Tea And Sympathy

(I work at the international office at my university. New student check-in at the beginning of the fall semester is always the most strenuous time of the year for us. By mid-day my throat is getting pretty painful and dry from speaking to new students and I am just feeling terrible all-around when a girl comes by with her friend.)

Me: *automatically* “Hi, new student?”

Girl: “No, I just had a question. But first, this is for you.” *she holds out a large iced-tea* “I see you working here every time I come by your office for candy.”

(She smiled and left after another coworker answered her question. I don’t know if she realized just how much she helped me that day and how grateful I was.)