Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: STIR (11/12/15)
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TITLE: A Life Changing Outing. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Danielle King
11/19/15 -
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“An interesting thing to consider when noting the attack of an espresso, is whether you stir it with a spoon, or not.” I glanced at the speaker. “With an unstirred espresso, there can be quite distinct layers.”
Hmm, purists seeking the quintessential coffee preparation…
Neither appeared perturbed by the said aggressive beverage basking in its swirling foam glory, but I decided my chamomile tea was a far safer option.
I mused over the change in societies’ penchants and expectations over recent years. Tea leaves, for one. And the tea pot, a receptacle with a spout for pouring out the leafy infusion. Oh, for a strong mashing of PG Tips, served up in a blue stripy mug and stirred with two spoonsful of sugar- white, eek! Nowadays, folk dunk a bag over the edge of a carton. A sanitised brew, lest a delinquent leaf escape to, ‘spoil the experience.’
I swiftly abandoned all notion of dangerous coffee. My thoughts, now swamped in black loose leaf tea, took me back to my former work place and my, um… rather interesting colleagues.
Suzy worked hard and lived hard. Bit loose in the scruples department maybe, but she was honest, and a lot of fun. Suzy read tea-leaves. I had known her a while before I realised how seriously her ‘customers’ viewed this practice. Sporadically, at meal breaks, she would disappear into the rest-room with a string of cup clutching disciples on her heels.
What went on in there I have no idea. I was not invited to participate. But these were my work mates, my friends. We enjoyed a great working relationship. And yes, they morphed into fervent horoscope freaks each morning too, discussing the details at length, whilst I persisted in believing that the distraction was nothing more than a bit of silliness to punctuate a long, tiring shift.
The day Suzy and three others requested an annual leave day to visit a coastal resort seemed innocuous enough. Jenny, the new girl invited me to join them.
“No way!” Suzy cut in. “She’s a bit erm… religious.” Never before had the notion of being barred from Blackpool beach on account of my faith occurred to me. I laughed at the idea. Suzy was such a clown, and apart from that, someone had to stay behind to run the show.
“Off you go girls,” I said. “Have a great time.” I imagined this was, at the very worst, a boozy pub crawl.
The morning following the away day confirmed my hunches when all four turned up for work looking decidedly unwholesome. I sensed this may not be the moment to ask if they’d had a good time, but what the heck, a bit of playful ribbing never goes amiss. Or does it?
It was a few days later when I learned the full facts, after three of them succumbed to sick leave, and the fourth, the bright, bubbly and energetic Suzy emerged from her inertia with a personality transplant.
“Suzy, can I ask what’s troubling you?” I dared to ask. “What happened to you on the outing?” She maintained eye contact with me for the first time since the day.
“Mel,” she started, “I’m so scared. I need help. You know that God bothering thing you do…”
She got there eventually. It took time, patience and lots of prayer. Bless her; she remains the same lively, inquisitive old Suzy, but now channels her zest and energy into a more productive pursuit, and accepts it was God she was looking for all along.
I glanced around the coffee shop. It seemed there were far more deadly things to stir up than the inoffensive espresso.
Tonight, Suzy will be giving a talk to a youth group on the very real and ever present danger of Ouija boards and séances.
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