Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Empty and Full (06/04/09)
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TITLE: The Sandwich | Previous Challenge Entry
By Delores McCarter
06/08/09 -
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He purchased a foot long sandwich special and returned to his car. He set his lunch on top of the car and fished out his car keys. As he unlocked his car, a homeless man walked up to him.
“Sir, I am hungry. Do you have a dollar?” The stranger asked.
“Sorry, I don’t have any money left.” Sam said, opening the car door. He thought about the man’s situation. Maybe he just needed a break. He opened the plastic bag and took out half the sandwich and set it on the passenger seat. Then he handed the bag to the homeless man.
“Here is the other half of my sandwich.” He said and handed to him. The man just stared at him.
“I don’t want this! I want money!” He growled, throwing the bag on the ground.
“You said you were hungry. That’s all I have.” Samuel shook his head and started his car. Jonathan England walked behind the grouchy homeless man as the bag hit the ground. He grabbed the bag so fast; the homeless man didn’t see him.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Jonathan waved toward the car as Sam pulled out of the parking space.
“At least someone appreciated it.” Sam said. He waved back at Jonathan and drove off. The elderly homeless man looked at Jonathan up and down with disgust. The younger man didn’t appear to be homeless. The elderly man assumed this guy was probably one of those recently laid-off people. They were were bad for his business.
“You’re still going to eat that sandwich after I threw it on the ground?” The man asked.
“The only thing that hit the ground was the bag.” Jonathan said.
“Whatever. You can have it.” He waved him off and continued his panhandling.
That guy may not understand the value of a free meal, but I sure do. Jonathan thought to himself. He had three back-to-back job interviews that day and missed the free lunch at the mission. Now he was down to three dollars. He wasn’t too proud to eat that sandwich. He went inside and purchased a bottle of water.
By the time Jonathan sat down, his stomach was growling. It was five hours since breakfast. He opened the bag and removed the inner wrapper. The tuna fish sandwich was stuffed with tuna and veggies inside soft wheat bread. Also in the bag was a small bag of chips and a cookie.
He finished the sandwich but was too full to eat the rest of it. He tossed the wrapper in the trash can and walked to the bus stop. He had to get to the next job interview and he couldn’t be late.
He arrived fifteen minutes early and was sent to wait in the conference room. He didn’t want to carry his bag of snacks inside, but he didn’t dare throw the food out. He just placed the bag in the chair beside him. Five minutes later, Mr. Matthews, the CEO of the company entered the conference room and greeted him with a smile.
“Jonathan, I am very impressed with your resume.” Mr. Mathews said.
“Thank you.”
Mr. Matthews noticed Jonathan’s deli bag.
“Looks like we both had a sandwich for lunch.”
“It was very tasty.”
“My favorite is the tuna fish.”
“That is exactly what I had. I was so full, I couldn’t finish the . . .”
“. . .cookie and chips.” Mr. Matthews laughed, patting his full stomach.
Jonathan was even more grateful for that sandwich.
“Let me cut right to the chase. We want you to join our team. We can offer an IT position today starting at thirty-five thousand a year with the usual health and dental benefits. When could you start?”
“I can be here tomorrow.”
“Great. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning at nine.”
“Thank you so much!” Jonathan stood to his feet and shook Mr. Matthew’s hand.
As Jonathan left the interview, he prayed a quick prayer. "Jesus, I thank you for my new job and thank you for that sandwich!"
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