As I walked down the stairs of the MRT station, I wondered if anyone would offer me a seat on my ride into Raffles Place. I was pretty sure I knew what the answer was, but nonetheless was optimistic of a pleasant surprise.
Despite the blatant "Please offer this seat to someone who needs it more than you" sign which included an icon of a pregnant woman; despite my obviously pregnant tummy thrust right in her face, the woman in the said seat did not budge.
Neither did any of the other passengers seated on that packed peak hour train.
In fact, when one of the seats did free up, a middle aged lady rushed to occupy it.
I stood, holding on to a pole, daring any of them to make eye contact. I would have said no anyway, since I wasn't travelling far - but it would have been nice of someone to offer.
Thank goodness it was only two stops.
I'm thankful that I have the luxury of not taking public transport.
I feel bad for the pregnant moms out there who don't.
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2 comments:
Hi Dorothy!
Able people who refuse to give up their seats to those who need them are my pet peeve. I used to just fume inside when I see it happen but recently, when I saw a young man rushing to take a seat that has just freed up when there was an old woman (she looked at least 70 to me) nearby, I just tapped him on the shoulder and requested that he give up the seat. A few people on the train must have been shocked by my action. I was surprised by myself too but I think having done it once, I am now more daring and will not hesitate to do it again. Heh ;p
I'm preggers now, 29 weeks. I wonder sometimes what is up with people who pretend to sleep even though they saw me and I was standing right infront of them (infront of the sign to offer up the seat). Worse are perfectly able looking ah sohs who can say to each other "aiyah I'm old, it's ok" or teenagers who say "it's ok I'm getting off soon" to their friends. I fainted once on the train after standing just 5 minutes when I was just 3-4 months pregnant and thus my husband is always afraid for me when we take the train.
Having said that, I've had unexpected people give me seats (eg indian worker, punk malay boy) and to those few (I can count the no of times on 1 hand) who have graciously given up seats to me, I am very very grateful.
To the others, I suppose they will only learn when they themselves are pregnant or when a loved one gets pregnant and nobody gives up their seat to their wife/friend.
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