Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Every Dark Cloud has a Silver Lining" (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (02/28/08)
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TITLE: Right Time, Wrong Place | Previous Challenge Entry
By Angela M. Baker-Bridge
03/06/08 -
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Entering their room, she smiled as she watched sunbeams peaking through the window blind framing their angelic faces. “Good morning princesses! Time to get up… your school clothes are on your beanbags. Let’s see who gets dressed first, you or Mommy.”
Dressing for work, Megan heard the girls scrambling to beat her. They had no idea how much joy they gave her. Megan had no idea how much grief she was about to receive.
As Megan walked down the administration-building hall, see saw three assistants at the coffee station. Spotting her, they lowered their voices, but Megan heard, “Meg’s going to flip-out.”
Just then, her boss popped out of his office. “Morning Megan. Please get settled then come into my office.”
“Right away sir,” she smiled while nodding her head. As Mr. Jenkins disappeared, her forehead creased, her smile vanished. She breathed deeply while putting down her things, straightened her clothes, and ran her hand through her hair. “It can’t be that bad,” she whispered.
“Thanks for coming right in, Megan. I didn’t want you to hear this from anyone else. Here’s the thing… well… there’s been a complaint by an employee about your schedule. HR informed me you must work the same hours as everyone else, 8-5.”
“But Mr. Jenkins, I come in at 9:00 then work the switchboard during lunch, which is eight hours. So I’m working the same number of hours as everyone.”
“I understand. When you first proposed the idea, I concurred because it solved your problem and mine. However, because the policy is 8-5, you must start coming in earlier. HR will assign a work-study student to the switchboard.”
Tears flowed down Megan’s cheeks. “But then I won’t be home when the girls get-up. Plus I’ll have to sit around for an hour while they’re in school. I can’t do that. You know how important it is to me to be home in the morning, and to pray with them before they leave.”
“I know, and I’m genuinely sorry Meg.”
She stood-up and walked to the window, wiping her streaking make-up. “They’re only six years old and going through so much already. I can’t do this to them. I can’t, and I won’t. For crying-out-loud, I’ve worked this schedule over a year, why the beef now?”
Mr. Jenkins shook his head and raised his hands. “Don’t know, but if you don’t comply, I’ll have to let you go. I hate to run, but I’ve got a meeting.”
“Oh yeah, the VP’s Strategy Session… the green folder has the agenda, President’s proposal, and your proposal.”
Megan gulped as her boss walked out of his office; she lingered behind. Slowly she looked around the office. “I cannot believe this. After all I've done for Jenkins, for this college.” Closing her eyes, she prayed softly. “Lord, what should I do?” Immediately she knew.*
Sitting at Mr. Jenkins’s desk, Megan wrote her resignation letter, tears flowing, hands trembling, her chest tightening. She slipped the letter into an envelope, placing it on Mr. Jenkins’s chair. Putting on her jacket, she collected her things, and went home.
She cried for two weeks, not sleeping, gorging on ice cream, pacing each time Mr. Jenkins called.
“Mr. Jenkins, I can’t back down. It’s principle, family first.”
“Megan, I cannot risk my job defending you, plus HR sent me an inexperienced assistant.”
Megan’s dream job was gone forever. She stood on her decision, trusting God.
During her third week of unemployment, the phone rang. It was the college president’s office. He wanted to talk to her about her actions. “Lord, please help me!” she uttered, as she dressed for the meeting.
Twisting her hands, uneasy in the president’s office, she waited while he was on the telephone.
“Sorry for the interruption, Megan. I’m sure you know everyone’s talking about what you did. You’re a woman of conviction and I admire that. How would you like to work for me? You can make your own hours, be as flexible as needed, and even work from home when the girls are sick.”
Megan couldn’t believe her ears. A promotion! Smiling for the first time in weeks, she didn’t know who to thank first, the Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft,** or God who rescued her from her enemies.
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*“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:8 (NIV)
**Former Governor and Attorney General John Ashcroft’s father
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If I were to red ink it, I'd say that the plot itself isn't as compelling as it might be--a lost job, and a fairly predictable ending.
Your dialogue was particularly well-written.
Great reminder for us to stand up for what we believe.