Hey guys! How's it going?
So just last night while I was walking home with a friend about 3 o'clock along Lygon St, we bumped into this guy who I presumed is from Hong Kong due to his accent and language.
Anyways, he was speaking to us in a dry cracking voice like the ones you hear when someone is about to cry. He told us that he's a student studying in Shepparton (at least 2 hours away from Melbourne via the V/Line) and today he came to the city to attend a group reunion.
Between the time of the reunion and departing Southern Cross to head home, he lost his wallet. He made a police report at SC and asked if he was able to get a ride back in which the officers denied due to the distance and activities they had.
So here he is now asking me if I could buy a V/Line ticket for him and he did a little bow saying 'so sorry to bother you'. My mate gave him 2 dollars and told me to walk away but I knew that wasn't enough.
Ticket to Shepparton to cost at least 9 dollars and they only operate in the morning and evening. His next train would only depart around 6.25 am. The 'unlucky' guy was just wearing a fleece jacket and winter solstice just started yesterday... fyi it was about 4-6 degrees and it was really wet due to the rain.
I wish I could find him a warm place to stay for the night but I was afraid this guy might be a thug or a druggie.
But part of me roughly knows what he's going through cause once I ran away from home (fyi about 14 years old) due to a huge argument with my mum. I only had RM1 at that time and I used it to take a bus to the city center.
And about 11pm, I was really hungry, cold and super broke. I felt miserable. I didn't have any guts to ask the people that walked by for spare change to give my parents a ring in the middle of the night. But lucky for me I did manage to pick up about 2, 20 cent coins on the floor from a mamak store nearby and used it to call my parents... which ended up with them giving me a all out lecturer about life, obedience etc... in the car and when I was in bed.
So, back to my story. I felt bad for this guy. So I wooped out a 10 dollar note for him. He took the money and started to thank me over and over again while his eyes watered up like a fountain. I told him in Canton, 'find some place warm and rest' to which he replied repeatedly, 'thank you, thank you'.
After we walked away, my mate told me I shouldn't do that. He could be a 'fake'. I knew what he meant but in that situation something in me told me this guy was most likely not. I just hoped that he did use the money to get back home.
So here's my question for you all, ' What I did... was it good or plain stupid?' and I'd like to know what YOU would have done if you were in a situation such as this. Do leave your thoughts, views and answers at the comment sections below.
Have a great week and God bless.
Ciao!
:D
8 comments:
Well, the thing is that we will never know but I still believe that we must help someone who is in need whenever possible :)
I'd did the same thing too.
$10 is not much to you but could help a man in need so i think you did the right thing. however, my gut feelings tell me tt the guy was faking it. but compassion never fails:))
MING DID US PROUD! Definitely the right thing to do! If it is a fraud, let the fraud be blessed! :)
I was once approached by a lady who is being robbed and she needs money to contact her families to pick her up. I was quite skeptical at first but in the end I gave her RM5 which is enough for her to make a phone call.
We wont know we have been cheated or not but at least we know that what we give is at least able to help the person. For me, I just treat as the money was spent on food then I wont feel the pain. :)
YY
Well done Ming.
Better to lose $10 than to feel lousy afterwards because who knows if the guy was faking it or not - but at least, you did something good, Ming.
Well done.
Anon in KK.
You did the right thing. God bless you.
You did a good thing and the right thing. I was in that kind of situation once when I was a kid - did something miserably stupid and was totally lost, on my own in an unfamiliar part of the city, at night, with no money and no phone and no one knew where I was. I was trying to find my way home just walking but didn't even realize I was going in the wrong direction. A couple out of the blue stopped their car by the side of the road and asked whether I needed a ride. I was scared stiff but got in the car anyway, told them my address and prayed so hard all the way that I didn't just get into a bigger mess. They dropped me home safely and I couldn't thank them enough. To this day, I don't know what made them give a complete stranger a lift, or what made me go with them. I know my guardian angel looked out for me that day. Sometimes God's grace works through us. I think you were someone's lifesaver that night. Good job!
Jasmine
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