The fateful decision.......

Greg had an out-of-state business meeting for a few days at the end of the week. Greg is the country coordinator for his company's marketing division, so traveling around the country is very much 60% of his work time. Since this year, Greg hadn't had much time with his wife, Sue and she wanted a break from the kids for a few days, she followed Greg on this business trip. 

They left the kids with their usual babysitter. A very reliable one they have been hiring for a couple of years now to look after his son and daughter.

The trip was supposed to be from the Thursday to Sunday that week. The meeting did not go so well and Greg had to prepare some paperwork to report on the unfortunate outcomes of the meeting so Greg decided to leave for home a day earlier. 

Plane touched down on the local airport, Greg and Sue checked out their luggages and drive for home. Nearing their neighbourhood, they suddenly saw a lot of smoke coming from a few blocks away. Greg makes a turn for that direction. Sue was a little startled and said, "Greg, it's none of our concern. Let's just head home." Greg replied, "Sue, it's only for a short while and we might be able to help in some way."

Sue wasn't exactly impressed with his benevolent attitude but went on with him. As they turned into the lane, it was Mike's house on fire. Mike is a close neighbour of Greg and their kids play a lot together at a nearby neighbourhood park. 

Greg go out of the car and saw Mike's wife screaming for help mentioning the kids were still in the basement. Greg was about to rush into the house when Sue held his arm, "Greg, don't go in! Wait for the fire brigade to get here. You are going to ruin the clothes I bought for your birthday this year." Greg took her arm away, got a nearby hose to wet himself and rushed into the house to get Mike's kids. 

Feeling his way through the burning house, looking for the living room where the entrance of the basement was and when Greg finally got to the basement, he saw Mike's son and daughter hanging on to each other. Greg grabbed the both of them and rushed out of the house in haste. 

As Greg passed the kitchen, on his left in another room, he could have sworn he heard voices of children shouting for help. He could not be sure under all the loud cracking sounds of the flames slowly engulfing the house. Greg quickly ran out of the house to drop off Mike's kids and was about to turn around and run back in when Sue stood in front of him and said, "Greg, please don't go in anymore. It's suicidal and the house is about to come down. Please! Don't do it! It's not worth getting killed for another person's cause." 

Greg brushed Sue of and hose himself down with water and rushed into the burning house to check the room he thought he heard voices in. Finding the room wasn't difficult since it was at the back of the house near the kitchen. Greg kicked the door open and saw two kids close to losing consciousness from smoke poisoning. Greg got hold of both the children and tried for the backdoor exit.

Before he could reach the door, the roof above the door came down blocking the exit. Greg knew time was running out and he had to think really fast if was going to save himself and the children in his hands. As he scanned his surroundings, he noticed a window above the kitchen sink. Without thinking he stood back and ran as fast as he could and leaped into the window. Breaking the window, Greg landed in the backyard with loud thud and rolling a few metres while holding the children tightly.

Sue rushed towards Greg to make sure he was alright. As Greg got up and looked at the kids he just saved, he realised it was his own boy and girl. Apparently, the baby sitter left them at Mike's while she went out to do some quick groceries. Sue realising that Greg just saved their kids, she just stood there speechless and regretting her foolishness.......................

~Path of Time~ by Micky Foo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

It's not about the time, it's not about the money, it's not about the lifestyle, it's about making memories

Caroline graduated with a degree in medical and secured an above average paying job in one of the most renown hospital in the city. She eventually scored a high profile heart operation on one of the country's richest entrepreneurs. Caroline was never lacking in medical cases and she was always busy. 

At 28 years of age, Caroline married to an every-girl's-dream-guy, Mason - handsome, toned body, well mannered, respected his woman type-of-guy architect. Friends and family had only one thing to say to those two love birds - match made in heaven! 

4 years down the road, Caroline and Mason had their first son, Tom. Becoming a parent was anything but easy, especially for first time parents like Caroline and Mason. Everyday was a rush for either one of them to get off work to fetch Tom from Mason's parent's because Caroline's parents were from out of state and Mason's played an active role in a charitable organisation and could not take care of Tom anytime after 6 o'clock in the evening. 

