Reader 01
The Missed Order
Maya worked at a small printing shop near a busy shopping center. On Monday morning, a customer came to pick up 200 flyers for a restaurant event. The flyers were supposed to be ready by 9:00 a.m., but no one had printed them.
Maya checked the order sheet and realized that the customer had clearly explained the deadline. When he asked what happened, Maya did not blame anyone. She said, “I’m sorry. We dropped the ball on this order, and I understand why you’re upset.”
A few minutes later, Maya’s coworker Ben came from the back room. He looked embarrassed and said, “I thought it was already taken care of.”
Maya replied, “That’s how things slip through the cracks.” Then she turned to the customer and said, “We can print the flyers now and deliver them to your restaurant by noon. We want to make this right.”
The customer sighed. “I appreciate you fixing it, but this put me in a difficult position.”
Maya nodded. She understood that their mistake had created a serious problem for him.
VOCABULARY
Write the words or expressions from the story that are new to you or that you want to review.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share your thoughts. Use details from the story to support your answers.
What does Ben’s explanation suggest about how the shop handles orders? How does Maya’s response support your interpretation?
Why might the customer still be dissatisfied even after Maya offers to print and deliver the flyers? Consider the difference between the original deadline and her proposed solution.
What do Maya’s words and actions reveal about how she takes responsibility? Does the ending suggest that the problem is fully resolved? Explain.
LISTEN
Listen to the recording and respond in complete sentences.
What did the speaker say?
Do you agree or disagree with the speaker? Why?
