3374. Everything happens for a reason

21 Jul 2020. 12 noon.

I was on the way back from my exercise. Mike is one of my dog customers. Today, he drove me in his 7-seater to McDonald's drive in at Ang Mo Kio. We had not met for over 3 months.  

Safe distancing measures in place in Singapore as the Covid-19 pandemic was rampant. The counter girl in yellow and masked in a blue disposable took Mkie's credit card and said, "Wait for the food to be delivered." She gave Mike a big plastic tag with a green number 26.

"Doc, You look for seat first," Mike wanted to make some phone calls. He gave me the plastic tag. The occupancy was full as many seats were reserved with a "cross"  as part of social distancing measure. That meant 50% of the seats were not permitted for customers. 

A waitress in her late 40s, wearing the McDonald's T-shirt with the "fry" logo asked me where I would be sitting. She cleared a window seat for me and laid down the tray of 2 drinks and one apple pie for me and took my plastic tag No. 26.

Mike was somewhere, making phone calls. Soon he arrived, carrying a tray of similar drinks and pie too. 

"What to do now?" Mike asked. "Return the tray," I said. "Be honest."

"We have double drinks today (for the price of one)," he exclaimed. "I could give the apple pie to my dog!"
"No, no, give the tray back to the counter girl!"

Mike returned the tray. We chatted. He talked about the secrets of life. An online subscription called Skills Growth. It is about Life Purpose, REBT, Self Esteem, Human Psychology on Perception, Neurosis, CBT and so many courses that I will find helpful on the neurotic disorders that we are suffering.

Soon we completed our drinks. He drove his car towards the exit barrier. The barrier would not open. Another driver was behind. He reversed his car to let the driver exit first. He tried again. Still the barrier was inert. Another two times, he let other drivers past him. But the barrier stated that his card was faulty.

"You need any help" a driver in an Audi asked when Mike reversed and let him pass through. "Yes," Mike said. "The barrier just would not lift up!"

"This is what you should do," the man in his late 50 said. "I drive my car out as the barrier opens. You drive your car quickly behind me!"

I was surprised at this suggestion and looked at Mike.

"It will not do," Mike explained. "There are CCTVs that will record my car number!". It is a traffic offence to tailgate. "If you let me use your cash card, I will be able to get out. I will pay you 0.80 cents!"

That was a good honest solution. It is a pity that Mike did not possess an extra cash card as I would have done so in my car.

The driver exited, parked his car to the side of the road and handed Mike his cash card. Mike went back to his car, inserted the card and drove out in a jiffy. He searched for 0.80 cents in his trouser pockets but he had no coins. He looked at me, "Doc, do you have 0.80 cents?"

"I am sorry," I told Mike. "I do not have my wallet with me. I was exercising this morning when you phoned me out of the blue. Then you picked me up to come here for our breakfast chat. I am sorry. I did not carry my wallet!"

Mike handed the driver a $50.00 note. The driver checked but he had no change. He returned Mike's the money. So Mike got scot free without paying the $0.80.

"Everything happens for a reason," Mike told me. "The driver was there when I needed help. Thank god!"

Mike drove to buy some chocolates from a supermarket. His cash card was operational as the car park barrier opened up. Why did the McDonald's car park barrier did not open up for him even though he tried 3 times? Was it a test of his integrity as he was offered tailgating by the other driver?

I don't know. As Mike had said: "Everything happens for a reason!" 

 

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