From the windowpane of the doors of the train, I saw a stout-looking young man who seemed ready for his adventure once the doors open to him.
Open! Doo doo, he grabbed the standing poles tightly with his 2 fit arms. That caught my eyes.
Tanjong Pagar Sttaaaation, he slapped on the panel directory board. He slapped again twice on the Woodlands Station.
Chikk chikkk (train moving)..
A petite lady nearby seemed to be struggling with his presence. She fidgeted, looked for some tiny space on the right, but gave up after thinking she would need to maneuver past me.
Chik chik dooo .. The youth turned over. "AH... keep clear do not lean on the doors. Dover Next!"
Doooo "Let the kids go first ah". The train moves on and he went to the panel and slapped Buona Vista. The petitie lady immediately seized on the opportune moment and slides into my right. Still, she seemed uptight, perhaps feeling claustrophobic standing beside me.
A fresh commuter came in looked behind twice at the youth, wondering who was this...
I smiled at him when he makes the sound effects, it was cool and provided a breath of light-hearted moment in what has been months of suppressed times.
More people may be more understanding towards special needs people nowadays, may still find it hard, scary and worrisome when they are socialising with an SN person, as evidenced by the lady on the train.
When I look at them, I used to feel a bit sad and wasted for them. That, they are not able to enjoy life like ours. However, as I slowly realise, I found that they seemed special because they are enjoying themselves in their own world and by their own definitions of what they think to make them happy. How many of us even know what makes us truly happy and would go on to do that exactly?
Most of the time, we keep quiet when we see something shameful, unjust, or even in love when a doting parent showers love but most of us just rather choose to shy away.
The youth displayed true happiness on the train today, happy at slapping the directory panel, making sound effects, playing the train warden, and even knowing how to apologising when he knew he had accidentally blocked the way of 2 elderly folks. He knows the extent his fun should go to and how many of us can do that? Aren't the normal us always capable of doing something disastrous always in the name of fun?
This week is the week of SPED(Special Education), Autism, Dyslexia, and ADHD awareness. Perhaps as the world starts to live life fuller and more meaningful post covid, it would be meaningful to understand better what is inclusiveness all about.
"Bukit Batok" Ok AH, let the kids go first ah!.. chik chik chik..
Ronaldo is after all only a normal person, isn't he?