My mom takes great pride in her job as a hotel maid. One day, she was assigned to clean room 256, where a wealthy guest named Ms. Johnson treated her with open disrespect. She deliberately spilled coffee, mocked her, and called her slow. Although clearly hurt, my mom remained calm and professional throughout.
That evening, she came home and shared what had happened. I could see the quiet determination in her eyes, even though she spoke softly about the experience.
The next day, my mom returned to clean the same room. She noticed that Ms. Johnson had left her laptop open and politely asked if it could be moved. In response, Ms. Johnson continued to insult her. When the hotel manager stopped by to check on things, Ms. Johnson complained again, criticizing my mom unfairly. Thankfully, the manager stood up for her and left after reassuring her of his support.
After he left, my mom decided to make a subtle point. She placed a harmless but smelly item under the bed—not something damaging, just enough to make the room uncomfortable.
The following day, Ms. Johnson was upset about the unpleasant odor and demanded a new room. My mom later removed the item and cleaned the space thoroughly. But the story didn’t end there.
When a courier brought an important delivery for Ms. Johnson—including her dress and plane tickets for an event—my mom noticed it and quietly tucked the package behind others at the front desk. It wasn’t hidden permanently, just not placed in plain sight.
Ms. Johnson eventually received the package, but only after making several calls and panicking. By the time she got it, it was too late. Her tickets were no longer valid, and she missed her event. Frustrated, she slammed her door.
My mom, without raising her voice or breaking any rules, had made her point. With quiet strength and dignity, she reminded Ms. Johnson—and perhaps others—that every person deserves respect, no matter their job.