Locked Out~!

Yesterday morning I was locked out!

Okey, my mind was pre-occupied with things. My hands were also full - with thrash bags, my lap top bag on my shoulder, cat's food and what I thought were house and gate keys. Bang...I slammed the door closed with my foot. I put the cat's food down under the shade where the cats normally feed, and walked to the rubbish bin outside on the street. 

I then thought I have left my sun-glasses inside. I wanted to open the door - then I realized I have left both the house key and the gate key inside. What I had in my hand was indeed my sun-glasses! Ermmm, someone please tell me this was only a once-off lapse, and not a permanent sign of aging.

The whole day while in the office I was figuring how to get in! I called my once-a-week visiting maid to ask if she keeps one spare key. 

"Yes...but only house key, sir!" Replied Linda, nervously.

At 4pm I was already in front of her house to collect the key. I explained carefully that the reason I am taking they key was because I have left mine inside the house. I didn't want her to think I was not trusting her to keep the house key while I would be gone for my Eid leave. She relaxed and recovered from her nervousness.

About 5pm I was in front of my house - with no key to open the gate. Gates to Arab houses are high like fortresses. I thought about climbing, but immediately abandoned the idea! Safety first, was not what stopped me. It was something else called 'Kurang Upaya!' 

As the temperature was soaring high at above 40 degree, I stayed in the car and waited for the temperature to cool down a bit more and hoping that I would get some ideas or that a miracle would happen! 

Then God sent me His help! 

Rizwan, an Indonesian who worked as a driver for an Arab family a few doors away from my house walked to the same rubbish bin on the street near to my house. Four months ago, when I moved to the neighborhood I have approached him and introduced myself. We chatted about three times after that.  The last few nights I have seen him at the local Mosque praying Terawih. Little did I know that one day, I would be needing his help.

I stood near to the gate, and helped to push him up. With a little more effort from him,  he jumped down on the other side.

The gate was opened at last.

As a show of my appreciation, I gave him a packet of the Patchi chocolate which I have bought to bring back to Malaysia for my children. 

Now,  we have become closer friends. I might have been locked out from my house, but God has opened my eyes and heart to appreciate kindness that could come from simple people.

"Friendship without self interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life." - James Francis Byrnes