The kindness, shown to someone, in her direst hours of need, and now, it’s, continuing, translated…
In the early evenings, I’d received an unknown call………
The Heart-Breaking Confessions of a Single Mother
In the early evenings, I’d received an unknown call, it was a mother.
The woman, “Mr. Bao, can you give me your account number?”
Me, “Sure, but who is this, and why?”
The woman, “Hmmm, I’m someone who owes you some money…or, more precisely, I’d, scammed you last year, and this whole year, you’d been, on my mind a lot, I’d felt, ill-at-ease, I wanted to return the money I’d scammed back to you.”
Me, “May I ask, how you’d, scammed me? Because I never felt I was, being scammed, perhaps, it’s, just a mistake?”
And so, the woman told me that somewhat long story: “Last year, I’d sent in an order on your website, if you’d selected the pay by ATM option, I’d just needed to send the five-digit code by text to you, and, after you’d confirmed it, then, you’d, shipped out the item.
“It was already December, I just got divorced from my husband, took my kids, moved out. After paying up the rent, I’d not gotten a cent left on me, and, my new job that I’d found will be paying me my first paycheck in two weeks. Seeing how in a few days, the kids will starve with me, so I’d gone to your website to order something, bought a lot of dumplings, and stewed items, of about over $3,000N.T.s. On the day you’d shipped out the items, I’d texted you that I’d forgotten to make the wire transfers, but because I’d needed the foods the very next day, I’d asked you to send the shipments out immediately, that I will be, wiring you the money soon. Back then you’d agreed without any hesitation, and, the very next day, I had, received the whole lot of food I’d, ordered. And, for that entire week, my children and I lived off of the casing of foods.
the gift of giving…
photo from online…
“The delivery day of the next week, I’d, done it again, I’d called you again, and told you I was in dire need of what I’d ordered from you the week previous, but I got too busy last week, forgot to wire you the amount, and if I could, wire the amounts together this time? You’d become, hesitant for a bit on the phones, but, out of my expectations, you’d, agreed. And the following day, I did, receive the goods again, and, made it through another week with the kids.
“On the day I received my paycheck, I’d, originally wanted to wire you what I’d owed, but, I was, running tight, if I’d, wired these over $6,000N.T.s to you, then, we will be out of food by next month again, and it would become problematic, for us to get around by bus. And so, I’d, pretended to play a fool, wanted to wait until you had, come to press me for payments, then, I’ll give you, some false excuses. A few days later, you’d, texted me a very courteous message, asking me if I’d forgotten to wire the money. I’d pretended not to have received it, and didn’t reply back to you. And, in the end, you may have gotten too busy too, that you’d, not contacted me about this shipment, and I’d, played dumb continually……
giving someone that pull, so s/he can get back up on her/his feet again, photo from online…
“Afterwards, I’d, worked hard every single day, waited until my work was, stabilized, I’d found another part-time job. After life was stable for my children and I, a short while ago, I was able, to put some of my money into savings. Recently, I’d saved a total of $12,000N.T.s, and I thought that I will pay you double what I’d owed from back when, as an apology for cheating you out of it back then.
“This year, I’d still read your FB, and I was so entertained by your articles, but I’d felt, uneasy inside. Perhaps, you don’t even, remember it, and you don’t know who I am but I truly hope you will, forgive me, give me your account information, so I can, wire what I owed you from then, to get closure on this whole thing, besides……please, don’t ask me to tell you who I am, okay?”
After I’d heard her stating everything through the phones, I’d smiled, and told her, “Fine, I won’t ask you who you are, knowing you’re okay with your children is good enough for me. And, this amount that you owed, was from last year, and, I’d, forgotten about everything already, and, so, you don’t need to return what you owed to me this year. If you insist, then, wire the money as a donation to the Mennuo Hospital in Hualien! There are those, who have it harder than you over there, who can receive your help. And if you wire to me, and after I know your account information, I’m afraid, that I might send out the squadrons, or my team of expert assassins, to go after you. Last year, I’d played Santa, gave you the gifts, and this year, you be Santa, and give someone else this gift, how’s that?”
“Okay, I will do as you say, wire the amount to the Mennuo Hospital then”.
Live Your Days Well, and You’ll Be, Fine
This mom, actually, I remember exactly who you are, and what had happened. And, back then, I’d known, that you were, lying to me, it’s because, of my intelligence, and my good looks. I’d still remembered the you from then, how you were filled with so much shame, and nervousness. You’re NO bullshitter, not with the least idea of how to bullshit someone.
In that call, I’d not busted you, and willing to, send you the second casing was simple, because I knew, that someone who was, willing to use such bullshitting reason, such bad excuse, to call someone as intelligent and handsome as I, must have your reasons………back then I’d, hesitated, because I was, thinking about this.
In the end, what helped me make up my mind was a passage from the “Holy Bible”: “What you’d done unto the smallest of my brothers, you’d, done unto me.” And so when you’d not replied back to my text, I’d stopped, pursuing you then. And, a year later, it’d proved, that I was, right (swing my head, shaking my butt).
Anyways, I’m really glad to hear that you and your children are doing fine, and I’m glad, to have been the one, who’d given you, two weeks’ worth of your foods.
This is the very last day of this year, I shall, keep what you’d told me today, this year, and starting next year, I’d still planned, to be a good looking handsome lad who played dumb.
Let’s just, live our days well, carry on with our lives then!
I accept your apology, and, gladly, receive this gift you’d, given to me. And this time, don’t forget, to wire the amount you’d owed me to the Mennuo Hospital!
And so, this man decided to forgive the woman who’d cheated him out of the food items he’d sent her, because he realized, that she must’ve been in some sort of hardship, to feel compelled to cheat him, and she was, and now that she and her children’s lives are on track, she can, finally repay him for it, and, he’d, had her pass along the kindness she’d received from him to someone else in need.
Life, the Obstacle Course 