The night after celebrating Tom's first birthday, just before going to bed Caroline spoke to Mason, "Mason, I not sure you are going to agree with me on this but I think I want to be a full time mom to take care of Tom. What do you think?" Mason gave it a thought for a while and said, "Should be okay if that's what you want. We can always work something out. I guess we can hire a maid to handle the housework while you take care of Tom boy." 

"We don't need a maid dear. After all, I know how you always want to keep our privacy and you never liked the idea of having a maid around the house. I should be able to handle the housework. We don't really live in a big house you know!", replied Caroline with a chuckle. 

"If you think that's the right thing to do, we can go with it.", Mason replied respecting Caroline's decision. 

Caroline looked at Mason and said, "Thanks a lot dear. But I know it will be tougher on you since we are going to lose my side of the income. I hope you are okay with it."

Tom reassuringly held Caroline's hands and said , "Of course I am okay with it dear. After all, at Tom boy's age what he needs most is his mother, you. I can work my schedule to spend more time with you two since I can work my project designs from home."

The following day, when close friends and relatives heard about Caroline's decision and resignation, everyone thought she was suffering from post pregnancy depression. Caroline's best friend, Meg asked her over lunch, "Are you sure you are okay, Caroline? I mean you are going to give up your job? You'll forgo all that income and especially now when your career is building. You sure you want to do that?" 

Caroline said, "Thanks for your concern Meg. I am really okay. I am a doctor and I would know if I am suffering from post pregnancy depression. But the thing is, with my parents out of state and clearly inconvenient for them to come down to help take care of Tom and with Mason's parents being active with their charity stuff, there really is no one else to take care of Tom."

Meg shook her head and replied, "Get a nanny or a baby sitter or a maid or something! They can handle Tom."

Caroline replied, "Meg, Tom is my only child at the moment. In my life time there will only be one chance for me to see one year old Tom, then two year old Tom, then three year old Tom and until he grows up. He needs me especially at this young age, and if I miss the time with him now, I will never get it back. I am talking about changing his diapers, cuddling with him to bed, reading him a bed time story to bed, feeding him his milk, playing toys with him, bathing with him. It's a once in a lifetime experience with Tom. I'll never change his diapers again once he passes the diaper age, or feed him his milk. Wouldn't you want to create such lifetime memories like these? I mean I do agree having the high salary does allow my family and I to have a nice lifestyle and all that but it's not worth it."

Meg just sighed and said, "I sure hope you are making the right choice Caroline. I wouldn't forgo a high paying job for anything. If I have to, I'd rather work my timetable to fit my kids."

Caroline just smiled and replied, "That's your way of handling it Meg, not mine. To me, it's more than that. It's not about the time, it's not about the money, it's not about the lifestyle, it's about making memories."

The Piggy Bank ~ an inspiration

The Piggy Bank, from the eyes of a boy named James.............

I remembered when I was a kid, dad and mom always had a piggy bank by the bed in the old wooden cottage we used to live in. Any lose change and coins would go in to that piggy bank. It wasn't any normal piggy bank, it was made from wood, something my grandfather taught my dad when my dad was a kid.

Dad was a rubber tapper, and mom worked as a tea lady for a nearby law firm not far from where we lived. Back in the early 60s, wages were earned by the hour. Mom didn't really get much because she worked a fixed 8 hours a day. Dad earned a bit more since he used to worked till late at night to get a little extra.

Every night before I cuddled up with them to bed, we would count how much coins we had for the day and put the coins into the piggy bank. Every time we drop those coins in, I could hear the coins hitting each other. Dad would always say, "Your mommy and I will make sure you get a good education and won't ever need to stay in a wooden cottage with no rooms."

Dad always made sure we had enough piggy banks to store up a month's worth of wage savings. Each time one piggy bank became full, he would keep the piggy bank safely in the closet and take out a new piggy bank to continue depositing coins in it. At the end of the month dad and I would walk to the nearest bank carrying the piggy banks in sacks. Every time we deposited the coins in the bank, dad would rub my tiny head and say, "All these piggy bank savings will get you a good education and brighter future. Your mommy and I don't want you struggling like us!" 

