Shengliver’s Note: Yingjie, author of the entry, and Junjie are classmates. They are bosom friends too. In this entry you will read about their Sunday experiences, which illustrate the value of patience.

Last week, Junjie and I planned to go and hang around at Sifangshan Botanical Garden on Sunday. After comparing notes, we agreed to meet each other at 8 in the morning at the bus stop by the school.

When I got home after school on Saturday afternoon, the first thing I should have done was get my homework finished. Mother announced, however, that we would be attending a family dinner party at my aunt’s. Therefore, we had to ride a bus there. A lavish dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousins lasted until 7.30 pm. Then my mother, my sister and I came back home. I asked my mother if I could watch TV for an hour. She generously gave me a go-ahead. After TV, I got down to my homework. All assignments sorted out, it was already 10.30. Quickly I washed and retired.

I set my alarm for 6.30 am. Unfortunately, it might have failed to go off when the hour came the next morning. Or probably I did not hear it for I had been sleeping soundly the night through. Waking up, I sensed that something had gone terribly wrong. All of a sudden, the trip to the Botanical Garden sprang back to my mind. I checked the timepiece and it was already 7.30. Instantly I went to the bathroom, where I had my hair washed and done. After a swift wash and brush I rushed to the bus stop without breakfast. It was already 8.15.

Junjie was not at the bus shelter. My worst fear was fulfilled. She might have come and left since I had not made it on time. I thought she might come back again after some time. So I stood at the stop waiting for her. My waiting lasted until 8.30, but she was nowhere to be found. In the end, I had no choice but to head back home alone. The trip was thus aborted.

Yesterday evening back in the classroom, Junjie asked me where I had been at the agreed time. I poured everything out. Then she explained that she left the bus shelter at 8.13 when she did not find me there. But she did return to check me out at 8.32 am after shopping for some snacks at a store nearby. Still, there was no trace of me, after which she had to give up.

Oh, what luck! A short span of 2 minutes should have made such a make-or-break difference to our Sunday. If only either of us had had 2 more minutes’ worth of patience.