Kindness Made My Day!

Years ago, I was invited by my class for a BBQ at East Coast in the evening.  As I drove my rather temperamental Italian-made car through the CTE tunnel, a very unexpected thing happened.  The clutch of my manual-gear car was dislodged from the gear box and the car gradually came to a standstill right in the tunnel! To make matters worse, I was on the extreme right lane and the incessant traffic made it impossible for me to cross to the left side where a Emergency Phone was located some 50m away.

I have quickly flicked the hazard light on and also steered as close to the right wall as possible, as the car decelerated on its own. I was glad there was no major traffic jam within the tunnel as a result; but at an age when mobile phones were the rarely seen (and the size and weight of a dumb-bell), I thought I would be stuck with 'no light at the end of the tunnel', quite literally.  I also wondered how to inform my students that it would be unlikely for me to make it to their gathering, in view of the situation.

I got out from the passenger side of the car and hope to dash across should the heavy traffic abate slightly.  After 6 minutes or so of hapless 'standby', a car driven by a couple stopped and asked me to hop on,  They took the effort to stop in front of mine stalled vehicle and offered to drive me to the nearest station to get help.

I wanted to call a tow-truck to move my car away, so I gladly took their advice. I did not realise I should not have left my car. Anyway, at the nearest petrol station (near or at Moulmein Road I think), I found a public phone and contacted AA, but I was surprised to learn that only authorised tow trucks are allowed to tow cars out of the tunnel, and that I should have stayed inside the car instead. 

The sky had turned ominous by then and a heavy thunderstorm ensued. I borrowed an umbrella from the friendly petrol station staff and decided I should take a cab to my vehicle.  However, the peak hour period and the shower made it very hard to hail a cab along the road!  At last, when a taxi with a "ON SHIFT" sign entered the station to pump petrol, I quickly pleaded with the driver and enlisted his help.  He was kind enough to drive me back into the tunnel –  but goodness gracious – my vehicle was NO WHERE in sight this time!

So, amidst anxieties and worries, we headed back to the petrol station again. I had no idea where my car was and what had become of it!  Oh dear!   My heart was beating very fast then. Just as I was wondering what I should do next, lo and behold, I caught sight of my beloved car being towed in by the EMAS tow truck about 100 metres away!   The truck deposited my car at the public car park just a stone’s throw from the petrol station.

I ran to reclaim my car and was able to make my own arrangement to have it towed to my regular workshop. It was already about 8pm by the time we reached the workshop. I recounted the story to the driver and how glad I was to have met all these nice people – from the helpful couple in the tunnel to the friendly petrol station staff, to the taxi-driver uncle, and of course, the relief of seeing my car out of the tunnel.

However, the thought of my class waiting for me and not seeing me when I have promised to be there was the part I wished I could change.  So, I asked if he could kindly drop me off at the East Coast after dropping my car at the workshop – and guess what – he said okay! I was so thankful and invited him to join us at the BBQ! 

My class was so surprised to see a tow truck dropped me at the BBQ, and invited the driver to a hearty BBQ meal.  To top the wonderful experience, my class unveiled a lovely Teacher’s Day Cake (which was a true surprise for me!) and we celebrated that beautiful evening together!

What a memorable day!  It could have turned out frustrating but, thanks to the lovely and wonderful people I have encountered throughout, it turned out to be one of the most memorable days ever in my teaching life!

Thank you kind strangers! You made my day!  

Olivia Koh, SP