Maid by Ming

"Oh Mark I can't believe this." Sarah Marks Mother said as she looked at the damage her 18 year old boy did to her car. I trusted you and this is how you repay me?" Sarah was close to tears, she was angry and frustrated with Mark. Her son was her only child and she had raised him alone and she loved him dearly. Mark took after his Father in that he was barely five feet tall, he had been a sickly child and Sarah had started him in school late, and now Mark was developing "little man syndrome". He had always been such a sweet boy, but since he started his new school he was becoming more and more of a problem. Sarah knew Mark had been speeding to impress the other boys in the car with him, he lost control and spun into a guard rail. She was grateful he was not hurt or worse killed and now she had to decide what to do about her son. Mark was not acting tough now, he really looked sorry for what he had done and Sarah knew there was still hope she could reclaim her sweet child. She had been discussing Mark with her new coworkers, many of whom were Asian women and some of the solutions they proposed for Mark were, to say the least unconventional...... "Mom I'm sorry," Mark said with his head down, "I really am." "I believe you Marky," she had not called him that for a few years, but in light of what she had planned for him it seemed more appropriate. "The thing is honey I feel you need to be taught a lesson here. Now if we put this through insurance it will push our rates through the roof, so here is the deal. I will get the car fixed, for now your driving privileges are revoked and you must get a job to pay me back. does that sound fair?" "Um yes, but Mom when do I get to drive again?" Mark asked, his blue eyes looking earnestly at her through his tangled blonde hair. "When you pay me back and re earn my trust my dear child, this is tough love sweetie. Now I have a friend at work named Ming, I was just speaking to her not long ago and she is willing to give you a job for as long as you need it. Now I expect you to take the job and do EVERYTHING that Ming tells you is that clear Marky?" "Y yes I guess Mom, but why are you calling me Marky again?" "Because I should never have stopped darling," Sarah reached out and tried to fix the tangled mess Marks hair was in, his shoulder length blonde hair was pretty when combed, if only he would let her cut his bangs........ "Mom" Marky said in a whiny voice and Sarah reluctantly withdrew her hand, she wished Marky would let her fuss over him like he used to, she thought about the long conversation she had just had with Ming, her best friend at work. Ming owned a small upscale cafe that her son ran for her and she said Ling needed extra staff and that it would be a great place for Marky to earn money and learn about responsibility. Ming was a no nonsense lady and she asked Sarah if she could take a personal hand in seeing Marky learned the ropes. "I am a hands on type of lady" She had told Sarah. "I'll see to it your boy learns to respect you." Sarah had agreed to let Ming have a go at teaching Marky about responsibility, she had to admit that she was not a disciplinarian and maybe Marky needed a firmer hand at the wheel so to speak. Sarah trusted Ming enough to let Marky go to the cafe, Ming asked Sarah to give her and Ling a day with Marky and then she would go to the cafe that evening to see the result. School was over for the year so Marky could start tomorrow first thing. "Tomorrow morning I am taking you to your new job, for now go to your room while I sort this out and get supper." Sarah had her car picked up and towed off to the body shop and arranged for a rental car and ordered Chinese food for them for supper. Sarah was in a good mood and Marky seemed to be more relaxed now. "What kind of job is it Mom?" "It's an upscale cafe honey, you will be waiting tables and getting good tips I imagine." "That doesn't sound so bad," Marky said as he munched his eggrole. The next morning Sarah dropped Marky off at the cafe's back entrance as Ming had requested, "Do I need to wear any thing special?" he had asked her. She told him, "No sweetie Ming has a uniform there for you, all you will need" she said, "Oh cool," he replied. Sarah waited till the door opened and Ming looked out and waved at her and smiled, Sarah waved back at them and drove off to work, grateful that Ming had taken a day off to school her son. Marky looked up at Ming who stood 9 inches taller than he did. "Hello Marky, I am Ming." She held out her hand and Marky took it and was surprised at her strength. "We have a very big day ahead of us," she reached out and traced her finger over his bangs, "Yes I can see we have a bit of work to do, come along dear." She took Marky by the hand and led him inside closing the door.