Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: TEXTING (05/18/17)
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TITLE: A Message From Above | Previous Challenge Entry
By JC Hummel
05/25/17 -
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Unfortunately, the initial happiness he experienced as a free man was diminishing and the reality that he was an unemployed, 32-year-old felon, with three dollars in his wallet, started to set in. He was thankful his mom had allowed him to move back in, but he was embarrassed that their only source of income was from her job as a hotel maid. To make matters worse, he had found a stack of medical bills for her hip surgery in a kitchen drawer and he knew there was no way she could pay them.
After his mom left for work, he sat on the living room sofa worrying about the future. He tried to be positive. Having Claire in his life had helped him, and she had called or texted him every day to offer encouragement. Yesterday, they had met for coffee and she told him if he was having a bad day, to speak to God or read the Bible. “Don’t get too discouraged,” she warned him, “just turn to God; he loves you.” Then she helped him put a Bible app on his phone. “Now you have the Bible with you wherever you go,” she said with a smile.
His phone pinged and he quickly checked to see if was a text from Claire.
It was Frank, his old partner in crime.
"Heard you were out. Need to talk pronto."
Kenny didn't want anything to do with him. Then there was another ping and a new message.
"I have a job for you. Nothing difficult just hold some merchandise for me for a couple of weeks and I’ll give you the usual cut."
Kenny looked at the screen upset that Frank had contacted him. His hands were shaking as he typed a reply.
"I can’t. Going straight."
"U wouldn't know how. LOL"
He wanted to tell Frank he was a Christian again, but he dared not.
"My mom is sick. I don’t want to upset her."
"JSYK You could make a lot of money this month. Lots of a business opportunities."
He knew Frank had a point, but he didn't want to commit another crime.
"Let me think about it."
"K. I’ll call soon."
Kenny thought of Claire. Usually she had called him by now. She was supposed to be setting up a time for him to interview at the local hardware store. It would be great to have a job and having money meant he could help pay his mother’s medical bills, but he was in a catch 22 situation and was feeling defeated. He didn't want to steal again, but he didn't know how to do anything else. If he stole he would disappoint his mom and Claire. He wanted to be a better man and earn some self-respect, but he could make more money with Frank on one job then he could working at the hardware store for six months. His mind raced and then he made a decision. If Frank was the first to contact him, he would return to a life of crime. If Claire was first, he wouldn’t.
His phone pinged. His heart leapt and he slowly picked up the phone. It was a text, but it wasn’t from Frank or Claire. It was from the Bible app, BibleCorner. He saw the name Jeremiah and then the numbers 29 11 and he read: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope."
Kenny dropped his phone on the floor, he picked it up and reread the Bible Verse. Tears burned in his eyes.
Then his phone rang. It was Claire. He was breathless and could barely speak. “Hello Claire.”
“Hi Kenny, are you okay?”
“Claire, the most amazing thing just happened.”
*I couldn't get italics to work so I put text messages in inverted commas.
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Anyhow, back to your entry.
I thought this was "well done" and it held my attention all the way throughout the entire piece.
Great job with the topic!
Blessings~
I was very interested to see the notes on italics also - will have to see if I can figure that out as I haven't been able to get my italics right yet.