Doing the right thing / Getting things into perspective....

On Friday morning, I grabbed 100 RMB (a tenner) for my lunch / a Starbucks and rushed out of my apartment.

Sat at my desk, a colleague we refer to (affectionately) as 'The Terrorist' came to me. He's so-called because he is very much 'middle east' and - frankly - looks like a stereo-typical terrorist, which he plays up to with his black suit, black shirt & black tie..."don't get on a plane with me" he says, and happily points out he often finds the seat next to him empty. He does look sinister (scary) although actually has a heart of gold (I'm told)...

He asked what I'd done during the recent national holiday here in China, and I talked about my brief trip home, toothache, blah blah blah...

Asked the same question, he took a deep breath & said "well, my wife and I shared something special...."

At this point, I should point out that they were expecting twins, and his wife was 7 months pregnant with two girls.

He added "...we lost the twins..."

After a short pause, mutual intake of breath and me muttering a swear word followed by an apology (not for the word), he added, "....yes....as she was 7 months gone, she had to go through the birth, induced. We held the twins together, and we buried them together..."

I'm not sure whose eyes were full the most, but we embraced, both waved a gesture that meant "neither of us can say anything else" , and telegraphically motioned we should sit back down, not needing to say anything else - not that either of us was capable of doing so.

At lunchtime, he'd made it obvious he was working through, alone, and I walked briskly to a flower market close to my apartment. I wanted two flowers. Finding two lovely items in glass pots, I asked how much - "100 RMB" was the answer and, for sure, just the opening offer. With that exact amount in my pocket, it seemed inappropriate to barter (the woman was staggered when I handed it over immediately) and I walked sharply back.

He wasn't sat at his desk when I arrived back at the office, so I just placed them by his laptop, and as I walked away, I he saw me as he returned from the kitchen.

Sat at my desk, and resuming work, a note popped up on my screen, using the office communicator system we have. In the little box it said "Thanks pal....but please don't turn around and look at me...."

We both carried on working, albeit with our vision momentarily blurred....