Impassivity, Barriers

Have you ever taken a good look at the people taking the same lift as you? I don't. Why bother. The person taking the lift may not be any neighbours, could be somebody visiting whoever's living in the same block as me. Of course, I still know some of the people living one floor above and below me. It's not as if I totally do not bother to know people.

When I returned home this afternoon, there was an old lady standing near the lift and when she saw my handphone she asked if she can use the handphone. Maybe I paused for longer than necessary. She immediately say it is okay if she cannot borrow the phone, but can I just help her call her sister who is living in this block as she cannot remember which unit her sister is staying in. Seriously speaking, the first thought that came to my mind was: is she going to steal my handphone? However, if you had seen her, you would think I am crazy. This is an old lady who is around 70 years old. Even if she were to steal my handphone, I could easily take it back from her. She is not as strong as me, and she definitely cannot outrun me so there is no harm in letting her use my handphone.

Anyway, she could not find the number and when she asked me which floor I am staying, I lied. She then started telling me in Hokkien how her sister looked like and how her sister is never without the maid as she has to be pushed around in the wheelchair. No go there. I have never seen anybody around being pushed in wheelchair. Anyway, to cut the long story short, I brought her around looking for her sister's house. Not too tough with a few appropriate questions from me and some vague ideas from her.

What struck me as I think back on this is my lack of trust and the ease of giving false information so strangers cannot trace me. Sigh... mistrust of others. I was not like this.