In My Desperate Time

"Old Mr. Louis, are you asleep?"

I knock on his door at nine o'clock in the evening,

"Not yet. What's the matter?"

I hear his loud voice, and then the door opens from the inside.

"I just want to ask if you are in the mood for some night snack. I can cook some noodles or dumplings for you." I smile kindly at him, trying not to make myself look different than usual.

The old man shakes his head and says, "I don't like those food. You can make hot and sour noodles for me. Make sure the taste isn’t too blend."

I don’t expect him to be someone who likes spicy food. But making a bowl of hot and sour noodles doesn’t beat me.

"Okay. Wait for a second. It'll be ready soon."

I nod and leave the room immediately.

This is one step closer to please Mr. Louis.

Twenty minutes later, I bring the noodles upstairs and knock on the door again.

knocking for a

in such a short

Now that is embarrassing.

anything at night to lose weight. And I don’t want to eat anything too spicy to

it away would be

door of Frances’ room is

lamp in the study is on, and I walk in with the

by something he is reading. He is so intrigued that

"Are you hungry, Frances?"

jumps when my voice breaks the silence.

in here? Don't you know you should

but you can’t hear it."

come in unless I answer next time." He

his room like that. I hand him the noodles after nodding, “This

really think I can’t hear the conversation you had with my

for Mr. Louis. but he didn't answer the knock on the door. I assume he is asleep, so I brought it to you." I tell

anything, Frances takes the bowl from my hand, says while frowning. "Only Mr.

the slight complaint, he