“Awww such a cute dog!”, My Hello Kitty then proceeded to almost pat it until she noticed that there was a little badge on the dog that said “Guide Dog, please do not pat”. She then took her hand away like she had just touched a hot surface.
We both looked up at the owner of the dog. Dressed in jean and a t-shirt with a backpack on her, she was holding her the dog by a saddle bar. Her movements were cautious and the expression on her face let off that she was trying very hard to listen to the sounds around her in that busy New York Subway. She was blind. A few moments later, a friend of hers pulled up right next to her. He was dressed similar to her, in a t-shirt and jeans but instead of a guide dog, he had a stick to guide him.
He took a few steps towards the edge of the platform but stopped right when the stick ahead of him came into contact with the rough surface up ahead. It’s from that rough surface that he could tell it was the edge of the platform and the train wasn’t there yet.
My Hello Kitty and I stood there wondering how they would know which train they were getting on or where to get on. Then a tall well-dressed man with sunglasses next to them asked them where they were going and told them which train to take.
Three minutes passed and the train arrived making a loud entrance with all the metallic clamoring it makes when its wheels ride on its tracks. The train stopped with its door just a few feet to its side but the blind couple couldn’t tell where the door was. The man was the first to take a step forward as if just to experiment but the helpful well-dressed man behind him guided him “It’s on your right… it’s on your right”.
Getting on a subway train during peak hours in New York City is a messy feat.
Everyone inside trying to get out and everyone outside trying to get in. That time though it was different Just as they prepared to get on board the train, the bustling New York City crowd around them stood back as to allow them ample space to be the first to board the train. Even the people who were in the train looking to come out waited for the blind couple to enter before they got out.
The blind couple felt their way through the subway car and finally found an empty two seats for them to sit down on. The guide dog simply sat down right in front of the lady. Across from them a woman who was carrying a box of stuff with her stood up with the box and took two steps towards them. She then asked them where they were going. The man replied and she listed out all the next 3-4 stations they were going for so that they knew where to stop. After she had given them whatever help they needed she went back and took a seat before I took a quick picture of her so that I could remember that moment. She’s the woman looking into that big red box.
Ten minutes later the train reached the destination for My Hello Kitty and I to get off. We noticed that it was also the destination for the blind couple so we stood back and let them get off the train first. Once everyone was off the train the blind couple stood there looking lost, not knowing whether to go right or left. I decided to try to help. I walked up to the man and asked “Where do you wanna go?”
He said “Down the stairs to Penn Station”.
This is when I felt totally useless. I had no idea where Penn Station was let alone any stairs that led down to it. I was a tourist, and there wasn’t anyone else around to ask. So I looked around for signboards and fortunately there was a signboard just for that. I pointed to the right direction and said “It’s over there!”. I did it a few times until I realized he didn’t understand me obviously because he couldn’t see which direction I was pointing at. I felt terrible but I guess it was just a second nature that when you tell someone where to go you point rather than say left or right. Now knowing at that point how else to point him in the right direction, I put my hand on his arm and guided him to the right direction.
He thanked me and they both started on our way. My Hello Kitty and I walked behind then for a while, then when we decided they were okay we walked off. Just before we exited the platform we looked back to take one last look at them and they seemed to have pass the flight of stairs down to Penn Station. So we went back to them and verified with them again where they were going and they again replied “Penn Station”. So we guided them to the stairs and told them that it was down these flight of stairs (at least according to the sign board and based on what they said earlier about going down a flight of stairs to Penn Station). They thanked us again and started their very slow but careful journey down the long flight of stairs. It was then that My Hello Kitty and I last saw them.
On our way out of the station I said to My Hello Kitty
“I hope we pointed them in the right direction… I mean the signboard says that way right?”
She replied
“Yeah it should be. According to the signboard.
We then both said at the same time
“If not… we’re both going to hell for this”.
———
Now the reason why I wanted to share this story is that it touched me to see this moment of kindness in people. In every day New York, everyone is too busy going their own places and doing their own thing but on this one journey this blind couple had scores of people that either tried to point them in the right direction or gave them first right of way for everywhere they went.
It was a touch of humanity that was refreshing to witness… and something I will always remember. If you see anyone in such difficulty at any point of your lives, please do lend a helping hand just like these New Yorkers did that day. Remember how blessed we are for what we have… and help the people who aren’t as fortunate.
Timothy Tiah – Co-Founder of Colony, Kuala Lumpur Co-Working Space