This afternoon, at the bus-stop ...
I am standing behind a pair of girls. The black-clad one is obese. She is eating an ice cream as they chat - Wall's Solero, the green one I like. A pang of disgust and envy. She has unwrapped the thing such that she's holding on to the stick using the wrapper. Helps to keep your fingers cream free.
I look up at several buses that've pulled up. None are mine. But the girls up and board one of them. The buses pull away.
A man arrives at the bus stop. He takes the now-vacant bench in front of me.
What time is it? I try to sneak a peek at the man's watch, but can't make out the hands thanks to the complicated watch face. Stupid watch. I look away, and catch sight of the ice cream wrapper.
The obese girl left it on the bench! More feelings of disgust.
For all the endless articles, letters and forum posts touting graciousness and consideration, it's a losing battle. All those words - I highly doubt they are reading (or listening). And even among the readers and forum trawlers, there are those who remain resolutely unapologetic and self-righteous. Change them? Hah! Pigs will fly and I'll start using a mobile telephone.
Finally, the bus arrives. How nice, I was afraid it'd be crowded with dull morning session students refusing to move to the back of the bus. There's even a loverly kingfisher along Bukit Timah road adding colour to the passing scenery.
Tapping out of the bus, the time displayed is 14:57. Wahay, right on time!
