Bijlmerplein.
The weather
forecast was right - the sun is shining. Around 20 degrees isn't bad for 20
March, is it?
I lock my
laptop and a bit later, walk towards the exit.
Some
colleagues are walking in front of me and one of them rather stands out.
Mr ING.
He is wearing
a suit and exudes self-confidence.
I like to call
his sort “Mr ING”.
Without men
like him, the bank would cease to exist.
Just imagine
what it would be like if all staff were the same as our Mr ING.
After all, we
can't all be leaders. Someone's got to do the everyday jobs.
Of course,
they do need to be motivated.
Anyway, I walk
outside and wander around aimlessly.
I observe,
therefore I am.
Then I find my
place. I watch the crowds. Eating sandwiches, a packed lunch or a hot snack.
Gathering
energy, everyone in their own way.
People-watching
is fun. Suddenly, a fluorescent curtain catches my eye.
It's moving
and is shaped like a person. An elderly man. He stands out, but everyone seems
to be ignoring him.
Suddenly, a
dark-skinned man on a mobility scooter appears before him.
They are
gesturing towards each other and I observe.
I wonder if
they are homeless? Or something else? Artists maybe?
Oh, they're
just people, I decide.
Paramaribo.
The two say
goodbye and the dark-skinned man rides up to me.
“Lovely sun,
eh?”, he says and then continues “You're not wearing a coat, are you? I
couldn't do that with my muscles.”
“I suppose
you're not used to these temperatures?”
The man
resolutely offers me his hand and while I shake it, I realise that he is
pleased that I understand him.
“My son bought
me a ticket to Paramaribo a while ago.
And you know
what? My muscles felt a whole lot better...”
Kentucky
Fried Chicken.
We chat away
and suddenly he looks past me at KFC.
“Hey man, if
you get me something to eat now, I'll be really happy…”
I let his
remark sink in...
“I haven't got
any dough man!”, I answer entirely truthfully, “But our mental contact was
really nourishing, wasn't it?”
The man grins
from ear to ear and I say goodbye to a fine person. A couple of minutes later,
I walk into the office.
I suddenly
notice a person in front of me. It's Mr. ING.
Back from his lunch
break.
I'd never seen
this man before today, and now I've seen him twice!
And I was
lucky enough to meet some other people in between.
Isn't that
nice?
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