Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ASKEW (06/07/18)
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TITLE: Assumptions | Previous Challenge Entry
By Hannah Cooper
06/09/18 -
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Katy’s mobile phone buzzed, demanding she check a message that had come through.
Putting aside a bag of chips, she grabbed her phone off the glossy white coffee table and sighed in annoyance as she read the message.
It was Barbara... again. Why couldn’t she leave her alone?
Katy was trying to enjoy some down-time as she sat in front of the TV, engrossed in her current marathon, Princess Agents. The Chinese drama was pulling on her emotions like a puppeteer’s strings as she lived vicariously through the heroine. She had a growing pile of used tissues on her right and a half-used box on the left. Katy had so far determined that she would give the show a rating of 9.5/10. Half a mark would be deducted due to the ridiculous amount of times the heroine was unfairly treated or accused, which stressed Katy to no end.
The sound of her favourite drama’s theme tune brought her back to the present as her phone rang.
It was Barbara.
Seriously? Would she ever give up?
Ever since she’d met Barbara at the function she’d reluctantly attended two weeks ago, this woman hadn’t stopped interrupting her comfortable life. She’d sent her a friend request on Facebook, which Katy had accepted after a few days out of politeness. Then Barbara had instant messaged her and followed her on Instagram. She’d been messaging her ever since.
Stalkerish much? Katy thought bitterly. She suspected that Barbara just wanted another customer for her Amway business, so pretending to befriend her was a betrayal of true friendship.
Angrily, she hit pause on the remote, determined to end this here and now.
Accepting the call with a grunt of defiance, Katy held the phone to her ear and curtly answered.
Barbara’s voice sounded chipper. “Katy? It’s Barbara, how are you? We met at the charity dinner two weeks ago, remember?”
Katy gritted her teeth and answered, her fingers drumming a beat on her knee in agitation.
Barbara was inviting Katy over for some afternoon tea the next day. Feeling like her weekend was being threatened, Katy finally let loose.
“Barbara, I don’t mean to be rude, but my life is already crammed with things to do. I’m not interested in any of your Amway products. They’re full of chemicals and I don’t want that on my skin. So, if that’s what you’re after I’m not interested.”
Silence.
Katy waited. She’d been abrupt, but she had to set boundaries. She wouldn’t be used.
Expecting her to get offensive, Katy was surprised when Barbara quietly said, “I’m sorry if you think that Katy. Yes, I have an Amway business and yes, I’m always looking for people who are interested. But that’s not why I’ve been trying to reach you.”
Really? Katy thought, unconvinced.
“I’m sorry if I came across as too enthusiastic, and if that freaked you out. I was just so excited after I met you. I overheard you talking to others and realised we have the same interests, and you seemed like a genuine Christian. I liked you immediately and thought we could be great friends.”
Katy started to feel uncertain. Had she misjudged Barbara?
“What interests are you talking about?” she challenged softly.
“We’re both really creative – and I’m a huge fan of Asian dramas too.”
What?
“What’s your favourite drama?”
“Um… well, I like City Hunter, that was really cool. Noble My Love is really sweet… and, it’s a bit long, but Princess Agents is awesome… it really made me cry. I just love Yuwen Yue, he does everything for Xing and she doesn’t even realise… she doesn’t know how much he loves her until the end, when it seems too late. I guess part of him reminds me of Jesus and what he does for us, you know?”
Silence again.
Katy felt her face heat. She’d been wrong about Barbara.
“Katy, I won’t talk about Amway around you if you hate it that much.”
The silence stretched out as Katy fumbled for what to say, awkwardly ashamed.
Finally, she said “I’m sorry Barbara… I’ve acted like an idiot, assuming the worst about you. My perception is askew, and I haven’t acted like Christ at all.”
Mustering her courage, Katy asked, “Can you somehow forgive me?”
Barbara’s response moved her.
“Of course, Katy. How about we start again? I’m Barbara and love Asian Dramas. I heard you do too, and I’m wondering if you’d like to come over for a marathon?”
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Very good writing.