Bad Luck, Great experience

"Thud!!!", the distinctive sound of the car striking something reverberated throughout the vehicle. Well, I was making use of my family car now that they are on holiday for the first time, and how could I possibly be so unlucky that the car will have one of its tire on my first time out since taking over the car from my parents? Unfortunately, I turned out to be gravely mistaken, for indeed lady luck was not smiling on me this day. Fortunately though, I learned more about owning a car, about Singaporeans both good and bad, and a little about myself.

It was not immediately obvious though, for the car seemed to drive without any problems all the way from my home to YCK where I was going to play Squash with Louis. Still feeling a bit uneasy, I surveyed my car's front tires, for I immediately assume it would be the front tires would be the ones being punctured. Having found nothing wrong with them and assuming that it's the usual paranoid me worrying over nothing again, I proceeded on to both run and play squash, getting myself both hot and sweaty (Don't have any sick ideas here) without a shower for it was closed, since it was getting late already. Another sign that my luck has gone into exile.

Not that I cared, as I drove to Serangoon gardens to top up my empty stomach. It was only when parking there that I noticed that the car seems to be lower as it ended up striking the kerb which it usually doesn't. Upon closer examination, my worst fears were confirmed. Indeed there had been puncture on one of the rear tires and miraculously I have driven from Woodlands all the way there without ending up on a tragedy. All my appetite was gone as I was filled with worry. With so many petrol kiosk around, I was bound to find help right? Wrong.

Surprisingly, no one in the petrol kiosks seem to know how to fix the spare tire back on. Given it was late already, but one cannot help but be amazed that no one there seemed to have an idea how to fix a spare tire. Maybe it should be mandatory training for all petrol kiosks staff, who may have the opportunity to help some clueless youngster like yours truly when the time comes for them to be that unlucky. Perhaps taxi drivers can help? They are mostly experienced drivers right? Wrong yet again. When I approached one at Mobil to help however, he simply dismissed me with a sneer and asking why can't I see he's busy. I sincerely hope he is busy or that he had a bad day, or my impression of Singaporeans is going to take a nosedive. Signal panic mode and more sweat from my overworked pores.

What irked me even more though, is when Louis reminded me that I was supposedly a petrolhead. A petrolhead who is stuck far far away from home with a car that has a punctured tire and no way to fix it. How thoroughly embarrassing! Furthermore my father actually taught me many years before. All this just adds up to the emotional storm which is making me feel very, very miserable.

And when all hope seems to be lost and I am already planning to limp all the way back to Woodlands, my knight on a white steed appeared. Or rather a gentleman in a white lorry who was going to get pampers for his child. This gentleman though, bless his heart, took time to teach me how to fix on a spare tire. He went to great lengths to instruct me in the fine skill that is fixing on a spare tire while insisting that I took a hands on approach, so that I would be able to help myself if I ever find myself the same predicament again. Just like a certain wise sage teaching a man to fish instead of fishing for him. All this without asking anything from me. Ah I get this warm fuzzy feeling knowing that Good Samitarians can still be found among Singaporeans. Thank you again Mr Yee.

What it was rotten luck for my tire to be punctured just out of your house, it was indeed a valuble experience for a new driver, as I appear to be the one fortunate enough for something like that happen to me early so I would be ready in the future. Indeed I pity those who go through their whole lifes without something like that happen to them and thus were at a lost despite being an experienced driver. I cannot wait for someone's car to puncture so that I would be there to help and pass on what I have learned this evening (hopefully a pretty damesel-in-distress). As an added bonus, I learned you can never stereotype anyone, as Singaporeans despite being called selfish, there are in fact a lot of kind hearted people around for those in need.

Chow Yun Fat in a movie once told his screen son that lest a male knows how to fix a tire, he is not yet a man. Tonight I am glad to say that I have made this transition into manhood.

Quote of the day

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards."

- Vernon Sanders Law