"Excuse me," he waved to the waiter. The waiter arrived at our table. "I1cottage cheese, but this is the mushroom." The waiter returned with a(n) 2smile on his face and said, "I'm sorry sir. I3took the order for the mushroom." "Then change it immediately," I said angrily. I had4my professor, who had retired as CEO of a billion-dollar multinational corporation, to lunch at the 5 restaurant. The waiter smiled awkwardly. I 6 to begin the "do-you-know-who-he-is" dialogue. But my professor was quicker. He said, "It's alright. Just don't7 me for both dishes," and laughed. "No, sir. Sorry, sir. Thank you, sir,” the waiter said and the8and gratefulness were written all over his face.
"Why did you do that, sir?" I asked, 9. "It's his duty to change your dish," I said. "See how crowded the restaurant is? It's a(n) 10 noon. Vernon," my professor said. "Changing my order would mean more11for him and the chef. Maybe the waiter is 12. He probably would get a warning from the manager for this 13. Why put them through all this 14? This mushroom isn't bad."
When the bill arrived, my professor 15 paying it. He even left a big tip. When we walked out, he smiled at the waiter, who 16 so low that I thought he'd break his back. My professor also smiled and17 the doorman when he thanked us for visiting.
Here was my professor, Mr. Smith, being sympathetic to people below his18, and treating them like friends. "The true measure of a man is19he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good," said Samuel Johnson. I'll follow my professor's20and try my best to do the same.
