The Man Who Listened Well

I was a consultant who came to do some work for his company. He was a doctor, the head of a clinic, and very busy. But whenever I went to talk to him, he would stop whatever he was doing. He would see me and smile, a smile that was in his eyes as well. As if of all the people in the world he was most glad to see me standing there. Without saying a word, he would motion for me to have a seat in his most comfortable chair, and turn his chair to face me. Then he would smile again, that smile, bow his head, and wait for me to speak, with the fingertips of his hands pressed together in front of him, absolutely still.