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| Sunday, 12 February 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Laughing stock Haven't you ever felt that something can happen to you and you only?
Like, the other day I was crossing the road and you should know that
crossing roads in our country should be taught as a compulsory subject
And there I was, so used to standing for half an hour in the middle of the road, just waiting for a kind-hearted motorist to stop, and I suddenly realised that all vehicles had come to a standstill at the crossing, while I was just staring off into space. The moment I realised it I sprinted over to the other side (in a fairly comical sprint, if you must know...). At times like this you don't want to look anyone in the face, and suddenly the paving stones look very interesting.... Another time is when you are walking on the pavement and suddenly you step onto one of those uneven tiles and even though you are wearing completely-flat-utterly-heelless footwear, your ankle turns into some awkward angle. You nearly fall, but you save yourself in the nick of time, and when you are finally standing straight you realise that the traffic light has been red while you were giving your performance, and everyone is watching you. And once again the paving stones suddenly seem extremely interesting. And please don't mention buses. There are only a few passengers standing and you are one of them. So far the ride has been completely uneventful, and you are not complaining either. I mean, for once the bus conductor hasn't yelled and snorted at you. But without any warning the driver will suddenly brake and you will go down the aisle with a speed normally attributed to a stone leaving the catapult. Humiliation is heightened when you realise that all the other passengers had held on pretty steadily through the ordeal. Then you look for something positive in it. Ah, you tell yourself, you needn't meet any of these people who saw you comically gliding this way and that. They are complete strangers you will never meet again, and whats more.... Oh dear, don't you know that guy from uni? That guy who is grinning from ear to ear in that corner there..... Then there are times when you see your friend in the distance. Pippy's walking towards you and although she is pretty much faraway you wave informally (as in heartily and not in the manner you reserve for stuffy aunts). A little while later you realise that Pippy's interested stare had in fact been a stranger's look of wonderment. And a total stranger passes you by with a quizzical look on her face. it so happens that this teaches you a lesson. You resolve never to wave at anyone in public (least of all Pippy). A few days later Chikins meets you at church. "You idiot! I waved at you yesterday and you didn't wave back!" she says. "Really? Where was I?" "In a bus halt you moron. I yelled your name and rapped on the shutter and everyone in the halt was looking at me!" continues Chikins. You say you are sorry and that you honestly didn't see her (you honestly didn't, by the way), but your world suddenly brightens up when you realise that phew....you are certainly not the only Public Idiot on earth. - Dilini Algama |
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in
schools. All those vehicles come with their horns blaring and headlights
flashing, and if attitudes can be put into words they would read "Gosh not
another person crossing the road!!! Get back! Get back! Why should I stop
for you?" 
