Sharing my blessings

YESTERDAY evening after my father picked me up after school, we went to buy my birthday cake. My father parked by the road, and I waited for him in the car. As I sat in the car, I spotted an old man sitting under a tree by a rubbish dump. He had a walking stick with him and looked filthy. He was dishevelled – his face unshaven and his clothes tattered.

I saw him flattening discarded boxes from the rubbish dump and tying it to the soles of his feet with raffia strings. I could see that his feet were covered in blisters. He had managed to tie a piece of cardboard around his right foot but he couldn’t find enough strings to tie the cardboard around his left foot.

His face was a picture of agony and disappointment.

Then he got up and began rummaging through the rubbish bin for edibles. It didn’t seem like he had any luck as I saw many stray dogs scampering around and crows fluttering about.

I saw him heading to the next rubbish bin, then digging into it. His expressionless face proved that luck was not on his side.

As he dragged his feet to the next bin, my father returned but I could not get my gaze off the elderly man. My eyes followed him until he was out of sight.

Back home, after I had showered and dressed up, my birthday celebration began.

Friends and relatives streamed in. There were so many wishes, gifts and presents. Guests ate and mingled while some danced to the beat of the music, interspersed with party games.

Amidst all that pomp, I couldn’t take my mind off that old, forlorn looking man.

Later that night, as I went through my gifts, I found a RM100 ang pow.

The next morning, I went to the shopping mall and bought a pair of slippers and some snacks for the old man.

In the evening, I sneaked out through the back door and cycled towards the roundabout in search of the elderly man.

When I reached the roundabout, the man wasn’t in sight.

My eyes searched frantically for the old man. My eyes scanned all the rubbish bins in sight but to no avail.

Dejected, I was about to head home when I saw a body wriggling near a tree trunk. I looked at the feet first and when I saw it was all blistered, I knew it was the old man.

I tapped his shoulders lightly. When he turned around, I showed him the slippers.

His eyes gleamed with joy and tears streamed down his cheeks. I quickly handed him his snacks and turned to leave.

To my utter shock, I saw Dad standing next to my bike.

He had a stern look, but when I gazed into his eyes pleading, he mellowed.

He put his arms around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze and said: “I’ll see you at home.”

I cycled home with Dad following behind.

Once home, he said, “You have made a difference and that’s what matters.” – By T. Mohasihini, 11.

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