A wedding and a funeral
I attended a wedding and funeral this week.
My cousin had just tied the knot with his pregnant girlfriend a couple of hours ago. One of my buddies had just lost his beloved father earlier this week.
Life is weird. Death is impartial. A family is rejoicing the marriage of a couple and the to-be-birth of a child while another is mourning over the loss of a loved one. Death and birth standing on a crude parallel to each other.
Fate has been ruthless. He took away the life of a man who was declared fit by the health screening which he took annually and left a family of remaining 3 to mourn for the sudden loss.
He had been a good man when he was alive. The number of people mourning at his funeral and numerous condolences printed on the newspaper would have testified to that. Does a good man really go to heaven after his death?
My friend had been strong. Despite the burden that awaits him. Despite the need to grow up almost too suddenly. He said it very well," it is my father's turn to rest, and my turn to continue what he left off."
Well said indeed. Your father had bought the best front row ticket and is now awaiting your performance and like every father, he will be very proud of his son.
At the wedding, it was a joyous occasion. Champagne flowed and congrats exchanged. A new life awaits the new couple. The groom and bride exchanges promises to love each other forever, regardless in sickness, death or poverty.
It was there exactly when I suddenly thought of my grandmother who had passed away a few months ago. Our first celebration without her. I knew she would loved to be here with us, especially at one of his favorite grandson's wedding. Where is she now?
I didn't cry at the funeral, neither did I really rejoice at the wedding. Not when I am sitting atop of life's biggest irony. This is one who have departed too suddenly and on the other side, one that has arrived unexpectedly.
A demise and a birth.
A wedding and a funeral.
From all walks of life
I have been working there for almost 2 weeks. 2 weeks is not a long time but during this time, I have already met more than my fair share of interesting things. I have very rude customers, some funny ones and even cranky ones.
I also realized that Jurong point is actually little China because out of every 3 customers I serve, one hails from China. Jurong point may not be situated in a very central place like town, it seemed to me that most people still like to go there. I will run into friends or old classmates every often while I'm there. I even saw teachers who used to teach me before. Apparently they always try to shun me or are always in a rush for time. I am not too sure why but I always prided myself as a good student while in school. At least that is what I think. I don't know how the nickname 'little monster' came about. That is so not me, you know :).
I had a customer who is your typical pai kia. Or rather, an old pai kia who had little dragon paintings on his body and some mickey mouse or maybe tiger symbols on his arm. His very fluent Hokkien put me in shame. While I always thought I held a degree in the National University of Hokkien or NUH , I figured he must have held a MBA in that studies. Anyway, he bought a T-shirt for $9.90 and came back in 2 days wearing it. His first remark upon seeing me was," Ho seng bo?!! Ge wu si mi kang tao boh?" meaning "How are you? Still got any nice lobang or not?"
He claimed that his friends praised that his shirt is very nice and even asked where he bought it. Now he is coming back for more. The only problem was that that particular shirt had been sold out and he had to choose another one which cost $24.90. He exclaimed that the price is too costly and wanted me to go ask my boss whether he could get it for a cheaper price since he is a regular customer. I didn't know that coming once before means you are a regular but one lesson I learnt while out on the streets, avoid arguing with people who enjoys physical pain by putting cartoons characters on his body. And of course, he didn't get his discount. He just shook his head and exchanged handshakes with me before going off.
Since it is the school holidays, there are quite a couple of young secondary school seedlings prowling in Jurong point. I remembered one mini lian who is out with 2 little bengs. The bengs are choosing shirts for her, yes those very shirts I am selling. She had the cheek to loudly exclaim," Eeee, so ugly, how to wear?!!" right in front of my face. Well, same to you bitch. I hope you drown in your shower.
There are also many little bengs or monkeys if you would prefer who walked around making nuisances of themselves. They will talk loudly and always have a KNN as their closing statement. The opening dialogue of course will start with a CB. They ought to be put into a remote island and be released only when they have decided to repent and be as holy as me. I was never like that when I was young you know, those KNN CB kids. I just hate vulgarities.
There is also this very kan giong auntie who came with her son looking for shorts. "Quick! Show me that one, that got M size or not. Oh wait! That one also! Cheap or not? Aiyo! Why you so slow one?" She seemed to forget that all human beings only have a pair of eyes and a pair of hands. Or do I look like an octopus?
And that is this bloody unreasonable biatch who came shopping for shoes for her sister. She wanted to buy shoes which have white bottems so that she can wear to school as well. The problem was I already don't have white-bottem shoes that have her size. And I DID try to look for it despite knowing it. She looked at me fiercely and questioned," You here so many shoes and you this don't have and that don't have, then you sell what shoes? Forget it! Let's go!"
I then wrestled her to the floor and gave her 2 tight slaps right before the horrified eyes of her sister. I then proceeded to take off my shoe and insert my toes into her nostrils to give her a taste of paradise --- in my fantasy. Instead all I did was muttered a soft 'sorry'. I am such a dog. Damn it. I think I am a changed man.
Well, of course not all customers are like that. I do have some very nice ones. Like the very sweet looking JJC girl today who was with her parents. She messed up the clothes which I have folded neatly while looking for a particular size. She then realized that I was folding clothes in another wagon. She quickly folded those clothes which she had messed up and apolgized to me repeatly, not daring to look at me in the eye. Her face even turned red. Well dear, I will be most willingly to fold your clothes for you forever if you had asked me.
