Are You a Walking ATM?
By Victor Yen
Photograph courtesy of halobenzene.livejournal.com
Suddenly, a healthy-looking middle-aged Chinese woman came up and clutched my arm as I was waiting for my bus to arrive at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange. “Friend, can I have some money to go home?” came the question, accompanied by watery eyes no less. “How much do you need?” I asked. The reply: “I need fifteen dollars.” Fifteen dollars to go home? The irony’s overwhelming given the context of the location. Negotiation did not work too, as I tried to give her five dollars instead. “Sorry then. Fifteen dollars is too much.” I said, giving up. As instantly as it had happened, my arm was released and the tears dried up. She walked away and was last seen approaching another guy, who seemed to be of a similar profile as myself. Compassion-less? Well, I prefer to provide F&B to the needy instead of being a convenient ATM.
There must be an aura of implicit generosity (or gullibility) in a “20-something guy in jeans standing alone” that attracts people looking for a quick cash hand-out like bees to honey. Maybe the probability of success is higher. I shall attempt a general guess why not other profiles:
- a middle-aged uncle/aunty will most likely watch his/her pennies carefully and be wary of conmen (not to mention having to support many dependents);
- a pimply teenager will most likely be broke;
- a professionally-suited up white-collar executive will most likely be too busy rushing to listen to you;
- a couple or group will most likely compile compelling reasons not to help;
- a girl / lady will most likely have more personal grooming commitments to spend on. I am referring to the need for new shoes to go with each dress, manicure and pedicure sessions, hairdo and makeup etc.
Photograph of unknown man courtesy of leolaksi.wordpress.com/category/singapore
A 20-year old guy in jeans looks casual enough to think nothing of parting with a couple of bucks, I suppose. I recall another incident where I got a similar proposal again:
(Scene: MRT station)
Man: “Hello. I need to go home and I haven’t eaten in two days.”
Me: “Is it? Where is home?”
Man: “Near Lavendar station. I want to take MRT. Can give me some money to buy food?”
Me: (Thinking fast) “There’s a food centre just there. (Points) Let’s go there. I buy you food. You eat until you are full, no problem.”
Man: “Too far lah. Give me $10, I go home and eat.”
Me: “OK. There’s a 7-Eleven at the MRT Station. Let’s go get some food.”
Man: (hesitates): “OK.”
We went into the 7-Eleven and he took a long time staring at the biscuit section. After a while, he picked a packet of cream crackers. I picked a bottle of water for him.
Me: “Is this enough? Why don’t you get the pao (Chinese bun)?”
Man: “No it’s OK. Enough.”
I paid up and we proceeded to the MRT station, where I bought him a one-way trip to Lavendar (physically putting in the coins into the slot). He seemed reluctant to leave, giving excuses to “wait a while” but I insisted. I “ushered” him to the gantry, scanned the card for him and even waved goodbye.
The only cash he might have gotten off me is when he refunds the card at Lavendar. I think he can still get back a dollar.
You may think that I am a cheapskate but I am happy that I had helped him practically, which was, to meet his immediate needs for food and transport. Admittedly I could have done more (of course) but it felt right at that place and time. There is a frail old man near my place who goes around gesturing an open palm to anyone who walks past him. But I never fail to notice a new pack of cigarettes tucked in his breast pocket everytime I see him.
I am not against anyone hitting the streets to sell tissue paper or soft toys at hawker centres. This is probably a group of people who may not be savvy enough to know the existence of proper channels that are in place to help them on a long-term basis. But I draw the line at cheating. There was a middle-aged lady who would sell tissue paper at National University of Singapore (NUS) at an exorbitant rate of $2 for three packets. She is obviously smart, knowing well the high success rate that her target market could yield. She used a story on how sick her only daughter was and that she needed money for her surgery. Coincidentally, I bumped into her later outside NUS eating at a very good restaurant. She was very well-dressed and accompanied by a teenage girl. The reason why I remembered her was due to the din she was creating, by complaining loudly at the shoddy service.
As Singapore enters into the recession year of 2009, I believe we will see more people hitting the streets looking for a quick buck. While we continue or step up efforts in contributing to charities and the needy, let’s be discerning and mindful in our giving. I believe that even with limited resources, we can meet specific needs of the truly disadvantaged.
*Victor still wonders if Lavendar is really his destination… Oh well…*