The Case of the Lightning Bolt of Chewing Gum
Manila Commuter on Oct 22 2008 at 9:38 pm | Filed under: MRT
I got off at the MRT Ortigas station, and began the short trek to cross EDSA from the northbound to the southbound side in order to go to SM Megamall. A girl, approximately in her twenties, ponytail swishing, ears plugged with earphones, walked a couple of feet in front of me. As we passed the railings on the second level, she suddenly whipped her head to the side.
The reason for her sudden action was evident on the steel structure. There was a long sliver, which I assumed to be chewing gum, stuck on the side. It was shaped like a lightning bolt, as if the girl knew that the shape would take the gum’s trajectory farther when she blows it out with the force of her breath.
A part of me wanted to offer her a piece of tissue to remove the piece of gum, but I dismissed the notion immediately. Someone who would do that would not likely want to clean up after herself. I also considered doing the dirty deed myself, but, I was reluctant to touch somebody else’s saliva laden remains.
As if she felt my stare, the girl glanced back, and correctly assumed that I saw what she just did. After a few steps, she slowed down to a stop and let me go ahead. Hopefully, she’ll go back and get the piece of gum and throw it properly in the trash can. If not, then I hope that no one gets too near that piece of chewing gum…
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