Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: PROCRASTINATE (08/04/16)
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TITLE: That Day | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terry Bovinet
08/11/16 -
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Jim’s anal-retentive nature ardently refused to allow him to procrastinate at any task or appear late for any commitment – until that day. Long held up as the standard for punctuality, no one associated with Jim could recall any instance in which he had arrived on the back side of the scheduled hour. No one. Not any occasion. Ever.
After his second year in college, a trip to a travel magazine example of paradise reinforced his attitude. This island ran on its own time. Its only television station never started any show promptly. The half-hour news program came the closest; the broadcast scheduled for 6 p.m. usually ran 5 or 10 minutes past the appointed hour. Shows (typically four or five-year-old reruns from the United States or England) would not air until 15 minutes or more after the listing in the television guide.
Jim mockingly called the schedule a “suggestion.”
He flew there to visit a friend who knowingly lived by the island’s time. In the baggage claim area, Jim stood frustrated and impatiently alone after other passengers had hugged those who waited for them, grabbed their suitcases, and happily left for tropical adventures.
“My mom called right before I left,” his friend shared to appease Jim after he finally arrived. “But, I promise you incredible experiences for the next four weeks.”
How could one remain upset with temperate weather and gorgeous beaches in the offing? His friend set the tone for the month, however, with several tardy arrivals to Jim’s villa for plans – some of which they missed.
Even on his 28th and last day, Jim’s friend arrived 45 minutes late to take him to the airport - 45 exasperating minutes. At long last and with tires screeching, he offered, “I couldn’t find my car keys!” as an apology with a charming smile and healthy laugh.
“Let’s scram or I’ll miss my flight!” Jim yelled as he pushed his luggage in the trunk and slammed his car door shut.
Jim started his third year of college in a class with one of the senior faculty members. Dr. Wesley required punctuality and assigned a monitor to keep track of any student who arrived late.
“Every minute late costs you a point,” Dr. Wesley announced as the penalty for tardiness. Jim lost points in that class, but not from sheepishly opening the closed classroom door and quietly tiptoeing to a seat.
The combination of Jim’s island frustrations and Dr. Wesley’s oversight of the door further convinced Jim of the absolute rightness of timeliness. And he lived what he believed – until that day.
That year, Jim met his soulmate. Angie checked off all the standards Jim constructed in his mind for a woman to marry - personality, intellect, compassion, appearance. He would lovingly stare at her, often to her discomfort, while incredibly grateful she had accepted his awkward invitation after an evening class they shared.
“Um, well, um, you wouldn’t want to go out for pizza with me, would you?”
That day, Jim showed up late – to a party. His family and friends fretfully wondered and even nervously worried about what may have gone wrong. Of all days, that day should not have snapped an unbroken string of years and years of on time appearances.
That day, although already late, Jim stared yet again into Angie’s eyes and lingered for one more moment just between the two of them. He slowly exhaled . . . and joyfully escorted his bride of one hour into a celebration with waiting guests who totally understood his procrastination and loudly cheered their new life together.
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