No matter how rough the situation was, dad and mom always made sure there was some left to put in the piggy bank. When dad lost his job during the a bad depression, times were really bad for us, but neither did dad or mom take a dime from the piggy bank. We had stew for food, and sometimes skipping lunch only to have dinner. Stew was the easy to make and could last a couple of days. Dad would still rub my little head and say, "We can't use a single dime from the piggy bank! All the money in there is to make sure you won't have to skip lunch and have stew for meals. Not unless you want to have stew that is...." He always said it with a smile even though I knew he spared most of his stew for me.

Few years down the road, all the money saved eventually saw me through schooling, college and university. Not only did it see me through my education, we had a little extra to shift out from our run down wooden cottage to a better home. Mom made an effort to frame up all my milestone education certificates on the wall of our living room and at the bottom of the large frame housing all the certificates carved the words, "Funded by the Family Piggy Bank". 

Now I am married to a beautiful wife, Susan and we have a 6 months old son.

My family and I are spending Christmas at my dad and mom's. Reaching their place during Christmas eve, as I walked around the house to see how much it has changed since I got married and had a son, I caught a glimpse of a piggy bank by their bed. I smiled and felt a great sense of thankfulness.

Christmas eve dinner was great, we caught up a lot on how things have been. Mom and dad couldn't stop playing with 6 months old Tommy. While they were taking care of Tommy, I helped Susan with the dishes.

After all the cleaning up, it was almost 10 o'clock and I saw dad carrying Tommy into the bedroom. As we crossed paths, my dad's eye caught mine and even though we said nothing we knew we had one of the best Christmas eve ever because of the family piggy bank.

The piggy bank taught me more than any words of a parent could teach me. It taught me about patience, determination, saving, anything small can grow to a substantial size, a promise of a father and mother to their child is a promise for life. 

And that's the Piggy Bank in the eyes of now a man named James.........

Use this end of the year to reflect on how things have been for you. Things have not been good for me this year but it may be better for you. Most importantly, if you are now successful, or becoming successful, or even just out into the working world; remember it was your parents who made the sacrifice to get you to where you are............... Have a splendid Christmas for 2008.

What Mr. Brown cherished most........

Robby had only one dream, one vision when he grew up as a boy. He wanted to be a high flying successful businessman. He never thought about anything else since he went to school right up to getting his MBA. He did not want anything to get in the way of his concentration - no relationships, no entertainment, cut back on movies, no time even for casual reading. Robby's daily schedule for seven days a week was to get up 6am in the morning do pre-read up on whatever lectures that was going to come up for the day. After lectures, he goes straight home freshen up and do post-read up on his lectures.

Achieved his dream he did! Robby is now a well known person in the business of trading of seafood. Robby actually shifted away from home to a different state to keep his focus. To Robby, nothing mattered more than the future. Managing his business was always a top priority and he hardly spent time with his wife and daughter.

While in his office on a Monday morning, Robby's hand phone rings. He takes a look, the number displayed belongs to his house. "Must be mom. Wonder what's up.", mumbles Robby and answers the call, "Hi mom! What's up?" His mom replies, "Hi there Robby. How's it going there? Busy is ever my dear son?" Robby goes, "Yea mom, business is pretty good and I am doing fine myself."

Robby's mom go on, "Anyway Robby, do you remember Mr. Brown from next door?". "Yup, I sure remembered him. I used to drop by his house every evening after dinner just to hang around and play around the wooden puppets he made for a living. What about him?". "Well, Mr. Brown passed away last night from a sudden heart attack.".

Robby went quiet.......... "Robby? Robby? You still on the line?", his mom said. Robby just went blanked and realised he hadn't said anything for a while, "Sorry mom, just felt so surprised. He was a nice guy. It's been a while since I last spoke to him."

"Mr. Brown never forgot you. Every time he saw me, he'd definitely ask how you are doing. He always talked about how you spent hours with him just chatting in his small house." Robby's mom told Robby.

