Opa Johan’s Accident

Opa Johan’s Accident 

I just  was Rp. 1.000.- short, when I had to pay  our gas account he said to his wife. You gave me Rp. 25.000.-, which is usually more than enough. Oh, I started, the bill this time was Rp. 30.000.–. I opened my purse, searched with a  violent beating heart, trembling fingers to find  one, two, three thousand, five hundred, … I searched my pockets and just collected only Rp. 4.000.-  . Take my bike, I must go home now, I thought. 

“Mam,” I said – she could be my daughter – “I just have Rp. 29.000.- and am Rp.1.000.- short. So I will go home now and be back again soon.” She kept silent, then suddenly said, “where’s the money?” I gave her the money and she gave me the bill. Her generosity slowly dawned on me.  

I was perplexed, overwhelmed,  dumbfounded.  “Thank you Mam” I couldn’t say anything else. She only smiled as an angel, who is happy to help a funny, foolish old man in trouble. It was as though I unexpectedly got a reward from heaven. Yet, was I decently clothed, wearing shoes and didn’t look like a beggar. 

Well, imagine meeting an Indonesian like her, Indonesia whose ranking in  corruption is almost number one in the whole world according to international standards, statistics and she’s just a government functionary with a low salary. While people get others into difficulties, in order to make some money she did the opposite.  

True, its but a very small money value, but so huge in kindness. Now, how do you think to repay such goodness, besides the money. It’s only a pity that I’m not a woman, otherwise would  have I repaid her with a kiss, ha, ha, ha, he said, teasing his wife. 

“That’s what you wish you scoundrel. But if you’re really a woman you will lose your kissing fancy.” his wife retorted.

And I pondered whether it would be better if life were in perfect order and there wouldn’t occur any mistakes, accidents as that of Opa Johan.  Yet, it were just such “accidents” that could make  man so happy, so rich. If unexpectedly he could receive such  kindness, even more so for the woman who had helped him out of his distress. He would never forget the memory. 

October 2000