I say I will call her Grandma Ho or Po Po Ho. She is 75 years old. Out of respect.
I ran into her while having my lunch at a vegan stall lately. She always eat there.
I came to know that she works as a cleaning lady. She cleans restrooms - office toilets. She is thin, frail and walk with a hunch but with steady firm steps. Grandma Ho has been washing toilets for ten years.
From 6 am in the morning, she left her house, took a bus and reach the office towers, did her duty and home at 6 pm. Everyday from Monday to Saturday.
Her husband passed away of age and she is childless. Lived in a one room rental flat all by herself.
Her weekdays are time spent on watching TV, chinese and korean dramas. Her weekends are spent on walking around the street and having meals at the coffeeshop.
Recently I ran into her again. And asked her how she is. She said "I quitted my job". Why Grandma Ho?
"Well my supervisor has been unfairly treating me. A day ago i requested for half day to do an errand and I was called back. And after I arrived, instead of apologies, I received a glare and unhappy snap from him."
It happens. I couldn't sleep the whole night out of anger. Sometimes he is fine, sometimes he is just snapping at me. For five years, I have been working and even when I am sick, I came to work. I took only 7 medical leave days out of the five years. "
I sense her devotion to her work. Ten years have become a routine for her. I sense her anguish and her sadness as her eyes went red when she stammered her words. I gave her a hug and offer to bring her to coffee. " I will be fine" she said, " I will live day to day".
Any savings? I probed further. "Little.."
Then she went off. I stood there, startled, surprise, angry. I walked following her but later having to run an errand , I went off to another direction. Not feeling as good, I decided to trace her to find out where she is going. I feel I have more to say to her. More to say to encourage her.
What I saw in the next instance, broke my heart to BITS. I saw her standing alone at the office tower where she works. A tiny figure at a corner, watching the office people throd by. Ladies in powdered make-up, richly dressed with accessories, men in professional suits and ties.
She just stood there. I took a detour from level 2 and went down to level 1.
" Ho Po Po, why are you standing here...??"
" No, I am just waiting to get back to work." Her reply just put me into tears.
" when I quit, I will return this badge and I will keep this pulley." She said in chinese. My eyes turn red.
The badge pulley is so old and tattered but it mean't so much to her.
I gave her a big hug. Got her name , got her number. Ask for who her supervisor is.
I continue to talk with her until she is ready to go back to work. I shared with her that I understand her as I came across such threats and bully in my working life and most time such oppression left us weak and helpless.
After the conversation ended, I pulled out my mobile, grabbed the tower management office number and started pouring out this story. The lady at the reception listened at my rattering away at her plight and I started to hear her voice break. I managed to reach the field manager in person.
I asked that Grandma Ho be reinstated. I asked that the management will give recognition, not bully or manipulation. I asked that mutual respect be given. I asked that they should visit her at the working place - the toilets when she spent her most time of her life working in. I stated her devotion at work. And I ask that this issue be looked into. A devoted worker do not deserve such treatment. In fact, she ought to be given a ten year award.
This is a social issue that stemmed out of a turbulence, modernised world at this. Paradigm shift..moral shift..
The weak cant reach up to the authorities, needless to say someone who has lack of intellect or language capability to speak back or seek help. She is not english literate and little chinese except dialect.
Such oppression act should be stemmed and replaced by righteousness.
Can you help too? Do a bit to stem out any bully or manipulation in any where you witness? It'll all adds up.
Can you pray for Grandma Ho that all be well?
Thank you
