The bicycle

Not wanting to go through the trouble of taking the bicycle out of my car and having to load it back in again to deliver it, and not wanting to keep the bicycle in my car for too long, I decided to deliver the bicycle yesterday morning to Rosnah’s daughter.

Right after my routine kampong exercise, I headed straight to Rosnah’s house, about 20 minutes via highway. Her house is very near the highway exit. Good thing the guy from the bicycle shop had loaded the bicycle into my car in such a secure position, despite me driving at 110 km/h, the bike didn’t move a bit, even when I stepped on the brakes.

When I reached Rosnah’s house, both mother and daughter were already waiting for me. They were ready to go to the market but when I told them I was coming (I sent Rosnah a text message right before making a move from my house), they decided to wait.

Despite knowing I was bringing along a bicycle for the daughter’s schooling needs, both Rosnah and daughter looked pleasantly surprised when they saw the bicycle. I think Rosnah had probably expected to see a second hand bicycle or an “orang tua” looking kinda bike.

“Berapa ni kak?” she asked, thinking it was a rather expensive bike.

“Satu”, I said selamba-ly. Yeah, I knew what she meant, but a loyar buruk is a loyar buruk… that’s who I am… so get used to it!

I never did tell her the actual price. Let her think it’s expensive.

During the last board meeting, one of our members suggested that we buy a second-hand bicycle… he said he should be able to get one for RM150. But I figured, why buy a second hand bike for that price when I could get a brand new one for just an additional RM20? Yep, I bought the bicycle for RM170.

Had I left it up to the respective families to buy the bicycles on their own and claim the amount later either from our CEF or Sponsorship fund, they’d probably buy at a more expensive shop near their place. Fuzi recently bought a bicycle for her daughter and she paid RM260 for it!

RM90 difference but didn’t look any more expensive than the one I bought for Rosnah’s daughter. Rosnah’s daughter loved it, saying “Terima kasih makcik” repeatedly.

In fact, mother and daughter were so happy they both kissed my hands! Thank goodness I didn’t eat any sambal tempoyak earlier, otherwise cium tangan sure ada bau!!

And despite already thanking me when I delivered the bike, when I got home, a text message came in from Rosnah, to thank me yet again. That’s how appreciative some people can be, compared to some others who tend to take for granted that we are there to help them whereas all the bicycles and educational help are just part of our “extra” services.

Ah well, it takes all kinds to make this world! So live with it!

On to my next mission. Nope, no deliveries until the end of February (I think!). I need to visit Azimah, the unwed mother I met during my last clinic duty. There wasn’t enough privacy at the hospital room, so I wasn’t able to dig much from Azimah then. She prefers to meet outside, so I don’t think I’d be visiting her at home. Within these next few days I’d better call to fix a “date” with her… and since this will be my first visit, I won’t be inviting any trainees to tag along. The +ve ladies I’m assigned to usually don’t talk much when I bring somebody else along. At least not during the first visit.

So I’ll be going… alone again… naturally…