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.

nothing happens after knocking for a long

asleep in

Now that is embarrassing.

And I don’t want to eat anything too spicy to upset my

it away would be

Frances’ room is still open, so

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

the desk and has his back to me. He seems to be fascinated by something he is reading. He is so intrigued that he can’t even hear the knock on the door, let alone not noticing me coming

"Are you hungry, Frances?"

my voice breaks the silence.

hides what he is holding in his hands under a pile of documents. "What are you doing in here? Don't you know you should knock on

you can’t hear it." I

unless I answer next time." He says

also know it is my fault that I enter his room like that. I hand him the noodles after nodding, “This is the

Frances has a meaningful smile. "You really think I can’t hear

Mr. Louis. but he didn't answer the knock on

hand, says while frowning. "Only Mr. Louis can

the slight complaint,