SOMETHING FOR SOMETHING

Okay, this is simply quid pro quo... tit for tat... but the proximity between the two incidents is so awesome it can't be missed.

Last Sunday, I went to Central to pick up a few, albeit heavy, things at the supermarket. I had my ever-dependable pushcart with me so I can push instead of carry. After doing the groceries, I thought of buying a saucepan, so I had to go a bit further, pushing my market basket on wheels. Having done that, I was on my way back when one of the wheels of my pushcart came out loose... the hinge kaput... and there I was with a 20 kilo bulk on a broken cart with like 20 meters between me and the flat.

Turning the corner, I saw what seemed like a hardware store and an elderly man was sitting on a stool in front of it, asleep. I didn't even have second thoughts about waking the man up... I mean, he should be minding the store and I needed help. He woke up and was gladly not sore about it. I asked him if he sold hinges for my pushcart wheel and he said he didn't, but asked me to wait. He went into the store, and after a couple of minutes, came out, a plastic jar in hand, containing all sorts of screws, pins, and what have you.

First he tried a hinge, very conveniently fitted with handles for turning... it was too small. Then he tried another, although I wasn't sure if it would have helped cause it didn't have a stopper or something... it was too big. For several minutes he tried to look for something that would fit. I sat on a stool, praying he would cause I didn't know where else to go if he didn't. After a while, he gave up... but only on the hinges. He fished out a pin from the jar, inserted it in the hole where the hinge used to be, and drove it in with a pair of pliers. When it was in, he pounded on it a bit more, to bend the pin so it wouldn't come off... nice touch.

When he finished, I asked him how much I owed him, and he put up his hand, waved it back and forth, shaking his head at the same time... no charge. I said, 'Xie xie', bowed, smiled and went my way.

Yesterday, I had to go to the supermarket again, wary about my pushcart, having no choice but to bring it along. I went to a home supplies store first to buy a couple of doormats. The pushcart is fitted with a hook where you can hang plastic bags that wouldn't fit into the cart. I hang the doormats there. Outside the supermarket, a picked up a loaf of bread and, not wanting it to be squashed by the other things I was buying, I put it in the bag of doormats first. Then I did my shopping... fresh milk for the cocoa, a couple of eye round steaks, celery, mushrooms, corn, a can of corned beef... there! I'm done. Now down to the cashier, pushing my cart, bringing out one item after another. I payed, took back the change and was off. The pushcart held up, I luckily managed to get back to the flat without any incident.

Unpacking the goods, my jaw dropped when I opened the bag of doormats and found the loaf of bread... THE BREAD! I didn't pay for the bread! I wouldn't snatch a loaf of bread... I mean, come on... what is it, $4? But it was quite tiresome to walk back to Central and I had other things to do. So I let it stand for a while... pushed it at the back of my mind, not touching the bread.

Then Vivien called. Gerry's leaving on Monday for Shanghai and he's staying at their place. She wants some things packed from the house and asked if I could pick up a couple of things from the supermarket for her. Can you see where this is heading? *GRIN*

Anyway, this morning I was back at the supermarket. At the cashier's, I got hold of the same loaf of bread, and told the lady... "Listen, I'm not buying this but could you charge it to me just the same? You see, I picked one up yesterday and wasn't charged for it cause I put it in another bag and totally forgot." The lady smiled and said to me, "It's nice to find customers like you."

That made me feel absolutely good.

Maybe there's something about both incidents having to do with the pushcart... phfffh!... maybe not.