Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Make Hay While the Sun Shines" (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (03/06/08)
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TITLE: Make a Promise | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Shell
03/13/08 -
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“Jenna, Sally just died,” she whispered, then hung up.
Jenna lay awake the rest of the night, thinking about her neighbor, the grandmother of her best friend Kelli, and the kindest person she had ever known. Sally was the one who had exercised more patience than Jenna would ever know, allowing herself and Kelli to use her kitchen as an experimental cookie lab.
It had been two years since Kelli had moved away. Jenna had promised to stop in and visit. Then, six months ago, Sally was admitted to the local nursing home. Jenna had stopped by to see her off, with another empty promise of a visit one day. She vividly recalled the conversation with a pang of guilt.
“Jenna, come by and visit. I miss you like you were my own granddaughter.” Sally had meant that. Jenna knew Kelli hadn’t been in since Christmas, now with a baby on the way.
Jenna remembered her sincere intentions as she replied, “I’ll stop by as often as I can. Maybe I’ll bring you a batch of cookies.”
Sally had laughed as she thought of the way the girls had finally perfected their chocolate chip cookies, after years of perfect messes.
Throughout the day, a series of memories played over in Jenna’s mind of days spent in Sally’s kitchen, evenings in her living room watching old movies, and summers in her garden. Those long forgotten days seemed like only yesterday.
As she drove home from work that morning, she passed the entrance to Country Manor, as she did every day. She felt the need to drive up the hill, but now it was too late. A surge of regret pulsed through her body. How could she not keep a promise? How did she let so much time pass without a call, a visit, or even a card? Of course, she had been busy, but how much time does it take?
By Tuesday evening, the family had gathered at Sally’s house. Jenna felt unworthy of the welcome she received when she entered the home she had practically lived in years ago. Kelli’s reddened, swollen eyes revealed her pain as she ran to Jenna, throwing her arms around her. Words seemed insufficient.
“There’s something you should have,” Kelli finally said. “I found some things today in the table beside Grandma’s bed. I thought you would want these.”
Jenna had forgotten the Bible stories Sally used to read to them when they were little girls. There was a picture of all three of them playing dress-up. On the back, Sally had written “Queen Esther.” As Jenna looked through the other things, she found that Sally had kept pictures and notes of those special moments. She never realized how much they had meant to Sally, and now to her. If only she had visited later on, they could have shared those memories together, not found them tucked away in a drawer.
Jenna made herself a promise that she would keep. Sally was gone, It was too late. But there were others she loved, others who needed to be reminded that someone cares and remembers. Life is fragile, and too short. It often ends with stories left untold and deeds undone. She determined to write that letter, make that call, send a card, say a prayer for someone today.
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Laury
PM me if you'd like some suggestions on a couple of areas where you could tighten up this piece.
You have a good story-telling style.