Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Billboard/Poster/Sign (any or all) (12/02/10)
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TITLE: Life lessons | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shellie Bailey
12/09/10 -
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“Crissy, you had three weeks to finish this. Why are you just now getting started?” I replied. I couldn’t understand why she waited so long; she had seemed so excited about running for student council president three weeks ago when she rushed the front door, out of breath and teaming with enthusiasm.
I finished cleaning the dishes and wiped down the counter and decided I better go check on her. For all I knew she had stormed her room and destroyed it in her fit of rage.
I gently tapped on the door with my knuckle and waited for her voice to respond. When silence greeted me I gently turned the knob and peaked in.
“Crissy?”
I noticed she was at her desk, scribbling hard on a notepad.
“Crissy.”
“Mom I don’t want to talk right now. I’m busy.”
I smiled. “Well ok that is fine, but there is no need to get all huffy and storm off. We can work on the posters. How many do you need?”
“Too many.” She replied.
“Well I will be in the living room if you decide you need help.” I responded and exited the room closing the door softly behind me.
It was maybe ten minutes before I heard the groan of the bedroom door and her feet pattering down the hardwood floor.
“Soooo are you ready to work on these?” Crissy asked.
“Of course. Lets take your supplies into the dining room and we can get started.” I replied. I stood and began my commute to the dining room, when I noticed the solemn expression plastered on her small little face. “Honey, are you sure there is nothing you want to talk about?”
She hesitated and kicked her foot. “Ummm, no nothing important.”
“Well it seems awful important to have this kind of attitude about nothing. Does this have anything to do with you not being so excited about running for council?”
She walked past me into the dining room and laid her posterboard and markers on the table. I followed behind her not wanting to pressure her. She would speak when she was ready.
We took our seats and began to draw and color on the large white boards. I kept my eye on her patiently waiting for her response. A nibble of what was bothering her.
“So I don’t think I want to do this?”
“Do what?” I asked. Knowing what she meant, but preferring her to elaborate.
“I don’t want to be student council president.”
“And why is that?”
“Because all the other kids made fun of me when I told them I was going to run.” She replied as she scribbled on the board. Refusing to look up.
“Ah I see. Well from my personal experience other people tend to so and say things they really don’t mean. They want to do what you’re doing most of the time; they just don’t have the same drive. If this is something you want and something that makes you happy then you have to finish what you started.”
She sat silent for the moment and we went back to coloring.
Three days later she arrived home from school her eyes showing she was hiding something.
“So how was school?” I asked.
“Good. Guess what?”
“What? I decided to not give up and I won! Jesus didn’t give up when people mocked him, because he knew what he was doing was important. So I didn’t either.”
“That is great honey. I am so proud of you.” I bent down and gave her a huge. I couldn’t have been any prouder than I was at that moment.
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