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

falls asleep in such

Now that is embarrassing.

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

throwing it away would be a

the door of Frances’ room is still open, so I knock

the study is on, and I walk

me. He seems to be fascinated by something he is reading. He is so intrigued that he can’t even

"Are you hungry, Frances?"

my voice

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

knocked, but you can’t hear it." I

come in unless I answer next time." He

him the noodles after nodding, “This is the night snack I made for

me?" Frances has a meaningful smile. "You really think I can’t hear the conversation you had

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

bowl from my hand, says while

complaint, he slowly starts