Recent weeks i was working at Orchard ION setting up the store for MUJI. Apparently everyone was rushing to set up their store, all to be in time to open on 21st July, which is tomorrow just to get the waive of 3 month’s rent. Along came 3 new staffs and one of them was an elderly. Look I’m not prejudiced against elderly people, but it really pains me to see someone who has lost her ability to work still working at her age.
I saw her finished price-tagging and she just stood there, dazed. No one gave her any attention, no one approached to help her, no one cares. Instead i went over to my manager to tell her that she’s got nothing to do right now.
Me: Sabrin, the lady there got nothing to do right now.
Sabrin: Ok, you ask her to come over here, she can sort out the stuffs here.
Me: Ok.
(Walks over)
Me: Hi, do you have anything else to do?
Lady (i shan’t mention her name here) : No, i don’t have anything to do right now. Is there anything that i can help you with?
Immediately her knowledge of English and her accent stunned me as i knew i was speaking to someone with certain amount of education. I referred her to my manager’s side and she proceeded to do her duty.
What was baffling me was where are her children? Simply because at her age she is supposed to be relaxing at home, watching tv, waiting for her children to come visit her and give her some pocket money for the month or something. But she isn’t. Now whose fault was it really at the first place? You were thinking of her children, i was thinking of Human Resource. You see, my HR Manager is a very nice lady that is very kind-hearted. As a matter of fact, sometimes too kind-hearted that she hires this lady which happens to work at our outlet. It really pains me to see someone at her age to be still working.
Few weeks ago, my maternal grandfather contracted diabetes and the doctor told him to avoid sweet stuffs like durian and all. The week after, he’s in hospital with risk of having his leg amputated. Now he’s really gone for the healthy food and healthy lifestyle. But i was at his factory one day and i saw him, looking frail, sleeping at one of his self made bed. I asked my mom how come he’s that bored and she told me that there’s not much work for him to do, as he is a carpenter and his business comes in once in a while.
I’ve always got a soft spot for the elderly, for example, my grandfather and the lady who works in my store. But however, you can never be soft-hearted to those elderly people who thinks they are king of the world cause there are simply older than you. You need to be cold-hearted, real cold.
Anyway, is one of you reading my blog following me on twitter? Do let me know alright.
Sighs, i live such a boring life.