The Running Man

Different Sides of the same story..

Something happened on the train this morning on my way to work which I thought I should recount.
I was waiting at the train platform waiting for my train when this 'bum' walked past. Now I say 'bum' because he certainly did look like 1 :P...very old looking clothes, not groomed, had a face like it was no stranger to alcohol, old, didn't looked like he showered recently (you get my meaning). Anyway, this being Sydney I was weary of him as he ambled past me (thinking he might ask me for money or something like that), but nothing happened and the train came. We boarded, he was in the same carriage as me (and I was still being weary of him and held my backpack close to me). He sat down in the seat facing me, and there was already this asian lady there (maybe Korean or Jap) looking very prim and proper. You should have seen the speed in which that lady just got up and walked to another carriage (even tho the seat she was sitting on had more than enough space for 3 people). At that moment I thought (of the lady): Geez...could you have made it anymore obvious?! and poor guy (yes I did feel sorry for him, as its not a nice feeling when you know that total strangers cannot bear to sit near you, and would rather try to find a seat elsewhere on a busy train - coz of your appearance when you have done nothing wrong). Now I can honestly say that if I was in that lady's shoes (and he sat next to me), I wouldn't have just gotten up and sat somewhere else (coz maybe I am a guy I suppose), but I would have definitely kept a tighter hold of my bag (not too obvious of course).
During the short 10 min train ride, I had time to observe him (as he was sitting directly opposite me) and also noted that no one sat next to him (although there were 2 perfectly good seats on either side of him) male or females who boarded...they'd rather stand :P. He didn't cause any trouble and I felt sorry for this old man as he looked quite harmless and lonely (thats my impression from my observation). Anyway what happened next was quite touching and really highlighted the mindset of some people especially the Aussies. There was this lady who sat next to me, who was bringing her young daughter (maybe 5-7yo) to school...she got up and asked the old man about his foot (he had a bandage on a hole in his shoe - hence the reason for his ambling along) and with her daughter (who standing with her), she asked if he had money to go to see a doctor for his foot...then without any response, she gave him money and left the train at her stop :P. Felt touched by this mother's generosity and kindness...she had her young daughter with her..and being a mother you know how protective they can get...but yet she still approached this guy and wanted to know his well-being :)
At the next stop, the old man got up to go to the entrance...and because of his foot (I assume) he nearly fell over..there was this Aussie guy in a suit next to me and he sprang forward and assisted this old man (not like old old, but kinda elderly) off the train :P awww...
I am just hoping he uses the money the mother gave him for food, accomodation, or medicine :P
Two different ways of thinking and two different sides...

Now if that old man was in Singapore (or any other Asian country)...would anyone have approached him and offered him help?? hmmm...

posted by Darren at 11:25 AM