There are two kinds of people

To my children

I heard there was a new used bookstore open in Koreatown. I had a book I wanted to buy so I went. I asked the clerk if they had the book, “Blindness.” A lady who was there to sell the books turned around and said, “I sold that book here yesterday.”

I said to her, “I wish we could have the direct transaction.” I told the clerk I wanted to purchase that book. He checked the computer and advised me they did not have it. I advised him that the lady sold it yesterday and they should have it. He said maybe it was not ready to be sold.

I told him I came a long way from the valley to buy that book and asked him to look for it. He hesitated and did not seem to care. An employee walking by us heard our conversation. He went behind the counter and brought the book. It was almost new.

I felt there was a certain destiny for a book, too. If I got there 5 minutes late, the lady who said she sold the book the day before would be gone. When the clerk said they did not have the book, I would have turned around and gone home without any question.

There are two kinds of people. The clerk who told me they did not have the book was an employee who just did his job. Since it was not available on the computer, they did not have it. The one who went out of his way and brought me the book had his eyes and ears wide open and was willing to help. One employee can change the image of the company.