yeah....Things will only get better

The very moment I stepped into my favourite coffee shop along Balestier, he caught my attention. In a not very positive way perhaps. He was bald, or rather shaven, pint-size but nevertheless fit. He was grining away, perhaps, trying to hard to look smiley.

As I sat at a table waiting for my yong tau fu to arrive, he sauntered over. He tried to strike up a conversation with me. I can't make out what he wad trying to say. I shrugged my shoulders to indicate that. He rubbed his thumb and index fingers, in the otherwise known as the "counting money action". He pointed to his mouth and his tummy.

I had a quick glance at him again. He was not a day passed 40, fit and mobile. Not that I'm unwilling to spare him some money, if he really needs it, but something tells me that he's not that in need. I waved him off. He tried to "beg" some money from me as he waited for my order to be delivered to my table. I handed over a 10 dollar note to the stall keeper, in return she gave me some notes and coins as change.

The man pointed at the lose change.

" One dollar One dollar.... makan..."

I avoided eye contact with him as I kept my change and began my lunch. He circled around me. On the occasional moment of eye contact, he showed me a pitiful face and pleaded for that one dollar. I was firm. No means no...

After a while, I think he gave up. He walked over to the nearest Bak Chor Mee stall and placed his order of mee pok tar. He took out a five dollar note as he paid for his meal. He sure is hungry as he gobbled down his meal.

I'm pretty certain that he isn't very well to do. I won't deny the fact that he's very hungry. But as he finished his meal, he raised his hand and beckoned the coffee auntie over and ordered a can of coke.

Now, I'm not too sure if he really deserved that one dollar.