The most memorable one was this particular auntie who wanted to get a pair of shoes for her son. We chit-chat a bit and she asked about how long my working hours is and how much I am paid. When I told her, she was so shocked at my very 'high' pay and even offered to buy me a coffee. That was such a sweet gesture and I am really grateful and touched.
A little plead from yours truely. While it is our job to serve customers like you, please understand that we are also humans like you and while you are tired because you have
shopped the whole day, we are also tired because we have
worked the whole day too. Do be a little polite to us. A little smile is enough. Many of the customers will give us the black face and have the 'fuck off' works written on their foreheads. And when they need our help in finding something, they expect us to appear straightaway and give them what they have requested. The 'customer is always right' policy seemed so wrong at times.
Anyway, when there are no customers around, I will have to fold all the clothes neatly into the wagon. Esp after a weekend, the clothes that need folding just never seemed to end. I told my mother I am suffering from bad karma as a result of her doings. I remembered whenever she goes shopping at sales, she is those typical aunties who will flip all the clothes over as if there is gold hidden beneath. As a result of her doings, I now have to suffer retribution by folding the clothes repeatly. She calmly said that was not the case. I am suffering from bad karma because I have never folded my own clothes, much less washing them myself and this is my retribution.
You just can never win an arguement with my mother.
5 reasons why I should be paid 5 times my present salary
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have found a job as a sales assistant in one of the shopping mall in the west side. Having worked for a couple of days, I realized that my job doesn’t comprise of just serving my customers. In fact, I am working 5 jobs at the same time. Therefore, I ought to be paid 5 times my present salary.
I need to serve my customers. I have to look to their needs and bring their choices and sizes from the store and make sure that they are satisfied with their purchases. That was what I am getting paid for.
That damned $4 an hour.
I am a fashion consultant as well. My customers always ask me whether the item which they have chosen is the most ‘in’ thing at the moment or not. They will also ask whether they looked nice or not in their new shirt or shoes they are going to buy. Somehow, I always managed to convince them that whatever they are buying is definitely the best and the newest at the moment.
I only hoped that they don’t realize the spider webs on the shoe box though.
I am a baby-sitter too. Sometimes mothers doing their shopping will leave their kid with me and asked me to look after them while they shopped in peace. I always like to show these kids new things. Don’t worry I am no Michael Jackson. But these kids are always very fascinated about my ability to blow bubbles with my saliva. I always like to do that ever since I was a kid.
I am a counselor too. Once I had a Malay auntie saying she wanted to get shoes for her 14 years old son. We got started on a little conversation and she whined about how her son is so mischievous, always going home late..not studying…playing the guitar and etc and asked me whether there was any way to make her son behave. I recommended caging him and send him to the zoo and releasing him only when he has reached the age of 21.
I moonlighted as a model too. Some of the customers wanted to get shirts or shoes for somebody else. They would then remark that the person they are buying for is about my size. Then I had to stand still while they measured the shirt against me to see if I will fit. That is not all. They even made me try on shoes to see if I could wear them or not. I hope they will have nightmares on my uncut and unwashed toe nails.
I am really thinking of approaching my boss about increasing my salary 5-fold. I reckon the chances of him doing so is just about as high as Fiona Xie approaching me for my hand phone number. Meanwhile, I am just keeping my fingers crossed.
I finally got a job...
Yes, I have finally got a job after slacking for more than 2 months as a sales assistant at one of the sports house in the west area. The exciting part was that throughout my 22 years of life I have never worked in this line before and is curious about how it is going to be like.
I don't think you can manage to guess how much I am paid. I don't think you will ever find such a pay rate easily. Damn it. I am only paid $4 an hour and the worst thing is I have to work 12 hours a day. There goes my life. Everyday I am reduced to a zombie who work,sleep and then work again. The company I am working for is considered a big one but I never expected the pay to be that pathetic. Too late since I have already promised a friend to help out through this tedious period. So I guessed I just have to make do with it.
I do admit its really a new challenge for me personally and if not for the extraordinary pay, I really don't mind that much to work there till I go in NS. In this line, you really get to see many types of customers and people. I have seen weirdos, fussy aunties and even see couples bickering over senseless things. One good thing is I really get to see many old friends whom I have not seen in a couple of years. These are the more 'mini' highlights of my job.
Currently while working, I think I will continue to keep a lookout for other new part time jobs. The pay is simply too pathetic. Anyone got any lobangs please don't be selfish and give your hand and support in the 'Save the yifan campaign'.
The happiest day of my life
I woke up in a very jolly mood today. I cannot explain why but somehow I felt so energentic despite having slept just a few hours the night before. Everything just feels so good even though there was no hot babe carrying breakfast to my room for me.
I showered and went out shortly. As my bus went past the market near my house, I realized the reason why. That very Singapore Pools outlet which closed down 2 weeks ago has finally reopened. Tears flowed in my heart, but this time, those were tears of happiness. That really made my day. I swore I would have given you a $1000 if you had asked me though that promotion period has already expired.
The only bitter taste that was left inside my mouth was that the Government did not even consider my proposal (refer to previous post). But all that doesn't matter anymore. Today I saw that very man whom I saw crying upon the closure of the Pools outlet (again refer to previous post). His face was of genuine happiness and bliss, a totally different state which I saw him the previous time. Because he, like me, is no longer lost and will always have something to look forward to. Life, as they say, couldn't have been sweeter.
