Be What's Missing
Where was the cashier (收银员)? Impatient, I quickly looked at my watch. I 1 had enough time to eat a sandwich and rush back to work.
I looked 2 the almost empty restaurant, but the cashier was nowhere in sight. A woman stood wiping (擦) the far end of the counter. She looked at me with sad cold eyes.
I 3 , getting angry. I' d been standing there for at least three minutes!
Controlling 4 , I remembered Mom' s words. " Whenever you find yourself in an 5 situation, just think about what is missing. If someone is unkind, then kindness is missing. If someone is hateful, then 6 is missing. If we will be what' s missing, then we' ll provide whatever the situation needs."
And here I was in an unpleasant situation. 7 should I " be what' s missing" ? What was missing was 8 . Maybe I should just jump behind the counter and take my own order.
Just then the woman walked slowly towards me. " May I help you?" she asked, still 9 . She looked so tired. No doubt, she was overworked.
I took a deep breath. With Mom' s words ringing in my head, I gave the woman my order ... and 10 . " How are you today?"
My question seemed to 11 her. She eyed me for a second before answering. " Not too good."
" I' m sorry." I said. " I hope it gets better starting right now."
She almost smiled 12 she looked at me. " Thanks. I hope you' re right."
I thought to myself when I ate my 13 . We' re all the same, really. We have problems and angers, we get tired and we hurt. We need to be 14 to each other.
After 15 , I wiped the table cleaner than usual, and put the tray (托盘) back nicely on the stand. The woman was watching me, a big smile on her face.
" Be what' s missing." It worked.
