Several months ago when I was seated on the bus at the terminal and going home
from work, a woman showed a kindness that up to now I cannot forget.
The bus was still not full. I sat on the third row, by the window, on the
driver's side. It was nearly six p.m. but the driver showed no intention of
getting the bus on the road.
I saw a middle-aged woman take a seat at the opposite side. She was crying.
Without directly talking to anyone, she continued to cry and tell her story.
She came to the city to visit her daughter and was going back home to the
province. On her way to the bus terminal, one of her bags were snatched and
stolen from her.
She weepingly narrated that the bag had half of the money she brought with her.
The other half was rolled in a hankie and hidden under her blouse so she still
had some money left.
The bus conductor, driver and the other passengers all listened to her tale and
tried to sympathize with her. Finally, after a few minutes, she stopped and took
out some cheese bread from her bag and began to eat. Then I saw an old man in
tattered clothes get on the bus and take the seat directly in front of the
crying woman.
A few more minutes and all the seats were already taken and the driver got
behind the wheel and got ready to move. The bus conductor took out tickets and
began asking us where we're getting off.
When he got to the old man, he got suspicious and asked if the old man had any
money with him. The old man said no, but he knew where he was getting off. He
said he spent all his money that morning when he accidentally got off the wrong
bus.
Upon hearing this, the bus conductor told the old man that he couldn't possibly
ride the bus and ordered him to get off. The old man wouldn't budge. He was near
to crying and he begged the bus conductor to let him take that ride so he could
go home. The driver heard what was happening and approached the old man and he,
too, told the old man to get off.
The woman was listening and observing what was transpiring. When the bus driver
and conductor started to raise their voices at the old man, she interfered. She
said, "Stop harrassing him. Can't you see he's just trying to go home?"
"He doesn't have money!" The driver told her in a loud voice.
"Well, that's not reason enough!" She insisted. "Where will he get off and how
much is his fare?"
The bus conductor mumbled the fare.
"Fine," said the woman and she reached between her blouse and took out her only
remaining money. She gave it to the bus conductor. "Here's his fare and mine.
I'll pay for him. It's only money. Just stop giving him a hard time. Can't you
see he's old and weak?"
That made all heads turn to the woman. Minutes before, we were watching her cry
over the money she lost and now she was paying for the old man's fare with
what's left of her money. Everyone, including me, felt humbled by the woman's
kindness and unselfishness.
Finally, the bus left the terminal. Not contented to pay for the old man's fare,
she gave him some of her food and a 50-peso bill. She smiled the rest of the
trip.
© 2000 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
iamshery@msc.net.ph
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