January 19, 2013
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Compartir, 19 January 2013
"Why do you like this job?" I ask.
Carol, for all her bubbly exterior,
looks serious for a moment while
considering her options to respond.
Finally she said, "I do what I do
because it helps people feel good
about themselves. It's always
very personal for someone to
come to me so when they do,
I take pride in that."
She looks at me. I get it.
And I smile easily.
"That's true. You do know
that I trust you a lot, right?"
Carol smiles back. "I know.
And I appreciate that. A lot."
She continues to work.
Her hands move fast, adept.
"People don't realise it but when
they are in here, they loosen up.
They talk about things they
normally wouldn't with their
friends, or husbands or wives.
They don't always expect me to
respond but I am happy to listen."
"Like a therapist," I joke.
Carol laughs, her wide eyes shining.
"Yeah. Not as expensive!"
This young woman from Sekinchan,
the daughter of a fisherman and a
schoolteacher; there's just this thing
about her that I like.
I asked her once, after having met
her late last year, if her parents know
what she does for a living here in KL.
"I'm very honest with them. They know."
What did they think about it?
She had shrugged the question off.
"Every parent wants their child
to have a good job, right?"
I told her immediately that this
was just a good a job as any other.
I hadn't enough clarity back then
to tell her why, though.
Seems like she already knows.
Before I leave, she gives me a cup
of sweet lime juice and announces,
"I'm getting married this year."
That's wonderful, I tell Carol.
I am genuinely thrilled for her.
Was she going back to Sekinchan?
"Singapore. He works there."
We hug. "I'll miss you."
"You can visit me there. I'll start
my own place. He'll help me."
She thinks for a bit, then adds,
"I'll charge in ringgit."
We laugh, probably for the last time.
As I exit the place I look at Carol
behind the counter and see her
laughing at something a friend
tells her, her big eyes shining.
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