sum. But she claim that with this $200, she could at least foot part of the bill, and negotiate for the surgery to go on. She had even asked for money to foot the cab fare. Incredulously, I asked her to use the $200 I handed her. She had promised to return the money the next morning. I got her mobile no and address before parting with her. But I could not even check if she had given me her a right number, because my phone was spoilt.

I alighted at Ang Mo Kio and got the cab to carry on driving her to CGH. I was feeling uneasy about it all, as I got myself mentally prepared that I might not hear from her ever again. Then I boarded 159, having "The Bachelor" on the TV Mobile entertaining me on the ride. I never realised that I was going away from my destination until I reached Toa Payoh Bus Terminal. Followed by some cursing at myself with vulgarities, I hunted for a coin-based pay phone to inform Jerry of my tardy. I managed to dig two 10-cent coins to make the call. I inserted one, and the call was not activated. I tried a second, but to no avail. I then took a peep in the coin hole, only to see a dozen of 10-cent coins stuck inside. I found a toothpick lying around, and utilised it to dig out the two of my coins. Disgusted at my luck, I approached another malay lady and borrowed her phone to call. Needless to say, I got a dressing-down from the gang of three who had waited one hour already. Reluctantly, I was compelled to lavish on cab.

The cab uncle seemed a nice guy at first as we had some conversation. Then another cab cut into his lane recklessly. When there's only the two of us in the enclosed steel shell, he pointed his middle finger, scowling away, "ch** by*! ch** by*!!" I really wondered to whom the words were meant to be dedicated to... But soon after that, the ch** by* cab driver reverted to his friendly self once again. In the process of paying him, I dropped a couple of coins under the seat, and I was in no mood to bend down to dig.

Even after umpteen visits to Edmund's residential, we never failed to give him a call to ask which floor was it before taking the lift. There was was no exception this time either. However, I did not possess a mobile, and yet again resorted to pay phones. But the one at the void deck had to discriminate coin users. Tired of all these shit, I reckon I can recognise the gate and the door without needing to cross a street to fish for a coin-based pay phone. I tried 9th floor, which I thought it did not seem any familiar. Following that, I went to 6th, 10th, 7th, before deciding on the door at the 8th floor. I knocked and pressed the doorbell. Nobody answered the door. Depressed, I bitch my way across the street to fish for a coin-based pay phone.

I had already sensed a wretched night coming up at the mahjong. Unsurprisingly, I had a tough night minimising my loss from $70 to $40.

31st Dec 2004

In the morning, I could not track Farra as I was very seriously irritated by the baby crying recording she used for her ringing tone after consecutive unsucessful call attempts. It was until 2pm that she reached me to tell me that there had been unforeseen occuring medical fees that had emptied her and her mother's wallet. I told her that I must get the money back as I had nothing else to survive on. She said she will try her best to get the cash and will get back to me by 4pm. Once again, Farra played disappearance for the whole of new year's eve with her fucking irritating baby crying ring tone.

1st Jan 2005

I was awakened up by Farra's call in the morning. She told me she could only return me the money on Monday, saying she had no means. She would be at her mother's residence for the weekend. I had started with talking understandingly in a friendly tone. I explaint my situation to her, that I could not survive until Monday without any money. Moreover, I had gave my dad $30 out of my remaining $40 in my wallet as he was short. And I sucked out the rest for the food at the New Year party in my house. We soon engage in a heated argument when she kept on insisting that she will only repay two days later. I soon found myself enraged as I talked in a hostile tone which evolved to a nasty one. I reasoned that I had lent her the money only on the basis that I could get it back the very next morning for I was giving her almost every cash I had to her. I could not believe that there was no kin or friend for her to borrow $200 to return a complete stranger! I could emphatise that she could be from a poor background, but she had not emphatised at my situation. As Guoan told me, it is as if a blind was leading the blind. It was incompassionate and irresponsible for her when her promises break like water running from tap -- endless stream... I reached the point of repugnance and I swear that I had used my virgin vulgarity on a lady on her. She kept repeating, "I will contact you on Monday..." When I couldn't tahan no more, I roared with no respect,"What the FUCK!! What else can I say?!" before slamming the phone.

I was utterly displeased despite that it had only involved a small sum of money. I simply could not stand her lack of gratitude for a complete stranger had helped her. I swear I would rather donate the sum to the homeless people who survived the tsnami. I had asked and surveyed that majority would not offer to lend and help in this situation. After all that arguement, now I'm wondering if I can get the money back...

(to be continued...)