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1630. Exhausted from the week’s kerfuffle, I’m not ready to fight tooth and nail for a spot on the bus through an imaginary bus queue. I was lucky to catch the bus that goes to where I want to go. I thought I was a few minutes late, held up by a small purchase transaction. Patiently, allowing most of the people onto the bus, I was contented with a standing spot of the less crowded bus. A middle-aged gentleman, dressed with the best intention of looking trendy with an ipod, stood up and gave away his seat to me. My polite refusal was returned with further but gentle insistent to take up the seat. I took it. Chivalry is not dead. I silently wished him a good karma.
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1625. I walked past The Glass House Cafe towards Civic. Just before the traffic lights, I saw him approaching me and I knew what he wanted. He has a kind face. It was grubby but pleasant.
I greeted him with a smile and said, “I’ll buy a copy from you”.
The delighted look on his face was beautiful. “Thank you, Miss! You have a beautiful smile”.
Thanking him shyly, I rummaged through my purse for some coins and asked how his day has been. “I’m fine today, thank you”. I remarked on today’s warm weather.
How much is it? “$5.00, Miss.” I pressed another extra dollar into his hand. “For the coffee”, I said. I don’t know why I said that.
A dollar is hardly enough for a coffee. But I thought caught a glimpse of that delighted look on his wrinkled face again.
Which copy do I want? There were one with Rick Ponting on the cover. Lady Gaga on another. An illustration of some description on another.
“Which one do you think I should get?” I asked. It doesn’t matter to me whichever copy to have.
“I reckon the Ricky Ponting issue is going to be a collector’s issue”, he replied like a proud and winning salesman.
I smiled, took his advise and went on my merry way.