Continuous Writing (Picture) - Begging in a School Canteen

“Can you give me some money?” begged a boy, dressed in some patched filthy looking t-shirt and shorts. His beady eyes could hardly be seen as he tried to squeeze a smile on his dirt-stained face.

Jane, one of the eight prefects, who was given permission to have an earlier recess, had to carry out her duties once the rest of the pupils were dismissed from their respective classes. She was enjoying her plate of chicken rice when the boy approached her. She almost had a choke from her meal as she did not expect to be approached.

Jane had no idea who the boy was and looking at him, she could only conclude that he must have been starved for a day or two. He had a foul stench which could make one vomit. Jane decided to get the poor boy a bowl of noodles.

The stallholder selling noodles saw the poor boy and she gave Jane the bowl of noodles without charging her. Grateful to the benevolent vendor, Jane took the hot bowl to the boy. He looked at Jane, tears at the corner of his eyes, gobbled up the noodles and slurped down the hot soup within seconds.

Jane offered a piece of tissue paper to the boy while the other prefects looked at both of them in awe. Jane paid no attention to the rest of them.They were whispering among themselves and were curious who the boy was.

Knowing that she was not in position to make decision, Jane took the boy the General Office and informed her form teacher, Ms Tan. Ms Tan took over the case and found out more about the boy’s background.

The boy was one of the school attendant’s son. He was not feeling well that morning and the school attendant had no alternatives but to bring him to the school. He had fever and was weak as he had no solid food for the past two days. His mother had forgotten to give him money as she was busy with her work.

The school attendant, Mdm Jasmine Quek, was called to the General Office and she was apologetic after learning what her son had done. Ms Tan reassured her that it was no trouble but the most important thing was that her son’s health must be taken care of first. Ms Tan gave her a fifty-dollar note to take her child to the clinic.

Speechless, Mdm Quek took the money and after thanking Ms Tan repeatedly, she took her son to the clinic.

Jane stood outside the General Office and she witnessed the episode. Touched by Ms Tan’s gestures, she vowed to exhibit the school’s value on affection more by being the role model and practising it like what Ms Tan had just done.  

Courtesy of Mrs Mak