Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Actions Speak Louder than Words" (without using the actual phrase). (02/21/08)
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TITLE: The New Tenant | Previous Challenge Entry
By D. Phenes
02/26/08 -
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Earl was a quiet man and spoke when he needed too. He moved into the Huntington Apartment building about 6 months ago. The moving van pulled up and unloaded his sparse belongings. He had sold most of his belongings when he had moved closer to his daughter. This was just the beginning of the excitement surrounding the NEW TENANT.
"Did you see the shabby looking couch they brought in Betty?" asked Susan.
"Why I heard that they delivered an old beat up table too?" replied Betty with a question for her answer. "I am a bit disturbed that they are allowing such riff raff here. It's gonna be called the Junkyard Apartments before you know it!" declared Betty. She was quite proud that she had figured this fella out right from the beginning. What would they do without her around here?
"Well, I better get some laundry done." thought Earl "I hope I do not have to talk to anyone." he hoped. As Earl put his clothes and detergent into the washer; he realized he was being watched. There in the door way stood a lady around his age with her hand on her hip. As he turned and caught her looking, she put on a plastic smile and spoke.
"Guess everyone is trying to use this laundry room tonight." exclaimed the lady. Then she continued to talk and talk, not allowing Earl to speak. Earl was grateful that he could not speak at this time. She turned on her dryer and bustled out of the room talking all the way. She did not realize that she had not introduced herself, but she felt as if the NEW TENANT was rude not to even say Hello.
Later that week, Betty decided she would give Lynn a call. "This is Betty. Have you noticed the flowerbed out front?"
"Yes, of course it’s right outside my window." replied Lynn.
"Someone has been in them and plucked all the weeds." declared Betty. "Who would have done that without telling me, I mean us." Betty corrected herself."
Lynn looked out her window and reported to Betty. "It looks nice. With this rain, the weeds have been growing."
"Humph.." Betty grumbled. Things did not happen without her knowing.
As the neighbors gathered, they discussed the NEW TENANT and shared their opinions of who he was. "I think he’s rude." stated Susan telling of her visit with the NEW TENANT in the laundry room.
"He does smile." commented another follower.
"You never know what’s behind that smile." Betty declared. She knew who was trouble and there was nothing good about him.
Earl chuckled as he listened to the chatter of his neighbors. He could hear them through his door. "It's too bad about the new tenant. Wait, I am the new tenant." suddenly Earl thought. "Lord, you know me and I am a good neighbor. I even picked weeds the other day. Help me to show them who I am.”
The next day there was a carnation at each door, with a note saying "Blessings, from your neighbor," Why there was never such a buzz in the building. Who would have and why did they? The flowers had brightened their day and conversations.
As Betty left her apartment a lady came up to her and asked "Could you help me find the manager." "Who are you?" Betty asked. She had never seen this girl before and knew everyone there.
“I’m Stephanie and my father Earl is a tenant here. He's been recovering from throat surgery and cannot talk. I need to ask some questions for him." Betty realized that the NEW TENANT was this girl's father.
The neighbors realized that Earl was not a bad man. He had been through some tough times and could not speak to them. He was the one who pulled the weeds and given them flowers. They had judged Earl by his lack of words spoken.
When Earl could speak he began to interact with his neighbors. Betty stated one day, “Earls a good egg. The garden looks wonderful and he helps all the time." For when Betty speaks, she knows she is always right.
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I believe what would smooth out the beginning of this story would be to omit the first paragraph. A reader is captured by being immediately introduced to a character, especially one in a new situation such as a move. This type of showing, rather than telling, is what grabs the reader and maintains a fast pace for the story.