By Yang Quan

May 1st, 2006, the International Labor Day. Early in the morning, I had my breakfast in a hurry and took on the light rail train crowded with tourists heading for Dalian------I had overtime work this day.

At first I planned to accompany my wife and son to go to the Forest Zoo to enjoy ourselves. I didn’t want to have overtime job during the vocation of May Day. I hoped to have a relaxed and happy holiday with my family but things went contrary to my wishes. The oil tanker planned to arrive at Dalian for loading on about April 23rd, but unluckily it reached Dalian Harbor at the night of April 30th for something delayed. The following working procedure was: On May 1st, pulled the tanker in the morning, in the afternoon loaded the tanker and the loading finished at middle night of May 2nd. The oil tanker left Dalian Babor in the morning of May 3rd. It seemed I had to have a “labor day” out and out.

As soon as I reached my office, I contacted with relevant departments for pulling in and loading. My fellows were having overtime job but they all rushed and bustled about without any complaint. Having call a dozen of phone I had finally prepared for the tanker’s pulling in. At half past twelve, the oil tanker moored to the dock safely and prepare to vent ballasting water. At that time, other fellows having overtime job in this office building left from home in succession, but I couldn’t leave because I would guild commodity inspectors to the tanker for cabin inspection.　　

At last everything was Ok. When I looked up, the sun was falling down and then I had just realized that I had had a busy and substantial Labor Day in my company. I uttered a sigh of relief, went up to the window and everything came to the fore in me. I was wondering “what is my wife doing now? Doing some washing? Or wiping the floor? ” . My son might ask his mother unhappily, “When will Dad be back and play together with me?” My grandmother is 97 years old and she loves me dearly. In Chengdu, my classmates were gathering together after 17 years from graduation. This homecoming had been prepared for more than half a year. I had answered to take part in. But now I have just missed the opportunity and felt very regretful.

For the sake of work, I missed opportunities to stay with my family and to talk about the past with my friends but I felt very happy. I have done what I should do and have taken on my responsibility.

Comparing with experienced hardship in labor, I have gained more happiness and accomplishment in labor. I think I have had a unforgettable Labor Day.