was taking the escalator down to harbourfront mrt yesterday, and to my surprise this man turned to look at me and smiled. for a moment i wondered who he was.. it was an awkward few minutes, i just chatted with him not knowing who he was, then OH I REALISED WHO HE WAS when we were about to part ways
i delved deeper into this particular community, largely comprising of the elderly or the uneducated, just to realise how tough their lives actually was. 'THE CLEANING AUNTIES of SINGAPORE', so vastly found in hawker centres and coffee shops slogging their lives away all but seem like pitiful scenes found in the usual lower-end spectrum of our very much perfect society. i was taken aback to the true emotions concealed within them, as i came across cleaners who just turn and walk away even after i said 'thank you'. the worst being one auntie muttering some crap under her breath after clearing up my table. then after i thanked her, she muttered some more and walked away showing no sign of acknowledgement. i just feel that these people should be treated with more respect, they are just one bunch of suffering souls feeling unjust. our society is tainted, its just not as good as it seem to be
'i felt that it was time, it was time to leave the comfort zone that had been harbouring me the past two weeks. i wriggled with all my might trying to break free of the tangle of disgusting stuff all over me. pushing as hard as i could and finally some progress! my head was out as i caught my first glimpse of the outside world. wooh the space that was in front of my eyes interminable as thoughts of the coming liberty to explore filled my mind.
with one last mighty push, i was out! the sudden gush of cool liquid almost overwhelmed me as i allowed this new medium to pass through my gills. my first breath! my first taste of life..'
-adapted from 'The Chronicles of the Fish' by darren
