MY GUTS INSIDE OUT

I was a having a great day in Sydney, blue skies, warm day and everything was going my way. Until this couple in front of me tried to display their tricks of the trade. It was an Aussie girl and Asian boy, trying their luck at pickpocketing a Japanese girl's schoolbag, right under my nose. Instinctively, I semi-shouted, " Hey, Hey!" amidst all the noise as we were crossing George Street in Chinatown. I realised 5 secs later what I had got myself into.

She turned around and gave me THE look, telling me to mind my own business and keep walking. Now that she's got me started, I lugged myself (with both hands full of grocery bags) towards the 2 targeted Japanese girls, trying to keep up with them. I was only hoping to deter the predators.

But neither of us were giving up.

The Aussie pickpocketer came up next to me, repeatedly warning me to get lost and mind my own business. After a 100 metre walk, the Japanase girls who were busy chatting, finally noticed me. I said Hi and they thought I was just being friendly.

The pickpocketer got so pissed at me she whispered in my ear:
Don't you dare say anything to them. If you don't f***ing keep walking, I am going to f***ing STAB you!

By this point, adrenaline was pumping well through my system, and I was starting to feel freaked out. I continued to walk with the Japanese girls, trying to hint to them that her bag was open but they just could not understand my body language. In fact, they thought I was just being friendly! Desperate to get the message out to them, I stupidly said something in Mandarin. Ineffective obviously. Duh.

The devil on my left side said:
Stop being an idiot! Keep walking if not you'll be dragged into some dark corner and beaten up !

The angel on my right side said:
Don't let these criminals get their way. Foil their plan! Besides they're just teenagers, they won't dare to do anything to you.

In the end, this pickpocketting couple got so caught up with trying to get rid of me, they didn't realise the Japanese girls had gone into a building. They were both harrassing and threatening me now, and one of them decided to call for help to get rid of me. I had stopped in my tracks by this time and also picked up my phone trying to call the police. I was scared shitless and ended up calling my husband.

The couple realised I wasn't going to let them off and decided to chase after the Japanese girls. I decided not to follow them into the building lest I got ambushed.

Paranoid by now, I kept watching my back as I walked to my car. And then to make a police report at Central Station. Hopefully, the time lag while they were hassling me, gave the Japanese girls an opportunity to slip away from these predators.

Ironically, the Aussie girl had a tattoo on the back of her neck, Chinese character "Xing" (4th sound) or trust. Little does she realise it's a dead give-away because I gave the police a very detailed description of her, especially this tattoo.

I've had a few bad runs in Sydney recently. Hmm...better watch my back now.