I lingered around after the afternoon BM mass in St. Anthony Pudu ended at about 1.30pm on Sunday. It was nice to see things settle down at the church after mass, as people rush to their cars and leave for lunch. There were several youths having a short discussion at a corner. I watched as the church grounds get cleared so that it was easy for me to drive out. My car was parked at one of the church side entrance.
As I slowly got into my car and reached for the door to close it, an elderly woman appeared beside me.
“Are you going to KL? My grand daughter and I are heading to Petaling Street to get some things and then we’d take a taxi home” She asked.
“Petaling street is very near from here. I can take you there. Get in” I told her.
“Oh thank you. Very gracious of you. I’ve asked many people but most of them are heading the opposite direction; Sungai Besi they said.” She explained.
“Where is Sungai Besi anyway?” she asked as she gingerly sat herself in the car after putting her 10 year old at the back seat. She could be 12.
“It’s toward Seremban” I replied.
“Thank you again. You’re so kind. I wanted to attend the morning mass this morning but my daughter couldn’t send me. So me and my grand daughter made our own way to the afternoon mass. But I had a fall on the way here. My legs, they are not as good as they used to be. I would just walk to Petaling Street if it wasn’t because of my slightly injured leg” She explained.
“That’s okay. Petaling street is very near. Are you sure you can walk around in Petaling Street? Your leg doesn’t look so good. Where do you and your grand daughter stay?” I asked her.
“We stay in one of the low cost flats in Bangsar. If you don’t mind you could graciously take us there as well.” She asked.
“Seri Pahang Flats right nanny?” said her granddaughter with delight.
“Yeah, sure. I know Bangsar quite well. But you have to show me where exactly is the place. Didn’t you say you have things to get in Petaling Street? Do you still need to go there first?” I asked.
“No, it’s okay. I’m not in a good condition to walk anyway. Let’s just go straight to Bangsar, thank you, you’re so gracious” she said with a big appreciative smile.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. You need to rest your legs” I said.
“My name is Anne by the way, what’s yours?”
“Agustus, people call me Agus”
“Very nice of you Agus. I’m so grateful for you”
“I like the Bahasa mass. The songs are nice and the choir group makes it so lively. The congregation is so alive and responsive. Unlike the English mass. Very dull. The people don’t really interact. During the Bahasa mass, they really turn around and wish you peace like they mean it. That doesn’t happen during the English mass” she explained
“Really? I didn’t know that” I responded.
“I just love going to church. My week is not complete if I don’t go to Church. I leave everything to God and trust that he answers my prayers. He will show me the way” Anne said.
“Agus, you’re from Sabah, Sarawak or Indonesia?” she asked.
“Sarawak”
“Oh, that’s nice. I have many relatives married to Sarawakians. Did you know there’s a banana leaf restaurant in Kuching? One of my relatives runs the place. He married a Sarawakian lady.” She explained.
“Oh really? I only know a famous Banana leaf in Bangsar” I told her.
“How about you? You have the Punjabi look. Are you?” I asked her.
“I’m Portuguese. My father is Portuguese with French blood.”
“Oh, so you’re from Melaka? Do you go back home town often?”
“I go back during Christmas. My papa’s family side are still there.” She said.
“I’ve been staying in KL for many years. Raised my children here. I’m a single mother. But times are hard. I’ve not been working for more than a year. My two daughters, they are having a hard time as well. Both of them are going through a divorce. So I better let them deal with their problems and not add to it. This child, my grand daughter is one of my daughters children. Another three boys are staying with her now.”
“In Gombak...” said the little girl
“So you’re taking care of her on your own?” I asked her.
“Yes, but my daughter gives her provisions every week. I get social welfare allowance from the government, eighty ringgit. But that’s hardly enough. I haven’t paid for my DBKL rent for over a year. It’s RM120 a month. I used to stay in Pantai Dalam flats which cost me RM500 a month. I was kicked out because I didn’t pay rent for three months. The owner came and locked me out. Now it’s the DBKL. They sent me a warning letter already. I could be kicked out anytime now. I pray God will have mercy. I also pray for my SOCSO claims to be approved. That would give me RM360 a month. But they say I’m not yet eligible since I’m still 54. I can no longer work because of my leg. I fractured my leg twice. That’s why it’s very fragile. I fall very easily. On average I fall twice a day, because of my weak leg. One is also shorter than the other. Walking is not easy” She explained.
