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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Fulfillment (04/06/06)
Fulfillment


Jan ran as fast as she could but it still happened. Once again, another boat had pulled away before she could get to its mooring place on the dock. “It’s just not fair,” she shouted to no one in particular. “Every time I see a boat headed for my destination something keeps me from getting on it. It’s just not fair!”

The distinctive sound of a ship’s horn sounded further down the dock and Jan turned with a slight gleam of hope in her eyes. Maybe she hadn’t missed her chance to get to her destination after all. Maybe if she just reached down deep and found a second wind she could make still make it. Taking a deep breath and reaching within what was left of her resources, Jan began jogging toward the speck of a boat she could barely make out in the late afternoon fog that had begun to roll in. Maybe there was one last boat left with her name on it.

“Help!”

“No,” Jan said to herself. “That’s not going to work this time.”

Once again that monosyllable sound of distress came her way. “Help!”

Now more at a fast walk than a run, she looked toward the sound and stopped. A young woman, no older than eighteen, lay in the grass a few feet away from the dock. Her eyes were puffy and it was obvious something terrible had happened to her.

Jan looked toward the boat, now plainly visible, and then back at the woman. With a sigh she left the dock and walked over to her and knelt down.

“What’s a matter honey?” The motherly and kind sound of her voice worked like a soothing balm on the battered woman. The fear that had lined her face gave way to gratefulness that someone had heard her cry and stopped.

“Thank you for stopping. No one else would. They’re all too busy trying to catch that boat over there. “

Jan looked back at the boat, not wanting to admit how desperately she too wanted to keep running until she was on that boat as well. But somehow she was always stopping to help someone while others happily boarded those great boats that carried their occupants to their wonderful destinations.

She lifted the woman up with gentle arms and wiped the tears from her eyes. A kind word and a hug and the woman said she was ready to head to her parents house. There she knew she would find acceptance and care. “I just needed someone to stop long enough to help me up. Now I can go on. Thank you.”

Jan smiled and watched the girl head off toward town. Her smile quickly transformed into a frown as one prolonged wail of the ship’s horn and then silence told her what she dared not admit. Finally gaining the courage to look, her eyes confirmed what her ears had already told her. The last ship to her destination was away from the dock and would soon be out of site.

Weary of the whole thing she plopped down on the dock and buried her head in her hands. Foot steps behind her caught her attention and she looked up. A kind looking man in a sailor’s hat knelt beside her.

“What’s wrong missy?”

“The last boat to my destination has left. I’ll never get there.”

“And where was it you was trying so all fired hard to get to?”

Jan stood up and gazed toward the dwindling outline of the boat. “Fulfillment,” she sighed. “Guess I’ll never get there now.”

The man laughed softly and put a hand on her shoulder. “Missy, I’ve lived by these docks longer than anyone knows. Those boats don’t go to Fulfillment. Why those people that just rushed by that girl will be right back where they started in the morning running the whole scene over again. You see Missy you don’t need one of those boats to get where you’re headed. Why, you’re already there.”

Jan’s perplexed look said it all.

“Missy, you was there every time you stopped to help someone else. Why only a few will ever get to where you already are. Welcome to Fulfillment.”

The old man pointed toward the woman Jan had stopped to say a kind word to. Jan followed his pointing hand and smiled. Now she understood. Fulfillment is not a destination; it’s a journey.
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This article has been read 1186 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Helen Paynter
04/13/06
Interesting piece. I like the last line especially. I think you gave the game away a bit by talking about 'her destination'. Perhaps you could just make that a bit more obscure, and increase the surprise factor. Nice stuff
Lynda Schultz 
04/13/06
Clever twist to the theme. Helen's smarter than I am - I didn't catch on until almost the end. Actually, I thought you were doing a modern version of the Good Samaritan. Either way, it is a job well done.
Alexandra Wilkin
04/14/06
Interesting... and clever twist too. God bless.
Jan Ackerson
04/14/06
You have the old man telling her that fulfillment is not a destination, but he also says that she is already there. A little wrinkle to smooth out, perhaps? But I really liked this analogy a great deal; I thought you revealed just enough along the way, leading up to the "aha!"
Marilyn Schnepp 
04/14/06
This story has great potential, but needs a good deal of editing; sight instead of site, doubled up words, etc. "Fine" for the Challenge, but when honed and perfected - could make it into publication as a First Rate story.
Ann Darcy
04/18/06
Thanks for sharing this. You did a wonderful job. Helen mentioned saying something about her destination; I agree that would have helped the surprise factor. I really, really liked this, and I agree with Marilyn on what she said, as well.