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.

happens after knocking for a long

falls asleep in such a

Now that is embarrassing.

weight. And I don’t want to

away would

door of Frances’ room is still

lamp in the study is on, and I

fascinated by something he is reading. He

"Are you hungry, Frances?"

voice breaks the silence.

hides what he is holding in his hands under a pile of documents. "What are you doing in here?

but you can’t hear it." I answer

answer next time." He says after

I enter his room like that. I hand him the noodles after nodding, “This is the night snack I made for you. Eat it while it's still

meaningful smile. "You really think I can’t hear the conversation

I am truly embarrassed. "It was originally for Mr. Louis. but he didn't answer the knock on the

the bowl from my hand, says

the slight complaint, he slowly