"Yea.... I sure remember those times. He pretty much was a dad to me ever since dad and you divorced when I was 5 years old. When's the funeral?" Robby said.

"Funeral's the funeral at the usual church Mr. Brown goes to." Robby's mom replied. "I'll be there as soon as I rearrange my schedule for tomorrow. Thanks for letting me know mom. See you there." Robby said. As soon as Robby hung up, he reworked his schedule and was on the next flight back home for Mr. Brown's funeral.

The following day, after the funeral, Robby and his mom went to look at the small house Mr. Brown lived in for the last time. Robby just sighed, "I am going to miss him. He was always around to encourage me to do what I wanted to do and really strife to do well in my studies. I remembered each time I walked up these very steps into his house, he'd have tea waiting for me on the table knowing I would like a relaxing tea drink after studying."

As Robby took a last around the house, he suddenly remember something and went looking for something. Robby's mom was puzzled and asked, "Robby, what are you looking for?". Robby, panting while searching said, "Mr. Brown had a very special wooden puppet in a very nicely carved wooden box he made himself. He always said that it was like a daughter he never had. I remembered he placed it just beside the tv shelf. It was always dust free and clean. He'd never let me touch it, not even with my baby finger! Where had it gone to?"

Robby's mom said, "It's been a long time since you were here, he might have sold it." Robby let out a sigh of disappointment, "You might be right mom. Thought I might take with me for keepsake."

The very next day, Robby was back at work as usual. He got back home late in the evening about close to 10 o'clock at night. His wife greeted him as usual, "Hi hon, dinner's ready on the table warm the way you like it. By the way, a package came in this morning for you. I placed it on the dining table." "Thanks a lot sweet heart", as Robby approached dinner he picked up the package which read, "To my best young pal, Robby. From the guy next door, Mr. Brown."

Robby unwrapped the package, and found the beautifully carved wooden box that carried a beautiful puppet Robby was looking for back at Mr. Brown's home. In the hands of the puppet held a letter. Robby, opened the letter and read it. As he read, tears were trickling down his cheeks.

The letter read:
"Robby boy, if you are reading this letter that would mean you got my most precious puppet and probably the best puppet I ever carved in my entire career as a puppeteer. Most importantly, it would mean I have passed on. I sure hope I didn't look like a dried prune lying in my casket! Anyway Robby boy, pick up the puppet and be careful with it and take a peek on the back side of the puppet."

When Robby turned the puppet around, Robby saw what was carved and started crying. At the back of the puppet Mr. Brown carved out very finely and accurately which said, "Thanks for your time, Robby boy!".

Robby just sat at the dining table while his wife held him close to her bosom as he wept.

"What Mr. Brown cherished and appreciated most was my time with him," said Robby as he cried.

As Robby held on to the puppet, the following day he called his office and cancelled all appointments. His assistant, Rosanne was startled and asked, "What's happening in these two days?"

"Nothing much," Robby replied. "Just want to spend more time with my wife and my daughter. That's all. Oh yea, and Rosanne...... thanks for your time!"

Man in the Mirror

Bill is a middle-aged man, earning a substantial salary, working as a CEO of multinational corporation. He's unmarried, lives in a mansion with wonderfully designed swimming pool, sauna, imported Italian tiles, French chandeliers, $55,000 music sound system and custom designed interior decorations with canvas paintings he purchases off high street auctions hung creatively around his mansion. Bill's substantial salary is really substantial!

But the thing about Bill is this - he hardly has friends because he is always fearing for his life someone might be out there to cheat him. At work, he doesn't give instructions to his subordinates but he fires orders at them and expect things done yesterday. Among the very few friends he has, all of them know that getting him to buy them lunch, even if it is a cheap lunch is like searching for the holy grail. Most obvious about Bill was that, he never failed to find fault in anyone, in anything they did. From his sectretary being late to work five minutes, his subordinates not having proper reporting skills or the tea lady making his coffee too sweet.

