slivers of light

for many occasions, me and my munchkins have experienced brush with kindness from strangers. most of the incidents happened inside a public transport. what made these people show us some graciousness led me to a premise that they might have seen me as a committed and happy mom and as well, they might have seen my little girls as cheerful and adorable. most of the times during our bus ride, munchkins would sport a smile as they say the greeting for the day. some operators reply back and passengers were just as glad to hear their politeness. that habit didn’t just grow in them though. it took me a lot of explaining on why they have to do the deed. i told them that if done right, cheerfulness makes other people happy too.

i believe it was two summers ago when munchkins and i were on our way for a swim at a nearby community centre. we decided to take a subway train that will take us to a station where there were street cars en route to the riverdale community centre. we got on a slightly packed train; didn’t get a seat so we stood and braced ourselves as the train rolled away to the next station. then i felt a hand on my back and a voice saying excuse me. i turned my head to where the voice came from. it was a lady and she asked me if i like to watch baseball. turned out that she got three game tickets and she and her family won’t be able to watch the game and she’s giving them away. we’re not a big fan of baseball though so i suggested to give them away to someone else. i thanked her though for the offer and i thought it was so nice of her to offer that to me. we got off to the next station.

the street car was already on the track and we stood on the platform to wait for the driver. a tall man in uniform appeared and headed towards the street car. he walked past me and i sort of smiled and acknowledged him. we got on the street car and took what we always consider as the best seat which is three rows from the front. the seats were only few steps away from the front exit and the driver could see me well from the rear view mirror. it was a short travel to the centre. the street car just moved when i noticed the driver turned his head and his right hand motioned instructing me to come to him. i obliged. he asked where else were going that day. i believe i was amid forming a sentence when he said he’s giving me a day pass which we can use just in case we thought of going somewhere else. i had a big smile on my face. i wanted to ask why but instead thanked him for choosing me as the recipient of the pass. i found it very surprising to encounter two acts of kindness twice in half a day. must be really our day!

i walk my munchkins to school every morning and we use the bus to get to street which were only a block away to the school. we get on the bus but i didn’t have a chance to pull out our fare from my purse. i seated the girls first and came back in front of the bus to flash my pass and to drop the two tickets into the ticket box. but as i was about to drop the tickets, the driver said “it’s okey, fare is on me.” how else should i react. i smiled and sincerely thanked the driver.

one cold january winter evening, munchkins and i had a craving for kentucky fried chicken. girls wanted to eat popcorn chicken for dinner. the fastfood was about 5 blocks from where we live. not really far but it was sort of far that night because of the harsh cold weather. walking 5 blocks with a dolly in tow filled with grocery items wasn’t a good idea so we hopped onto a bus. the weather was much colder when we got out of kfc. we missed one bus and waited for 15 minutes for the next one to come. it was a female driver this time. munchkins and i said our usual greetings. girls searched for their seats and i remained standing behind the white line. in a few moments i pulled the string to request for a stop. the driver noticed that it was a short ride. i said thank you as we got off. but as i was getting off, the driver said “oh i’m sorry, i didn’t know that you were only few stops. i shouldn’t have let you pay the ride. i owe you one.” i said “well, you wouldn’t have known anyway.” i smiled and acknowledged the kindness. . . sincerely.

there were more brush with kindness but i just couldn’t write them all down here. giving is an act that gives me pleasure. i know in my heart that I am a giver and i give without thinking of having any reward. that’s how i feel good about it. how the receiver should act from such kindness is yet another topic. as for me i know that i am getting the rewards of my own good deeds. may not receive the same thing or may not come from the same person but as i always say… one good thing leads to another.