It was me who hit you. chapter 2

While they were ordering, I noticed that the old lady took off the bundle on her back. Instead of putting it on the chair beside her, she just glanced at the chair and then placed the bundle on her lap, holding it tightly with both hands.

The middle – aged woman immediately noticed this. She scanned the lobby and then stood up and walked straight towards a row of high – stools by the wall, which were specially prepared for children. I was very puzzled: it was just a bundle, why did she need a special stool for it? But the hotel’s principle is to provide excellent service as long as the customers have needs. So I quickly rushed over and helped the middle – aged woman carry the stool over.

Sure enough, the old lady was very satisfied with the stool. She stood up, carefully placed the bundle on the stool, then stepped back and adjusted the stool from all sides before sitting back down. I thought the old lady’s expression was very strange, but seeing her serious face, I didn’t dare to ask.

The middle – aged woman ordered three dishes and a soup, which were quickly served. She pushed all the dishes towards the old lady, and while eating, she kept asking the old lady if the food tasted good and if the rice was soft enough. Seeing that they started to eat, I stepped aside as usual, ready to serve them at any time.

That’s when things happened!

A customer walked past me towards the private room at the end of the lobby. I knew him. His name was Mr. Johnson. He was a rich boss. Usually, he always showed off his wealth and walked with a swagger, as if he needed to take up half of the passage. Even our manager was afraid of him, let alone us waiters. I greeted him carefully, “Mr. Johnson, hello!” But he acted as if he didn’t see me and didn’t even respond. To be honest, I really disliked his attitude, so I just lowered my head and waited for him to pass. Just then, I heard a loud noise. Mr. Johnson started shouting, “Who put this stool here? It’s like a stray dog blocking the way!” It turned out that he was walking so arrogantly that his hand holding the phone hit the back of the high – stool where the old lady put the bundle. The phone flew out of his hand and landed right in the soup bowl in front of the old lady.

The middle – aged woman quickly stood up and kept saying, “Sorry, so sorry!” The old lady fished the phone out of the soup bowl, wiped it on her clothes, and then handed it to Mr. Johnson, saying, “Sir, sorry, it was me who put the stool. I’ve dried it for you. Please check if it still works.”

Mr. Johnson snatched the phone and angrily shouted at the old lady, “Do you think it’s a worthless rock from the mountains? How can it work like this? You have to pay for it!” As he said, he kicked the stool viciously.

The old lady trembled and immediately rushed to protect the bundle on the stool, crying out, “Don’t touch it. This is… this is my son!”

“Son?” I was shocked.

The middle – aged woman stepped in front of Mr. Johnson and said, “Sir, please don’t be so unreasonable. Listen to me.”

“Unreasonable? Who started this? Who are you calling sir?” Mr. Johnson’s voice was even louder.

The middle – aged woman’s face darkened and she said, “You have to listen!” Mr. Johnson was intimidated by her stern tone.

The other customers gathered around. The middle – aged woman introduced herself as a staff officer in a U.S. military unit on the border. She said that one of their company commanders had recently sacrificed heroically in a battle against overseas terrorists. This old lady was the mother of the heroic company commander. The noble – minded old lady didn’t make any requests to the military after she came. She just hoped to take her son’s ashes back to their hometown for burial. Along the way, the old lady wrapped the urn with a cloth. She said that she had carried her son on her back since he was a child, and this last time, she had to carry him back home by herself.

The female staff officer’s words were very moving. I almost shed tears. But Mr. Johnson sneered and said, “I’ve heard such old – fashioned stories many times. Who knows if it’s true or false? Anyway, you have to pay for my phone!”

Is this something a human being would say? I thought angrily. You, Mr. Johnson, are usually so arrogant. But what you said today is really too much!

The female staff officer glared at him and said, “Don’t you dare to insult our soldiers! Tell me, how much is your phone? I’ll pay for it!”