A little bit about Bill - Bill came from a broken family, of which is dad left his mom and him to fend for themselves in this unforgiving world. Making matters worse, Bill was born with a foot defect, hence finding a part time job when he was younger was difficult. He couldn't ride a bicycle to deliver newspapers every morning like other kids because of this foot defect. When he tried to go around to do odd jobs to supplement his mom's daily wages from dish washing and factory work, he was often declined just because people assumed he was not capable due to his foot defect, or some cases people thought he was going from house to house in the neighbourhood to beg. Children his age, constantly picked on him and made fun of him.

At one point in time when Bill's mom lost her jobs due to bad economy, both of them wandered the streets at night to find a place to sleep because they simply could not afford the rent and rates. Bill's foot defect always slowed them down at reaching social service homes that offered per-night lodging for the homeless.

Eventually they persevered, Bill got through secondary school with flying colours, furthering his studies through a scholarship he received. He went through the early stages of his life telling himself, "I am going hit it big one day, and no one is going to laugh at me no more!". He gritted his teeth every night telling himself the same phrase just before he falls asleep.

The early hard life of Bill took it's toll on his mother, and she passed away few years after he completed his tertiary studies battling a string of health problems. His mother was really the only one he ever trusted and to honour her sacrifice for him, he continued to work hard climbing all the way up to where he is now. He never failed to give credit to his mother for his success.

But because of his horrible younger experience taking punches from society, he never really opened himself to anyone, and in his mind, "Now I am richer and more powerful than all of you who laughed at me last time." In simplest terms - he hated this society.

Until one day, when a young boy walks up his mansion rings the bell and asks, "Do you have an odd job for me? I can help water the plants, trim the hedges, do dishes. Anything you want me to do, sir!." Bill, would bluntly reply, "Go oway!" over the intercom to his front gates. This young boy never gave up and came everyday to ask Bill.

Eventually Bill gave up and said, "What the hell, come on in and help me water the plants and wax my cars. Do a bad job and you get nothing kid!"

As the child walked up to his front door, Bill saw a young boy in ragged clothes, he could see the child was hungry and obviously hadn't bathe for days. The young boy looked at Bill and said, "Thank you sir! Thank you for letting me do something and earn some pennies for lunch today. I won't disappoint you, sir!" Bill just turned away and said, "Just hit the intercom when you are done. I'll pay you if you do a good job."

As Bill turned around, he felt something in his heart. He felt something tugging at him in his heart. He felt something...... He felt like he saw himself in the young boy. Like he was looking in the mirror rewinding his life back to how he begin. 

About two hours later, the young boy rings the intercom, "Sir, I am done with watering the plants and waxing your cars sir." Bill pays the young boy as promised and Bill saw a happy young boy who would probably run along to get lunch. 

The day after, Bill decided to take a walk to his office instead of driving. After all, his office was not far from where he lived. He left the main gate of his mansion, in the chilling winter morning of December, he turned up the collar of his winter coat against the strong winds blowing at him and started his walk to work.

It was a 20 minute walk that lasted almost forever for Bill. He saw kids on the street with not enough to eat, homeless people with not a nickel to loan, no where to go; wandering the streets of the city. Throughout his walk Bill could not stop thinking about the young boy who ran off happy after earning a few dollars. 

When he reached his office, he went to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. As he looked into the mirror, Bill realised the man in the mirror made a difference for a young boy. More than that, Bill realised by starting with looking at the man in the mirror and making a change, someone out there may be a quantum happier.

Since then, every morning Bill looked in the mirror and slowly changed his attitude. He no longer gave orders but he gave instructions, and with a smile. He was a more approachable person and people felt a lot more comfortable around him. Most importantly, he never picked on the faults of other realising he had the same fault or probably worse ones. 

Every morning we wake up and look in the mirror when brushing our teeth or shaving. Look carefully at yourself, but not just on the outside. Look at yourself on the inside....... start your day by looking at the person in the mirror and ask yourself to change your ways. No message can be clearer if you want to make the world a better place. 

