KINDNESS CAN BE COMPLICATED THESE DAYS

(Image for illustration purposes only)

I recall an incident in early 2020, just before the MCO. It was around 7.00 pm, and I was waiting for a Grab in front of a school. A small girl, perhaps in Year 2, approached me, visibly frightened and close to tears. She said her mother, a single parent, had forgotten to pick her up.

I cancelled my Grab. By chance, a bus arrived, so I paid for both of us and stayed close to her. I chose the bus deliberately, so there were witnesses, and even informed the bus driver of the situation. I did not send her home myself, as I didn’t want to create any misunderstanding. When she reached her stop, she said her house was nearby.

Kindness feels complicated these days, but I’m grateful she made it home safely. As for her predicament, I honestly don’t know who to blame.