Peggie on the Road

輪夜班的最後一晚，幾天以來都到天亮才能睡覺，不擅長調適睡眠的我已經累得忍不住放空。

一位先生來到櫃檯要登記入住，遞證件給我時，手上戴著又大又亮的綠寶石戒指。

系統顯示他是賭場貴賓，入住手續很快就完成了，他突然從皮夾抽出一張人民幣百鈔放在我面前，然後迫不及待地往賭場走去。

是給我的小費啊，我愣了一下才回神。前台收到的小費通常是外國旅客花不完的港幣零錢，門邊的行李員對我微微一笑，像是在道恭喜。

黑卡、勞力士、名牌包，這些在貴賓專屬的前台都屢見不鮮，我卻一直記得那只綠寶石戒指，和他遞完小費匆匆離去的身影。

On the last night of my night shift, a gentleman came to front desk to check-in. I couldn’t help but notice the emerald ring on his finger. It was large and bright.

After the procedure was finished, he pulled out a one-hundred yuan bill from his wallet, placed it in front of me, and left in a hurry.

I was shocked. The tips received by front desk agents are normally change left in tourists’ pocket after travelling, and this is just so unusual.

Black cards, Rolex watches, designer handbags—at VIP reception we’ve seen it all. Yet somehow, I always remember that large, bright emerald ring.