On The Bus #27... or The Righteous Cheat

So there were these 3 folks that I'm single-ing out for this story:

1) The Old Woman in her 50s, because she's still using a blue ez-link card (OW)
2) The Woman with the Baby (WwBB)
3) The Bangla Foreign Worker (BFW)

So I board Bus 57 at Sim Lim Square. OW is behind me, BFW is seated at the seat right behind the exit (Yes, the one just under the TV, so it's a single seat). WwBB, I don't know. She was either behind me or already on the bus.

So the bus is packed, and I'm standing right behind the BFW who is seated in that single seat.

OW comes up to the exit beside BFW and tells him, "You should give up your seat to the woman with the baby in front OK."

BFW is shocked at the OW speaking to him and nearly jumps out of his seat, guilt-ridden at being told off by the OW. OW tells BFW, "Wait." And she walks in front to ask WwBB to come to take the seat the BFW is willing to give up.

But WwBB tells OW she's getting off soon, and doesn't need the seat.

So OW comes back to tell BFW, "It's OK. She says she's getting off." BFW is very disturbed and guilt-ridden. He sits upright and uptight now.

Comes the next stop at Little India MRT Station. Coincidentally, BFW gets off. OW plonks into the empty seat. WwBB is still standing in the standing gallery holding the baby.

***No, this is not what I'm nitpicking about. Read on...***

So after Little India bus stop, comes KK Hospital. WwBB gets off here, leaving OW still in the seat.

Now before the bus pulled into the stop, there was this loud "DI" from somebody tapping a card. Out of the corner of my eye, I see nobody moving towards the exit. (Who was the one who tapped the card if nobody was moving towards the door?) So I turn to look.

A kid in a CHIJ uniform was leaning against the pole. It wasn't her who tapped that adult card, surely she's got a student pass!

I look at OW, and she's fumbling to keep her blue EZ-link card. (Mind you, I'm not jumping to conclusions here. I admit that I didn't see her tap her card at the card-reader. I only heard the sound yet saw nobody else near the exit).

So the CHIJ kid gets off. WwBB gets off too. I watch OW to see when she will get off, and if she'll tap her card when she gets off.

Next stop, Tanglin Police Division HQ.
Next stop, United Square.
Next stop, Novena Church.
Next stop, Novena Lodge.
Next stop, Thomson Medical Centre.
Next stop, Tan Tong Meng Towers.
Next stop, Trellis Towers at Jalan Toa Payoh.

"DING DONG!" OW pressed the bell. I was watching for her to tap her blue ez-link card.

Bus pulls in, doors open. She gets off without tapping her card.

PS: I've told 3 people this story and they didn't get what my point was. If you are lost too and didn't get what I was ranting about, let me know OK?