A Most Important Question

Once our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I reached the last one. 

“What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark haired in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count for our quiz grade. 

“Absoluetly” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello.” 

I have never forgotten that lesson....