~ ears ~

Mike was born a handsome child but unfortunately, without a pair of outer ears. When he was given birth to, his parents were worried whether he would have any hearing problems. Thankfully, as Mike grew up as a boy, it was clear that he would have no problems with hearing.

His child hood was anything but normal. Frequently dubbed a "freak", he would come running home after kindergarten and primary school with tears in his eyes. Without having to ask him, his mother would already know what had happened. Mike, with tears in his eyes would let it all out to his mother, "They called me a freak boy!" or "Why do I have go through such things, mom?" Mike's mom would always hug him close to her and gently say, "You are not a freak Mike. You don't look any different to me. In fact, you are more handsome than other kids out there."

Sometimes at night, Mike's mom would take a peek through his room door in the middle of the night while he is fast asleep to find tears rolling down his cheek.

Mike at school, excelled in pretty much all aspects - studies, sports, social work, music you name it, he's got it. Quite honestly, he virtually out shined his 'normal peers'.

His parents knew he had a lot ahead of him and wanted the best for him. They decided they had to find some way to help Mike. They went to plastic surgeons to see what could be done. There was a solution, explained the doctor, "It is very much possible for me to graft a pair of ears for him. Problem is, that's if we can procure a pair."

A month went by after Mike's parents visited the doctor then Mike's father comes along, "Mike, we are going to a doctor. We are going to get you a pair of decent ears my son!" Mike was surprised, clearly never thinking he was ever going to get a pair of ears forever.

3 hours after the operation, feeling some pain in his new found ears Mike felt complete. He couldn't help but ask his dad, "dad, you've got to tell me who the donour was. I have to thank that person. I don't know how I can ever repay him or her." His dad replied, "Well son, your mom and I have promised each other that it would remain a secret. At least for now. You'll know when the time comes my boy."

Years went by, Mike graduated with a 1st class honours degree in medicine, became a well known specialist in treating deformities like the one he had when he was child. He even got married to a wonderful, loving wife and had a baby boy and girl with her.

Like any other human being, his mother couldn't escape the fate of death at 76 years of age. On the funeral date at the casket where Mike's mom lied in peace, Mike's dad finally called upon Mike and gently lifted the thick hair of Mike's mom revealing she had no outer ears.

"You know Mike, your mom always said she was glad she could trim her hair by herself and never had to let anyone else do it for her. No one ever thought she was less beautiful than she was before." Mike finally knew who the kind donour was - his loving mother.

Beauty is not about what can be seen, it is about what is in the heart. Goodness is not about what can be seen, it is in the unseen. Sincerity and true love is not about what is done and made known, it dwells in what is done without having it made known. Most importantly, you may have married a wonderful partner, have beautiful kids, but the greatest love of all comes from your parents. You may not know it but if something hurts you, it hurts them just as well...............

Ever wondered who packed your parachute?

Back during the Vietnam war, there was a very successful fighter jet pilot with amazing success rates. We are talking about 65 out of 65 successful missions. Like all good things, it had to come to an end and on the 66th mission his plane was shot down by enemy anti aircraft guns. Thankfully, he managed to hit the eject button in time and parachuted out of the burning jet. Unfortunately he landed in enemy zone and spent the subsequent 8 years as a prisoner of war (not a very nice thing despite the free board and lodging). Guts, patience and a whole lot of prayer helped him survive the ordeal. He now lectures on the lessons learned from the horrible experience. 

One fine afternoon, while having lunch with his wife in a normal down town restaurant, a man about the same age as him walked up to his table and said, "You're Jeff right? You flew the F-4 Phantom nicknamed the Thundering Hawk! You were shot down!". Startled, Jeff asked, "how on earth did you know that?" "I packed your parachute," replied the man.

Jeff was surprised and was feeling a gush of gratitude deep down. The man was very proud of himself and said, "I guess it worked!" Jeff assured him, "If it weren't for the chute you packed for me back then, I wouldn't be here enjoying my shepard's pie at this very day."

