This morning, I went to an office of a multi-purpose cooperative to sign up for membership. The moment I stepped in their reception area, one of the two receptionists was already holding out to me a set of snacks - a bottle of C2 juice drink taped with a pack of Bravo biscuits and another pack of Rebisco crackers. That was awesome! I thanked the receptionist and asked the security guard where I should file my membership application. He guided me to a queue inside in one of the office rooms.
While waiting for my turn, I chipped in the crackers. It was right on time when I finished it that "next" was called and I was that next in line.
My transaction was pretty smooth as I prepared all the requirements beforehand. I was done and going out in less than 30 minutes. I stepped out to the reception and stopped. I went to a corner while searching for my bag and talking to no one in particular though I know the receptionists and the guard will hear.
"I need to finish my snacks before I go home because it will not be enough. My housemates will get jealous," I said in our local dialect.
"How many will get jealous?" asked the receptionist who handed me earlier. I said three while still searching my bag. And there she was, holding out three sets of snacks to me.
"What? Really? No, it's okay." I said.
"No, it's okay. We are disposing all of these," she pointed to more sets in a box.
"There are actually more inside," she continued.
Their office is only in the morning on a Saturday so that is probably why they are giving the snacks away.
"So I can go home with my snacks... thank you!" I exclaimed and started my way out of the building. That was so kind and generous of them! Now I have pasalubong for my two nephews and brother. 馃槉
On my way home, I spotted an old man along the pathway. I have seen him several times. I don't know where he lives but he has been passing by our place going to and from the strawberry farm. He looks like farming in there. A few times I greeted him when we crossed our paths. While running an errand in another village, I saw him on his way to the farm. That was about two kilometers away from the farm and I thought how challenging it will be for him. On a second thought, I tried to be positive and considered it an opportunity to have physical exercise. "That is needed especially for someone at his age," I thought.
This time, he was sitting on a dike of a small canal beside the pathway. It was noon so he must have come from the farm, maybe on his way home for lunch. I thought of my snack set and searched for it in my bag as I walked towards him.
His head was down, he seemed so weary. I called out "Uncle!" and handed the incomplete set of my snacks (minus the cracker pack) to him. He looked up. Without taking the snacks, he asked where I am from. I could barely hear him. I pointed towards our house about 100 meters away and told him that I see him passing by every now and then. He did not seem to understand and just said where he is from. He mentioned his provincial root so I mentioned where my parents came from. This time he took the snacks. I again pointed our house. He nodded and thanked me. I thought that was the signal of the end of our conversation so I told him to have his snacks and I will move on. He nodded.
After few meters I passed by him, I looked back and he was in the same position when I first saw him. Head down looking so weary. I thought he may be just taking a break so I kept going.
When I reached home, one of my nephews was preparing for lunch. I unpacked the three sets of snacks and lined them up on the counter as I happily relayed how I got them.
Right after I lined the snacks up, I suddenly thought of the old man and felt sorry. It seems I did not give him enough. Seeing the complete sets of snacks, I felt selfish for giving him the incomplete one. I gave the incomplete set because that was intended for me. I thought it was the right thing to give away because it is what is mine. Now, it does not feel right. My nephews and brother have enough even without the snacks, why did I have to give lesser to the old man? How selfish am I?
It was also only then that it dawned on me; why was the old man back to like dozing off after I left him? Was he too weak even just to eat the snacks that I gave? Maybe he is not even able to open the juice and the biscuit pack? How could I have not completed helping him? It seems I was so proud of just giving him the snacks but maybe not much of what he really needs. How awful can that be? I pray that I'd be given another chance and be wiser when that happens.