“I came to church today hoping to meet some friends. I thought of asking a friend to lend me some money but she was not there today. All I have with me now is five ringgit” she said.
“What did you do for a living?” I asked.
“Receptionist, and front lines mostly. But They wouldn’t take me anymore because of my leg.”
“That’s ridiculous! Receptionist don’t have to move that much” I objected.
“Yes, but we still have to do some clerical work and run errands.” She explained.
“I guess you’re right”
We stopped a while at a traffic light and construction area near the center for the blinds in Brickfields.
“There are many blind people here” She said.
“Yes, the center for the blind is just there” I pointed ahead.
"Nanny, that's my school!" Said the girl pointing to the primary school at the intersection.
We passed a few churches along the way in brickfields and each time we did, she would make a cross sign on her chest.
The road came out at Little India.
“There are many rich people around here. But they don’t really help poor people. They say you should help the widows and the poor. We have tried going up and down these offices and all they could tell us was ‘we’ll get back to you, we’ll give you a call once we have something for you’”
“But they never did” she continued.
“Datuk Sharizat is not like that. She helped me a lot. She was the one who quickly helped me get the DBKL flats I’m staying in now”
“Do you know how I met her? I was working in a clinic she used to go for treatments. I was always at the front line, making sure she gets priority and sees the doctor quick enough. I made sure her body guards are there with her. She’s a friendly person. One day I told her about my problem paying the costly Pantai Dalam unit and she helped me get a letter through DBKL so I could get one unit. Part of it was because I was a single mother, my age and my health.”
“But I only get RM80 a month from the welfare department. How to survive? That’s why I’m praying very hard that I get my SOCSO claim very soon. She promised to help. I pray every day for that. I know God will show me the way” she continued.
She reached for the rosary hanging from my rear view mirror and said "I love to see people keep Jesus in their cars. Jesus is everything in our lives. Always have faith in Him. I do."
"Yes" I smiled.
“How long has your husband left you?” I aksed.
“Very long. He’s a beater. He beats me up when he’s not happy about anything. Now he’s married to another woman. It was my biggest mistake. That’s why I thank God for the decision to leave him. Our life hasn’t been easy because I didn’t earn that much as a single mother but I’m grateful to live a peaceful life” she explained.
As we entered Seri Pahang flats area, the road became very narrow because there were many cars parked by the roadside.
“This is where I stay. There are many poor people here. Some are rich though. They come here and take advantage of the cheap rent”
As I negotiate the narrow bends and cars from opposite direction, I could see cars from all range of price. From Kancil to Mercedes. A number of Vios and City, Alza and Exora. The flats are meant for the poor but the cars parked there showed otherwise. I wondered how many poor people are deprived of a decent home here in KL.
“Do you see the house with red curtains on the second floor? That’s our house. I put many pictures of Jesus on the walls.
Indeed, I could see three posters of Jesus outside her apartment, watching over the community.
“And Santa Clause, nanny!” Said the girl with excitement. She’s indeed home.
Before I stopped to let them down, I asked for her phone number.
“Thank you so much Agus. God bless you. You wouldn’t have some cash to spare would you?” She asked while looking at me in the eye.
I can’t say I’m caught off guard.
I took out my wallet and said “I’ll give you ten ringgit”, taking out one of the only three red notes in my wallet
She caught a glance of my wallet and said “Oh, you have no money”
“Yes, I have no money. But you can have that ten ringgit” I told her.
“Thank you very much Agus. God bless you. You can ask from me next time you see me at church.” She assured me.
“It’s ok. Take care of yourself, especially your leg. And I hope your daughter comes by to visit you often.”
“She comes here every week” she said.
"Good, I'm glad to hear that" I said.
“Come my dear, say thank you to uncle” she told her granddaughter.
I waved them goodbye and drove off slowly.
I looked at the clock, almost 2pm. I remembered I had a lunch appointment with a friend in Sungai Wang.
My mind was occupied with her story along the way. Her motive was clear. She got my sympathy but I didn’t have a lot with me. I often don’t. The reason I took her number was to get back to her when I was more prepared.
Or I could tell her story to others and maybe they would find it in themselves to lend a hand. They could pay her a visit and listen to her stories. Learn if she’s a genuine case or otherwise.
Whatever the case, she believes that God will show her the way.
Ask and it will be given to you.
