My futsal shoes needed fixing yesterday. Making a quick dive out during my late lunch, I drove along Jalan Ipoh trying to look for a cobbler and was thankful as it didn't take me long to find one right outside one of the many wedding gown shops in the area.
Securing a parking spot right in front of the stall, I took the shoes to the Pakcik at the stall, who looked no younger than 60 years old. The usual show of shoe and explanation occurred, and Pakcik said that he'd be closing at about 3:00pm. It was then 2:20pm. Needing the shoes that same night for my regular Monday game, I decided to wait. Pakcik told me to sit down in the brown plastic chair right next to him, and we sort of started a casual conversation.
I asked him what his business hours were like, and he told me that he usually operated from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Figuring that he probably had other obligations after 3, such as picking up grandchildren etc, I further clarified if the case was such. He then explained that usually after 3, the sun starts shining into the corridor, and it usually gets too scorching and hot for him to bear. Watching him struggle a little with the sewing of my soles, I was overcome with sympathy, recalling that Pakcik was sitting there doing nothing, merely waiting for customers before my arrival. The six pairs of shoes that he had at his stall were all fixed and ready to be picked up.
This Pakcik had a very kind smile. As he worked, he also told me that he used to stay in the shop lot above the wedding gown one, but recently moved to Chow Kit area. I inquired as to why he had to have his stall all the way at Jalan Ipoh and he said that competition was great in Chow Kit. I was curious as to how he got to work daily, and he explained that he took a public bus. He did not need to lug his tools around daily, as he leaves them by the stairway leading up to his old residence.
Sitting around for the next 15 minutes, I thought about how difficult life must be for Pakcik to make a living. Each day, he would just sit there waiting in the hopes that someone's shoe requires fixing. On days of crazy weather (like how it's been recently), he might just not be able to keep his services available. As I watched Pakcik work, I realized how blessed I was, and how I had life so easy. Sure enough, I was far from being a billionaire, but I was blessed with a proper education, a good family and a comfortably challenging career path. Despite all the uncertainty that Pakcik deals with daily, you could tell from his smile that Pakcik was contented, and his sincere smile said it all.
As he finished up, I paid Pakcik and told him to keep the change. Happily receiving the money, I again saw the same glimmer of hope that I noticed when he first received me to his stall. As the saying goes,
"Life lies not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well." - Josh Billings
And this day, Pakcik showed me just that.
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