Your perception or theirs?
Yinyin was a young but experienced waitress in a small restaurant. Taking customers’ orders, delivering foods and drinks… were her everyday job. Her passion for her job made her the friendliest waitress in the restaurant.
One evening, a married couple with their 8-year-old son came to the restaurant. The man was handsome and proud, his woman an elegant beauty. But the boy, even though he was very well dressed, he looked timid and lifeless in the eyes. They were brought to their table and yinyin began to take their orders.
Having taken the parents’ orders, Yinyin turned to the little boy and waited for him to order. The little child hesitated, glanced several times at his parents, then turned to Yinyin. Yinyin smiled and gave him an encouraging nod. The boy hesitated again, but finally he had gathered enough courage, so he said,” I want a chicken burger with…”
“NO BURGERS!!” snapped his parents suddenly, in such unison as if they had practiced everyday. “It is not good for your health!… oh miss, please give him a plate of spaghetti, salad and orange juice. No suger please.”
Yinyin remained smiling, still looking at the boy, and waited patiently for the mother to finish talking. Then, ignoring the woman, Yinyin asked the disappointed boy who was now resting on his seat like a punctured balloon. “Tomato or chilli sauce for your burger? Do you want cheese? what about some french fries?”
The boy almost jumped off his seat. He was so surprised. He couldn’t care more for his parents. “Yes please give me cheese, and tomato sauce, thank you! Thank you!” Tears rolled down his cheek. He was so happy.
The parents were speechless. But the boy was excited. “See? She noticed me! She listened to me!” “She thinks that I am important!”
********************************************************************************
You will be parents someday ( or already are ). Don’t trade your children’s dignity for anything at all. A person doesn’t live if he’s lost his self-respect.
