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The Stamped Memory

William Chen

"Long time no see! My friend! I think you forgot me already!" When Kevin met me, he got so excited. "Kevin, I need your help! I'm struggling with the stamps these days." Then, I told him the whole story. "My friend, you should tell me this as early as possible. Yes, we had HongKong & Macau return Celebrating stamps before, but, it was in year 2009. I am not sure if the Shanghai Post Office still has it. " He continued: "Your client is also mine. I will go to General Office to check for you. But, please keep patience. It will take time to trace it." "Yes, I understand! I will wait for you calling me."

Might I get those stamps for Ms. Pat? If she can get them, what's the expression she will have? These two questions are always lingering in my mind. Except that, nothing I could do during waiting. I tried not to call Kevin, giving him plenty of time to look for those stamps. However, two weeks passed I still had no news. "Maybe, Kevin is busy, too. Or maybe I should not give him the hard time at all." So I was attended to fond fare well to Ms. Pat three days later when she leaves our hotel and tell her I tried my best.

Nothing would make me happier, when this hopeless case turned into truth. The day before Ms. Pat leaving, I got phone call from Kevin. "My friend, I've got a bad news and a good new for you." "What are they?" I asked. "The bad news is my colleague checked the storage list, there is no spare one. The good news is our leader got these stamps before. I persuaded him to leave them for your guest!" "How did you make it happen?!" I got so surprised. "Because I told him that you are the one, who saved our courier envelope months ago now wants to help his client." Kevin said, "After listening, my lead immediately made decision to give away his own stamps."

I could not say anything to Kevin! "Thank You" this word is totally not enough to express my appreciation to him! "William, don't worry, I will pass it to you when I am on duty tomorrow." Kevin said. But, tomorrow, Ms. Pat would have leave the hotel before Kevin got on duty. Of course I could tell her I got stamps and I could pass them upon her next arrival. But, I won't stop on this; I would like give her big surprise on her leaving. A bravely idea came to my mind at once "Kevin, I do not how to express my appreciation to you! You are my friend! But, Kevin, my client will leave hotel tomorrow morning, and I know it is 8 o'clock in the evening; can you go with me to your leader's home to get those stamps? I know it is very late…" "Sure! At any time you want!" Kevin answered. So I broke away my regular duty, getting together with Kevin and forwarding to his leader's home…

On the date, Ms. Pat is leaving hotel, I met her in the lobby. I approached to her with a shopping bag. "Good Morning, Ms. Pat, you have something forgot." I told her. "Hey! William I am so glad you are here!" Ms. Pat was so surprised I am in the hotel in morning for yesterday, she saw me is still working at counter as afternoon shift. "Yes, I am coming just to say good bye to you." I tried to keep the voice in calm. "Oh, thank you William, you are so kind! But, did you just say I have something left in hotel? What's that, if it is not very important, can you keep it for me? Therefore, I will be back next month." Ms. Pat said. I took out an Album from the shopping bag. It is the one with red cover and gilded background. I opened it, showing the contents to her. There are four stamps designed into one tablet by HongKong & Macau Post Offices. That the 10th year university of Macau Return. Besides that, there are other stamps designed from HongKong & Macau to celebrate in-coming Shanghai World Expo, plus there are series memory coins in side!

When Ms. Pat was looking at these, she opened her mouth and eyes widely. "William, I've never thought I can get these stamps! Even, they are in this so beautiful album!" Ms. Pat was nearly going cry. "William you made it happens! Thank you so much for everything you did for me!" Ms. Pat said, "The Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel is really my lucky place! Then, where else I should stay?!" She stretched her arms, giving me her strongest hug!

Watching Ms. Pat take the limousine leaving from our hotel, I had another idea in my mind…

Perhaps, Ms. Pat would felt so guilty to me. When she got back US office, she shared this album with her colleague. One of them was taking big interesting on that. He asked her if she could bring him the same one on next business trip.

Ms. Pat this time came to me and asked with the lightest voice: "William, I am so sorry, I should not ask this… you see… I shared the album with my colleague. One of them wants the same one. If you can get it or if you can not… it doesn't matter."

"Yes, Ms. Pat, let me try it…" my voice is still peaceful.

On next day in evening, when Ms. Pat came back her room from out side, she found there was an album in red cover and gilded background, laying on her table quietly..

Yes, this is the idea I got! I anticipated that Ms. Pat would share the album with others. Somebody must ask her for the same one for it is so beautiful. After Ms. Leaving, I called Kevin and adjured him to look for another one. In whole week, Kevin and his colleague turned into "dust men", fighting for this album in their storage room. Finally, they found it, which is missed recoding!

主办单位

中国日报上海分社


上海旅游行业协会饭店业分会


上海国际金钥匙协会

投稿要求

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