I hitchhiked for the first time! I had a bus ride waiting for me. But I would’ve missed it if not for Mary, a local living in Oamaru. Mary looked to be over 65 years old — peppered bob hair, lean with small wrists, delicate spectacles sitting on the tip of her nose, pink flushed cheeks taut on cheekbones. She’s beautiful, and must be a kind loving charmer in her younger days.
I was happily choosing a cafe to hop into when a little voice told me to check my bus schedule again. To my horror I had misread the timing, and it was only 25 minutes till my bus depart. I was 20 minutes away from the backpackers where my bags were. The backpackers is 20 minutes away from the bus stop. Do the math but if you don’t like it, here’s simplified: I needed 40 minutes (if I run) to catch my bus. I had only 25 minutes left.
The bus ticket was paid for with $50 and it wouldn’t run again till tomorrow. And so I ran like a mad woman though knowing pretty sure then, that I wouldn’t make it. A nice elderly lady came out of a mart with grocery bags and stepped into her car. I ran past her. I ran back to her. I waved frantically and she half-opened the door. She looked at me like I’m mad (I think I did looked mad) and she looked especially confused. It seemed she was going to wave me off. Then she mouthed, “get in”.
Mary was so kind and peaceful to talk to, and she had been to Singapore twice. She loved this pastry roll (“Best I ever had. Couldn’t find anywhere else that does it that well,” she said) that I’ve never heard of before, quite honestly. She parked outside my backpackers and casually spoke, “if you hurry I’d send you to the bus stop too.”
Mary said on any other Mondays she would be at work. Today, she decided to take a day off for herself. Ahh, did she make my day! My bus was already there when we arrived at the bus stop. I asked her on the road, why did she be so kind. She replied that she’d love it if someone will do this for her too, one day. I said thank you, I’ll pay it forward in honour of her kindness. She smiled. We hugged. I stood watching her drive off.
SHENAYOGA 