"Stay calm in a crisis!"

Wise words from a son who missed the bus, got lost, walked the better part of 5km home, got hugged by a stranger and yes, who stayed calm through it all.

Isaac, so tired after CCAs, took the bus home (bus number 153) and fell asleep. He missed the stop, (which was supposed to be just after the CTE, at Braddell Heights) and went all the way to the fringes of Hougang (just after the Tampines Road/Kovan junction) before he woke up and realised what had happened. He dropped off at the bus-stop near those food stalls that sold durians and the famous Ponggol Nasi Lemak. So it was quite a distance to walk!

The boy got off the bus, but didn't have a phone (long story here) and all polite requests to strangers to use their phones were refused. I'm pretty indignant here because we've taught him to ask nicely on the belief that most would help a lost, young boy, well at least I would, but looks like my faith in Singaporeans are a bit misplaced.

So since he could not call, he decided to walk home. Luckily he had been paying attention everytime we drove to Aunty Rita's house. He recognised the Tampines Road junction and trudged on. It was a straight road down to all the way to Serangoon Central and there was nothing for it but to walk. Down he went, past Kovan, past the Helping Hand, past the OCBC Bank, past the famous 711 durian stall and on.

Somewhere near the Boundary Road junction, a man pounced on him and grabbed from the back in a shoulder-lock and mumbled something in dialect. Now I would have just screamed my lungs out. Or struggled or kicked hard where it matters. But my son just said politely, in his inimitable way, remaining still, "Er excuse me. Could you please let go of me?" He said he had to repeat it a few times before the man decided to let him go. Clearly, he told me, that man was not quite right in the head, but gut feel said he didn't mean any harm.

I was horrified. Yes the man should be in a mental hospital for grabbing young boys on the street. But I was also impressed by the boy's calm. When I asked him why he didn't shout for help, he said, "What's the point of screaming and shouting? Better to remain calm in a crisis!" This from a boy who always hems and haws whenever we ask him to ask for extra ketchup at the McDonalds counter!

Finally, the man let him go. Once released, off he went again, past Serangoon Central, past Serangoon MRT, under my mom's apartment block. It never occured to him to stop and ask Mama or Grandad for help - he said he was so near already he might as well just continue walking home. So he did. Tired and sweaty after walking so far. Quite an adventure.

I'm just so glad he made it. In one piece!