That night, Jeff kept tossing and turning in bed. He kept thinking to himself, "Who was he? How would he have looked like in a Navy uniform: white hat, bib in the back, and bell bottom trouser." He kept thinking, thinking and thinking but that man simply did not ring a bell. Jeff let out a long sigh, "I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said hi or good morning, how are you or anything like that. Back then, I was the pilot and he was but a sailor."

Jeff pondered the long hours the sailor had spent under the ship, checking the parachute stitch by stitch to make sure there was no puncture, folding the parachute to precision otherwise the chute would never open mid-air, in his hands the very parachute that could mean a pilot could live on to see his family or die in a plane crash; the very life of someone he never knew. 

Now, give yourself about 10 minutes to digest what I have written above (by the way, the story is something I came up with so don't go Googling for Jeff and some plane called Thundering Hawk). Digested the literature? Now ask yourself this - "Who's packing your parachute?"

You may not realise it, but you, me and everyone has someone who provides what we need to pull through the day. You may not realise it but Jeff needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. Although Jeff maybe a fictional character but, we should be prepared for any challenges ahead but recognise this one fact - you can't go through it alone. As you go through this week, this month, this year... recognise people who pack your parachute!

A little help goes a long way....

Back during my primary school days, I didn't get much for pocket money for a day. I think it was a dollar day. But, of course money back then had a higher purchasing power. A dollar a day even during those times were some times hard to get buy and I had to settle for lesser food items because other more luxurious food like canteen chicken rice would cost a dollar fifty. Some days, I'd not spend the money so I can snowball the money for the next day to get a bigger meal during recess.

There was one day, while waiting for my mom to pick me up from school I saw this guy sitting by the roadside. He didn't look like he had any bad intentions, neither did he look like he was really mangy. Although I never really noticed but many of my schoolmates see him around often and he'd be sitting at the same spot by the roadside everytime he's around my school.

On that day when I saw him by himself, sitting by the roadside, I decided to just approach him and ask him why he'd sit there. After all, my mom was going to be late considering she hadn't got there after close to half an hour. So I approached him, "hi uncle, do you come here often?". He replied with a rather sad tone, "no place to go, no one wants me, just another old man by the road my young one.". Innocent as a young boy, I asked, "why is that so uncle?". He gave a long sigh and said, "well, I used to live with a daughter of mine about few years ago until........ until she and my son-in-law thought I was a bother to them.". 

At that young age, I had no idea what he meant and so, I asked, "but don't children like to have their daddy around? I love to have my daddy around!". He looked at me, "well kid, you have the right attitude, remember that always. It's been 8 years and 11 days ever since the day they got rid of me. I am 68 years old this year and I live down by the road there, a young lad rented a room to me and I have been delivering newspapers for 8 years now.".

For some unknown reason, I found myself rummaging through my pockets and I took the dollar I got for that day's expenses and I took out a dollar I saved from yesterday, with a wide grin, "here you go uncle! Take it!". He looked at me, "thank you my young friend, but I can't possibly take your money. You need to eat so you can grow up to be big and strong.". I replied, "nah.... it's okay uncle, just take it. I didn't eat today so you can have it. Go on, take it!". He looked at me for a long time, eyes going red probably close to tears, he said with a very grateful tone, "thank you, thank you. I wish I had a child like you.". 

My mom eventually reached school, and I got in the car gave the old man a wave and went on my merry way back home. The following day when I went to school, the school security guard spoked to me, "hey, I saw you talking to the old man from down the road. That poor chap. I usually have lunch in the same place as he does down the road not far from here. Everyday I see him just eating plain rice and some vege. Yesterday, I saw you giving him some money. Yesterday, for once in years I actually saw him eating more than just plain rice and vege. I am not sure how much you gave him but it is rare to see him eating with a small smile on his face.".

After hearing the words of the security guard, I went to school that morning with my heart bursting with a big heart of happiness inside. I knew I did some good! Ever since the day I spoke to the old man, everytime I saw him sitting at the same spot I'd sit beside him and talk to him. That went on until I left primary school for secondary school. Surprisingly, I never got his name and I never knew why I never asked. 

Looking back, I realise help can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes from all sorts of people. Even the tiniest bit of help can go a long way..................