Friends--005: Ms. He-- My Wonderful Cleaning Lady

Ms. He, is my cleaning lady, "elder sister" and one of my best friends.

That was an afternoon in 2000, she came into my office and said with many tears that she and her daughter were fired by the companies on same day. As a cleaning lady who has no a good educational background and from the countryside, it would be very difficult for her to find a new job in the city. So, for giving myself a reason that to help her, I said to her that I needed a clean lady in my home and she could be the one if she wanted to do that. So, from then, she became to be my clean lady, meanwhile, I found a reason to pay for her duaghter to learn computer for one year with my own salary...

Ms. He works very hard. She does not only complete the jobs that I asked very well, but also she does many extra jobs that I do not ask. She makes my home clean and comfortable... Do not know when it was from, Ms. He became to be my “majordomo”, she buys things for the home; be in charge to the food in the refrigerator; she manages the home and my things. Sometimes, I have to ask her where is my clothes for summer or winter...

Ms. He also likes to learn something new after her work. She often stands by me to see how I am singing and playing piano or painting. So, I encourage her to learn to paint, play piano and sew. :-) Can you imagine? Now she has had the ability to play a short music and also she often do some sew work as a fun... :-)   She is also my first audience of my song and my first “critic” of my painting. Every time, when I am having my art lesson, it is her to take care of the water, the colors and also to look after the teacher’s tea and so on…
  
Ms. He has a very kind of heart. She is not a rich woman, but, very often, she takes some food and something she thought good for me when she knew that I was in a too busy situation… I often feel she is so kind in my life, just like an "elder sister".   She is also the person who knows some secret in my heart. So, when I took my new car, the first thing I did, was to take her to go to see the sea and Hong Kong that is on the other side. Can you imagine? That was the first time for her to sit in a car.   That is the first time he got a photo by a digital camera. I still remember her smiles on her face today...

I am so happy that the original company -- the newspaper office have invited her back to be a cleaning lady and have bought some insurance for her as well; her dughter has been a clerk in an advertisement company; her son has graduated from high school and is learning driving in her hometown... :-)

I am so lucky that I have a so kind cleaning lady, "elder sister" and a best friend in the city that has a population of 7 millions. I do wish Ms. He and her husband and children health and happy forever...

--Shirley
Written on 12nd.,July, 2005
Edited on Oct 21,2006