Where was the cashier (收银员)? I looked at my watch impatiently. I ________ had enough time to eat a sandwich and rush back to work.

I looked ________ the restaurant, but the cashier was nowhere in sight.

I waited, getting angry. I’d been standing there for at least ten minutes! But I tried to control my anger, ________ I remembered Mom’s words “Whenever you find ________ in an unpleasant situation, just think about ________ is missing. If someone is unkind, then kindness is missing. If someone is hateful, ________ is missing. If we have the right one that is missing, then we’ll improve the situation.”

Later, a woman walked ________ towards me. “May I help you?” she asked. She looked so _________. No doubt, she was overworked.

I took a deep breath. With Mom’s words ringing in my head, I gave the woman my order and asked, “How are you today?”

My question seemed to ________ her. She eyed me for a second before answering my question.

“Not too good,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I hope it gets better—starting right now.”

She looked at me and smiled, “Thanks. I hope you are right.”

I thought to myself as I ate my sandwich. We’re all the same, really. We have problems and anger, we get tired, and we get ________. We need to be nicer to each other.