Soulparking

Sunday, 31 May 2015

I stood patiently in line and acted like I was minding my own business.  But I snuck a sideways glance just like the picture on the HSBC ATM machine showing the guy trying to steal a PIN number.  But I wasn’t stealing a PIN number, I wanted to see how far down the totem pole I was – when I saw the elderly lady checking her balance. 

The screen read 3450 HKD in her savings. 

Then I felt someone standing behind me watching me looking and I turned quickly.  Then the person in front of me shuffled their feet and I heard the ATM count out it’s bills.  Then the drawer opened and the white guy in the business suit scooped up the bills and shoved them into his wallet.

Then like slow motion, the ATM card slowly peeked out of its slot.  Then the white business man yanked it out of the slot and it was my turn.

I stood as close to the ATM machine trying to hide any views of balance.  Not like I was afraid of being robbed but it was the opposite.  I didn’t want them to see what I didn’t have.

I put in the card and jammed down the numbers for my PIN.  Then it asked me if I would like to see my balance or withdraw. 

I first tried to simply withdraw money.  I went to savings and typed in 100 HKD.

It read on the screen, Maximum Withdrawal Exceeded, printed out a copy of my shame and spit out my card. 

Then I heard the people behind me let out an impatient breath when I stuck my ATM card back in.

I chose balance and looked at my Savings.  Then it showed, 16 HKD.  It seemed to stay on the screen forever before it went back to the main screen.  Then I chose checking.  It showed it 90 HKD.

I then transferred 16 HKD from my saving to my checking and withdrew 100.  I heard the ATM machine count my one bill.  When it came out of the drawer, I snatched it out quickly and humiliated left the air conditioned HSBC ATM room. 

Outside, I hailed a cab to take me to Airport Express.  I had to catch a flight to Japan and told myself I had five hours to figure out how to get from Narita to my serviced apartment on no money.

—

Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean I began thinking about my three lives.  One in Hong Kong, one in Cebu, and one in Tokyo.  All Maximum Withdrawal Exceeded.