Strange encounters with strangers

The carpark attendant
I started driving on my own about 2 years after graduation. At that time, my parents normally preferred to supervise my driving. But somehow they let me drive to church on Sundays when there was little traffic. This church was along Jalan Imbi, not a very safe area particularly at night. Driving the automatic Proton Wira was manageable but at that time, I have to admit that I struggled with parking. Dad could never understand why I never inherited his 'driving' instincts. To him, driving is just plain easy.

Fortunately, the 'unofficial' parking attendant there was always helpful. When I was late, he would find an easy spot for me to park. It seemed that there was always a spot reserved for me. And observing my incompetence, he would also help 'supervise' my parking - turn more to the right, now to the left, reverse, etc. Only RM1 for churchgoers. So, I always thanked him and then rushed in to church. In my mind, he was really helpful.

I normally would not talk to strangers. But somehow they like to talk to me. One of those Sundays, he told me that he was a former drug addict. He used to be in and out of detention centers. However he was no longer into drugs. I was a bit shocked but I never felt afraid of this man.

I remembered one church sermon which an elder delivered. He was right in saying that all of us are 'rotten to the core'; we are all sinners. But that episode with the parking attendant showed me that few people deliberately want to be in the wrong path. Many want to get out of the 'pits'. They have needs just like any ordinary man on the street; to be valued and to be useful. Up till today, I still find it strange for a former drug addict to strike up a conversation with a girl like me.

Good morning, Miss!
When I first joined my current company, I could park at the visitor's carpark in the building due to lack of season carpark space. Then I would put in my claims and get reimbursed. Unfortunately, last year, they scrapped that benefit. So I had to park outside the building, otherwise I could not cover the cost of the visitor's carpark fees with the allowance given.

While waiting for my season carpark application to be approved, I parked at an open space carpark (Funny that my story has to do with carpark again). I disliked this carpark because my beautiful car would get so dusty at the end of every day.

After parking the car, I would then walk to the pedestrian bridge to cross over to my office. In that first week using that carpark, I met an elderly man going for his morning walk along that busy road, Jalan Tun Razak. As I have mentioned, I do not talk to strangers. But he said, "Good morning, Miss!" I looked around, there was no one else except me. So I just said, "Good morning." I smiled and continued on my walk. Surely this old man is harmless?

The following day, I met this same old man, at the same time, at the same spot which is just underneath the pedestrian bridge. "Good morning, Miss! Ni hao! Do you speak mandarin?" I said, "Ni hao, but I don't speak much mandarin." He asked, "Are you on your way to work? Is it at that building over there?" So I replied, "Yes," and smiled. I walked on and he went along for his morning walk. He greeted other passers-by too, but they normally just ignored him. I actually met him a few more times. Yes, I was actually quite punctual, arriving about the same time every morning until the morning traffic got worse. It was always about the same questions asked. There was even one time where he asked, "And how are your children doing?" "Oh, I do not have any children, I am single," I said, rather amused. "Oh, sorry, I thought you were married." We smiled and left it as that.

I suspect this elderly man is from a foreign country. Not many city folks live around that commercial area, except for expatriates and foreigners. Taking a morning walk along Jalan Tun Razak is strange in itself. He must have had too much time, with nobody to talk to or with no work to do. I just like to think of those encounters as little conversations, though they don't amount to much. Still it is connecting with someone. And a smile means a thousand words. As for now, no more open space carpark for me; I have upgraded to an undercover carpark.