The Time Request - 時間がある?
I was waiting for the bus in the morning when an old man in his late 50s approached me, asking for the time in Hokkien. I showed him my watch and read aloud the time. He thanked me, pointing to his eyes and said he kua bo (cannot see well). Then he stretched out his hand to give me a handshake. I was fairly amused; wasn’t too keen on the handshake, but didn’t want to be rude so I shook it in a firm grasp. He was clammy.
He moved closer, barely an inch away, and asked if I was working.
"对啊." I affirmed in Mandarin, since I cant speak much Hokkien.
Where do you live, and what block, were the questions that followed next.
Wondering where he was going with all these questions, I answered him truthfully, since I don’t think he could do much. If he tried anything funny, I could just bash his greying head against the nearest pillar and add some red.
Pleased with my answers, he grinned and proclaimed with an air of camaraderie he lives in the same block on the 5th floor, and once again stretched out his hand. Didn’t feel like touching the slimey palm again so I gingerly shook the tip of his fingers.
How about your parents? Are they working? Do they have their own biz? The inquisition came fast and furious.
Getting annoyed now, and wishing the damn bus would just come, I asked my own question "为什么你要问那么多?" (Why ask so much?)
Finally, he revealed his true motive and asked if I could give him 2 dollars for "kopi".
"没有" I rejected him flat on the spot.
He persisted, stretching out his hand, this time with the palm facing the skies.
"没有" and I moved away from him
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walk away. Damn, I thought, I cant believe I fell for such a classic "excuse me do you have the time" trap.
He moved closer, barely an inch away, and asked if I was working.
"对啊." I affirmed in Mandarin, since I cant speak much Hokkien.
Where do you live, and what block, were the questions that followed next.
Wondering where he was going with all these questions, I answered him truthfully, since I don’t think he could do much. If he tried anything funny, I could just bash his greying head against the nearest pillar and add some red.
Pleased with my answers, he grinned and proclaimed with an air of camaraderie he lives in the same block on the 5th floor, and once again stretched out his hand. Didn’t feel like touching the slimey palm again so I gingerly shook the tip of his fingers.
How about your parents? Are they working? Do they have their own biz? The inquisition came fast and furious.
Getting annoyed now, and wishing the damn bus would just come, I asked my own question "为什么你要问那么多?" (Why ask so much?)
Finally, he revealed his true motive and asked if I could give him 2 dollars for "kopi".
"没有" I rejected him flat on the spot.
He persisted, stretching out his hand, this time with the palm facing the skies.
"没有" and I moved away from him
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walk away. Damn, I thought, I cant believe I fell for such a classic "excuse me do you have the time" trap.