Two sides of a coin.

I took a train home today. At this particular stop, one man wearing a plain shirt and faded jeans with a tattoo below his right elbow walked in, moved towards my direction, and sat next to me. I was engrossed in my FM radio when I thought I heard someone calling me. Taking off one earpiece, I turned to this man and he started to talk to me in Chinese which goes along this line. He had this desperate look in his eyes. 'Hi, I just got retrenched last week and I have a son and a wife who is pregnant (points to a direction where a man is standing). I have no money to buy milk and diapers for my baby. Do you have money to spare me?' Well, my first thought was 'What the hell.. You conman, cant even act convincingly.' I tried to be as polite as possible, stating that I do not have much to spare. At least I was not lying to him. I only had seven bucks with me. He stared coldly at me for a while before glancing away. Although he emits this scary aura, I did not change seat as my ego forbade me to. I tried to act nonchalant and composed, plugging my earpiece back at the same time.

A few stops later, he got up and walked off. As he was walking out of the station door, he looked lost and depressed. He trudged his feet along the ground and it seemed that he had a lot on his mind. What if he had really lost his job? What if he is being driven to desperation? What if (fill in the blank). My point is, if he really needs help, will anyone help him? However, I feel that all is not lost. At least he sees hope in others by asking for help. He is hopeful and not hopeless.

Although there are conmen trying to cheat people everyday, the victims should also reflect on why they are being conned. A case of greed perhaps?

There are always, and always will be, two sides to a coin.