Nothing is more miserable than offering seats to the elderly on the bus. Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not a stingy person, and I’m always willing to give up my seat for someone in need. But it is still a tough task to me.
The misery begins from that day. I was sitting on a bus, and the bus stopped at a bus stop. An old woman got on. I realized that there was no empty seat left, so I stood up and intended to give her my seat. But just then the old woman said, “Oh, you want to offer me your seat? How generous! But I’ll soon get off. No need to mind me, little girl, keep your seat!” I obeyed her. She continued to speak, “Such good manners! Teenagers nowadays won’t consider much the elderly. This little girl is quite unusual.” The other passengers whispered in agreement, “Right, quite unusual… nice child… well-brought-up…polite…”
My face turned red. I was ashamed of being praised for something I didn’t do. I didn’t deserve any of such praise. At last I decided, since that moment on I must offer my seat, no matter what he or she says.
Some weeks later, I was travelling by bus, and was sitting. Suddenly I saw an old woman standing near me. I started to leave, meaning to give her my seat. The old woman refused, “No, thank you, young lady. I have enough strength to stand here. It’s all right, stay in your seat.” I was frozen for a moment. After that I remembered my idea, so I ignored her words, left the seat and stepped aside. To my surprise the old woman became angry. “Young lady,” she said, “you don’t believe in what I told you? You think I’m old and weak and I need everyone to look after? No! I-CAN-MANAGE-TO-STAND-HERE, I tell you! Don’t look down on me!” My cheeks burnt. A horrible silence fell onto the bus. Stingingly horrible silence.
What’s the matter with the elderly? They seem to hate having a seat, and both trying to offer them a seat and really offering them a seat only give me suffering! I then planned not to offer my seat to the elderly anymore.
Therefore the next day, I was sitting on a crowded bus and when I saw a few old men and old women standing in the aisle, I did nothing. Then when a young man who was sitting with me pressed the bell and got up, I heard one of the old men scolded, “Great work! You finally think of offering your seat! So kind!” He was talking to that young man, but probably me and other young men who were sitting as well. For the third time my face went red.
I was wrong once more! Those elderly people don’t like to sit while these elderly people like to sit… Is it impossible to know what they want? I kept punishing myself for the painful experience. All of a sudden, I figured out a way, “Why am I so stupid? What I should do is simply ask them ‘Would you like to have a seat?’ and that’s the answer!”
The next time I discovered an elderly man standing in the bus, I tapped his shoulder and asked him if he wanted to take my seat. He replied, “No. No, thank you. I’m fine standing here.” I nodded and sank back into the chair peacefully. An easy method, and I don’t have to worry about offering my seat. I was released from the nightmare… Fifteen minutes passed, the old man was standing there, staggering with the bus’s movement. My plan had missed out one thing: the Chinese traditional virtue! The old man declined my offer because he didn’t want to bother me.
I was puzzled. Some of the elderly people refuse to have my seat as they don’t have this need, but some are in need. And some take offence when no one gives them a seat… It is a confusing miserable problem, a headache. Whether I give them a seat or not, whether I ask them or not, the problem can’t be eased.
I had to run away from this trouble. For a long time, I stood on the bus and avoided sitting, except when the bus was almost empty. In that way, I would never have to risk offering seats to the elderly.
One day, I went to see the oculist by bus. After getting on the bus, I looked around carefully, and sat down in the end. Unexpectedly, after two or three stops, I found that the bus was full of people. And shockingly, I saw an old woman stuck in the bunch of people. Struggling for 0.012 seconds, I escaped from my seat. The old woman gave me a thankful glance and sat down.
Although offering seats to the elderly on a bus is the most miserable thing I have ever known, it is not a bad thing after all. It is a tough task to me, but I can feel warmth from it.