The day before yesterday, I did something I seldom do – I bought tissue paper from a tissue paper peddler. I’ve said ‘No’ numerous times to peddlers at hawker centres, kopitiams and walked past many who sit at the side of the road waiting for some kind soul to buy three or four packets of tissue for $1.
Many of those who sell them are either underprivileged or handicapped in some way or another, yet many of us brush them off. I’m not sure why or how most of us got into the habit of turning these people away when they’re trying in their own small way to earn a meagre living. Was it because the government sent out some mandate saying that we shouldn’t buy from these people so as to discourage them from selling tissues???
However, on Tuesday while exiting the MRT station on my way to meet a friend at Toa Payoh’s HDB Hub, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away from an old blind woman who was standing just outside the doors leading into the station. With her cane in her left hand and the right hand grasping some $1 coins in the palm while holding on to three packets of tissue in the same hand and a big full of tissue packets on the right wrist, the white-hair woman was standing forlornly in a corner with the peak hour crowd rushing past her, oblivious to her presence.
For some reason, the sight of her broke my heart and I don’t think I could have forgiven myself had I walked away without buying the tissues. When I went up to her and asked how much the tissues were, she said to me in Chinese, “你要跟我讲话我才知道你在，因为我看不见.” (You have to talk to me for me to know you’re here because I can’t see.)
Of all the senses, I think sight is the worst one to lose. It’s so difficult to do anything without being able to see. So much of the world’s beauty and colour is lost. So much literature is out of reach.
I guess from now on, I’m going to tell myself wherever possible, help. Seriously, I haven’t been the most charitable person and perhaps it’s time to change that. Doesn’t matter if I end up with packs of tissue; will just use it to “chope” seats at food courts and hawker centres. Hee.