Outrageous? You tell me.

So I was on my way home from work. Taking a train like any other, from Tanjong Pagar to Serangoon. Well, I alighted at Outram to switch lines and there’s this long walk from EWL to NEL.

After I went down the escalator, this lady approached me. My initial thought was that she was going to ask the time and I prepped myself by glancing at my watch. But what she said caught me off guard and here’s how it went:

LADY: Excuse me. I just went to the hospital and I left my coin purse. MRT gave me a free ride till Tanjong Pagar but I stay in Changi. Can you spare me some change to get home?
ME: *Fumbling through my bag and opening my wallet - in my bag - and realised I do not have any ‘spare change’. It was all 10s and 50s.*

- In the meantime, she continued - 

LADY: I am very shy, I don’t dare to ask anyone. I have been standing here for 2 hours. Now I feel unwell, I want to go buy medicine.
ME: I’m really sorry but I do not have spare change to help.
LADY: Please, I am very shy. *Keeps following me*
ME: I really don’t have spare change. How about you ask the control station for help? *And I walked off*

Now, here’s the thing. If you were in my shoes, what would you have done?

The list of things running through my mind was basically:

1. If you need money for transport, no problem. I could help you get home. But, you are already in the station. It shouldn’t be that much of a problem getting to the station you want, no?


2. Are you sure you are unwell? I mean, standing here for 2 hours and you are still looking radiant? Well, that’s some bug you have there.


3. Seriously, you are shy?! Surely there would be better times where there are lesser crowd of people - rather than stopping someone in the middle of the rush hour?


4. Now tell me what do you want? Are you asking me for money to get you home or asking me for money to get medicine? Get your story straight.


5. I really think you are making this up. If you are at Outram and you left the hospital, most likely you left SGH. Shouldn’t you head back first to get your purse?

I don’t know if I did the ‘right’ thing but I stand by my decision.
I believe that it should be a joy to help others - especially those in need. However, it is up to you to decide whether or not the person is actually needing or cheating. After all, you need to bear in mind that if anything happens - good or bad, you have no one to blame but your ignorance and trust. So, trust yourself and make the best decision the circumstance allows. And in my case, I felt I did.

Night.

- Elizabeth.