Making a Difference | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Making a Difference | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ken Grant
01/09/18
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Jennifer Robinson stared blankly into space as she sat at
an ornate table arrayed with copies of her latest novel. Sadly,
almost all of the copies still remained where they had been
arranged so pleasantly by the bookstore manager. While the
design was pleasant, it wasn't meant to remain so. The expected
flood of buyers had been merely a trickle and now even that had
dwindled completely. She was tired, this book tour idea had
sounded exciting when it was proposed, but it had lasted much
too long and all she wanted was to head back home.

"I am so tired."

Jennifer laid her head on the table and closed her eyes.
She knew it wasn't professional, but she no longer cared. The
spark that had infused her writing had disappeared and she
didn't expect it to come back any time soon.

"Excuse me."

"Huh."

Jennifer raised her head, opened her eyes, and tried to
remember where she was. The book store surroundings jolted her
back to life.

"I am so sorry."

Jennifer self-consciously checked her face to see if there
was any incriminating spittle, but thankfully found none.

"No, I am sorry I woke you."

Jennifer focused her eyes and they rested on a young woman
in her early twenties. She was a little old for her demographic,
but not excessively so.

"It's been a long tour."

"I can imagine. I would love to be you."

Jennifer couldn't help but smile. It still felt good to
have your life calling appreciated.

"How can I help you?"

"I wanted to tell you that your book saved my life."

Jennifer hadn't been prepared for those words and they hit
her hard. She wrote teen lit; a genre that she had been drawn to
for its ability to encourage young people during times of
change. But, she had never thought she would save a life.

"Let's come over here so we can talk."

Jennifer put a card out indicating she was taking a break
just in case someone stopped by and led the young woman to a
table with a chair on either side. She sat down and waited for
the young woman to do the same.

"What's your name?"

"Cassidy."

"Tell me your story, Cassidy."

Cassidy began to speak, but nothing would come out. A flow
of tears began and didn't seem as though they would stop any
time soon.

"Take your time, Cassidy."

Cassidy wiped her tears and got herself together. She
looked deep into Jennifer's eyes.

"I wanted to see the woman who saved me. I was pretty
messed up. My parents broke up quite a few years ago and it was
very nasty. They fought over me, but mostly to get back at each
other. I never felt love from either one of them. I didn't see
any hope. I had decided that I would end my life."

"What happened?"

Jennifer was sucked in. All the weariness had disappeared.
This was a real person; not just a character in one of her
novels.

"A friend, my only real friend, gave me one of your books.
I didn't want it, but she asked me to read it before I made any
decisions. I had talked to her about ending my life. From the
moment I started reading I connected with Violet. She was
everything I wanted to be. She showed me that I could be brave
no matter how bad things got. She gave me hope."

"I am so glad."

Jennifer struggled to contain her emotions. This was so
much more than she could ever have anticipated. She wrote
entertainment, but this was so much more.

"Thank you, Jennifer."

"Thank you, Cassidy. You saved me as well."

"I don't understand."

"I have been growing so tired. I had lost the joy of the
writing. I no longer knew why I was doing it."

"Please don't stop. Girls like me need you."

"I won't stop."

Jennifer stood up, walked over with Cassidy, signed a free
copy of her newest book, and wished her well. She sat back down,
sat up straight and waited. Even if no one else came, she would
continue and it would be so worth it.

THE END

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