I was 15 when I walked into McCauley’s Bookstore in Ashland.As I was looking at titles(标题)on the shelves, the man behind the counter(柜台), 1 , asked if I’d like 2 .I needed to start 3 for college, so I said yes.I 4 after school and during summers for the lowest wages(薪金), and the job helped 5 my freshman(or first)year of college.I would work many other jobs:I made coffee in the Students’ Union during college, I was a hotel maid(or waitress)and 6 made maps for the U.S.Forest Service.But selling books was one of the most satisfying(令人满意的).
One day a woman asked me for books on cancer.She seemed fearful(or much afraid).I showed her almost 7 we had at that time in store and found other books we could order(定货).She left the store less 8 .I’ve always remembered the 9 I felt in having helped her.
Years later, as a 10 in Los Angeles, I heard about an immigrant(移民)child who was born 11 his fingers connected(or joined together), web-like.His family could not afford(or pay for)a corrective(矫正;整形)operation, and the boy lived in 12 , hiding his hand in his pocket.
I 13 my boss to let me do the story.After my story was broadcast, a doctor and a nurse called, offering to perform the 14 for free.
I visited the boy in the recovery(康复)room soon after the operation.The first thing he did was to hold up his 15 hand and say,“Thank you.”I felt a sense(感觉)of 16 .
In the past, while I was 17 , I always sensed(or felt)I was working for the customers(顾客), not the store.Today it’s the 18 .NBC News pays my salary(工资), 19 I feel as if I work for the 20 , helping them make sense of(or find the meaning of)the world.