Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mercury]

Today it happened again. A middle school boy (I did not know) handed me half of his banana on the subway. I was just sitting there, he peeled the banana and broke it in half. I reached out and took it (I don't know why), maybe it was an instinct, maybe I wanted to be kind, but what caught my eye was the state of his black hand and finger nails with dirt caked underneath. After he handed it to me I just held it as he smiled. I thanked him and just held the banana. He was waiting for me to eat it. I couldn't. Everyone on the subway focused their eyes on me. They smiled at first, but then, about 15 seconds later, the smiles turned into looks of shock. After 20 seconds the looks turned into anger.Even the babies were beginning to think I was strange for not eating the special gift of friendship. A voice in the back of my head shouthed "just eat it, if you die at least everyone in the subway car will say you were a good man who loved kindness". My mind, trained to solve problems, raced at full speed. I glanced at a little two year old, "give it to her" my neo cortex shouted. But I couldn't. Then the animal part of my brain kicked in. "RUN!". I wanted too. I wanted to just run out of the car, and feel the fresh air of freedom. But I could'nt. I was already running late and I needed to be on time to teach. Finally I found the solution. I squeezed it in my hand, and threw it against the window. No, not really, my solution was this............... I pulled out a piece of paper from my notebook, made a little paper box, and put the banana inside, smiling all of the time. I then placed it inside my leather bag, and told the boy "daum" (meaning later, I hope). Everyone seemed to understand and the people went back to their previous day dreams. Tonight as I got back home I reached inside my leather bag and felt something wet. Next time I think I will just give it to the little baby.