Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: PIECE / PEACE (02/16/23)
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TITLE: The Length of Peace And The Stretch Of Piece | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Botte
02/23/23 -
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Tea time! I got up from my solid wood oak desk.
The phone rang. I noticed the unfamiliar number.
“Hello.” Cautiously I answered.
“Hi, is it Sue speaking?”
“Who are you looking for?”
“This is Amanda. It’s about Anna. She put this number and the name Sue as references on her CV”.
“I am Sue, and I do know Anna.”
I briefly recalled the mutual relationship of amity Anna and I had when we first met and worked together.
“Is this a convenient time; I have a couple of questions?”
“It is, I’m listening.”
After the brief conversation, my spirit bubbled and I sensed God is telling me, Anna will get the position she applied for; I thanked God.
Why, what happened…why is she applying for another position…I thought she was happy there, safe and secure. I shall give her a call this afternoon.
Without further interruptions, I tied up many loose ends, little bits that needed a knot!
“Is this Anna speaking?” I asked when the number I dialed was answered.
“It is…Sue, is that you?”
“You remembered! I know it’s been a long time, but can we meet for coffee?”
“Sure, come over to my place, about four-thirty. I am still in the same house.”
“Perfect.” I put the phone down.
I went outside to pick a bunch of brightly colored flowers for Anna. In the process thanking my twice-weekly gardener.
“Hi Anna,” I said as I walked through the open door.
We briefly hugged.
“Long time no see.”
“Was that an accusation…?” I asked with a twinkle in my eye, handing her the bunch of flowers.
“We are both guilty of that one! Thank you; fancy a cuppa?” Anna said as she put the flowers in a vase and switched on the kettle.
I nodded.
“Earlier today I had a phone call from Amanda, whoever she is, but I am a bit perplexed.”
Anna’s face lit up.
“She called you! I got the job”.
“No need to thank me, Glory to God on this one. Tell me about it”.
I listened intently as Anna spoke.
“You know he is a real autocrat. I had so many good ideas to further his business; most of the time he would not even hear me out. I started praying, asking God to show me a way. He did! I resigned; with the proper calendar months’ notice. I think he was relieved; however, during that month I got myself some piece work”.
Anna watched my face for a reaction; I frowned.
“Peace work or piece, as in bits and pieces, work?”
“Piece, as in bits and pieces”.
“Tell me more.”
“Piece-work is when you do the same job, but not necessarily, for different people, once or twice a week, but every week, sometimes on an ad hoc basis. What Amanda phoned you about is two days a week; which means I am employed every day of the week. It boils down to contract work, but because it is bits of a workweek, and with different employers, I just think of it as piecework. I work for each of them on certain days of the week. Best of all Sue, I am self-employed; I have always believed myself to be an entrepreneur. And, I love it! As you know, I like taking chaos, aka disharmony, and, restoring it to order”.
I stared at Anna, thinking of my gardener; he does the same thing.
“And you accomplished all of that in one month? Pay wise?”
“No, it took about three months. The previous months were tough though. But, God provided. I had to be obedient all the time, remembering He makes the decisions. No doubt, it was hard. There were offers I had to decline as guided by God. The money…way better than the salary I used to earn.”
“And you are completely at ease with this?”
“Completely…not a care in the world.”
I sensed, now that Anna had sound-boarded this, the full impact of God’s grace is hitting home.
I saw her cheeks becoming wet. I decided to leave.
Gratitude washed over her and mingled with tiny drops of salt water. Stillness overwhelmed her, as she rested her head on folded arms on the kitchen table. She basked in His gratitude, knowing He cares and provides as long as she inclines her ear to Him.
Glory to God.
“Thank you my Father in heaven”. Anna mused.
__________ .
Partly fact partly fiction
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The story needs to be tightened up. For example "In the process thanking my twice-weekly gardener." What does this add to piece and peace? Dialogue was good, but I had an editor tell me to use more contractions to dialogue, that it read odd without them. The description of the job would be easier to follow if it was in shorter sentences. I've heard title should be 3-5 words. Judge for yourself. Overall, a good job. Keep writing.