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The school holidays are here again! Hassan and Kim Seng,
armed with umbrellas stood outside their homes in
Kampong Kayu. They had found a way to pay for their new
textbooks for the next year. They were thankful for the
rainy season. The street was flooded. Water rose to a
height of some 0.75 meters. "Seng, another business,"
Hassan whispered happily as he nudged Kim Seng with his
elbow. They watched a car spluttered and stopped. The
driver failed to restart his car. He wound down the
windows and waved frantically to the two boys who rushed
eagerly towards him.
"Five dollars," they chorused as they approached the
vehicle.
"Five dollars?" the driver was surprised.
"Yes, five dollars and we'll help you push the car,"
Kim Seng explained.
"So, that was what you boys were waiting for - to
take advantage of desperate drivers like me to make
money. I should have known. I thought you were being
helpful and kind. Well, apparently I was wrong." The
driver looked more sad than angry.
"Well, we are providing a service. We need to eat for
energy, you know," Hassan said in defence. The boys
pushed the car through the flood waters. The motorist
started the car and drove off.
That night, Kim Seng tossed and turned in bed. He
could not sleep. The motorist's remarks disturbed him.
"I thought you were being kind and helpful," the man had
said. What had he learnt in school? Mr Tan, his teacher,
had always stressed the importance of doing a good deed
a day. Maybe they were wrong to make money out of
someone's misery. He decided to call Hassan.
The next day, the boys were at McDonalds', seeking
work as waiters in the restaurant. |
