Persisting In Integrity
Stories
56 Stories For Preaching
Susan breathed in deeply in another effort at self-control.
"How dare Ray ask me! How dare he! 'A little overtime again!' he
says. He knows I don't get any. But, it's not the money. It's the
other issue -- the issue of 'how dare he?' "
Susan was the administrative assistant to the vice-president.
She loved her work. She kept everyone and everything in balance:
the trainees, the secretarial staff, the president himself and
Ray. She even had time to visit her parents and sail weekly with
the team.
She felt her top teeth sink mercilessly into her lower lip and
pinch the lip cruelly against her lower teeth. "Oh! That hurts!
Be careful or I'll be bleeding!"
Her eye mechanically surveyed her office: diploma discreetly
framed on the opposite wall, favorite photos of the boat and team
to the right, her beautiful desk with its neat files, and the
large window to the left overlooking the intersection. Numb in
her thoughts, she gazed below. Red light. Green light. People
crossing. Cars passing. "How dare he!" Her concentration returned
to the report immediately in front of her.
Ever since she began, it was this way. Work hard. Give it her
all. Every rating "Excellent!" But always, "Susan, this is great
but I need you to .. a little overtime again!" Again she realized
her lower lip was painfully squeezed between her teeth. She
relaxed her jaw "What if I had a partner and children waiting
somewhere? At least the team doesn't eat till 9 p.m. Maybe ..."
She glanced at the report: "Part 3. Include Bill's concerns.
That'll take hours!" Picking up a pen she settled back into her
chair. Bill's concerns were outlined on the top. Her eye scanned
the first line. But then she raised her head.
"What's really going on? What's the real issue? Why all these
last minute needs? Is it pity? I'm not married and so he needs to
keep me busy? Is it power? He's on the board and I'm not. Is it
I'm a woman and he's the man?" She shuddered at that thought. "Is
he hard-hearted? Genuinely ignorant? Doesn't he see his own
pattern? His meeting isn't 'til next Thursday. He doesn't 'just'
need it ..." She breathed in deeply again. "That's it! I'll get
the revision done and on time. But not tonight and not without
talking to Ray and if necessary with Paul in personnel. The
report will be done; it will also be noted in my office journal."
She opened the journal confidently and made a brief entry. "Paul
will appreciate this journal -- it was his idea when I last talked
with him about Ray. Ray and I need to talk and reach an
understanding or I move on. I'll no longer grin and bear. I'm
worth it! Paul knows it. So does Ray."
Notation finished, Susan closed her journal and the report
file and went determinedly and cheerfully to meet her team for
the sail.
"How dare Ray ask me! How dare he! 'A little overtime again!' he
says. He knows I don't get any. But, it's not the money. It's the
other issue -- the issue of 'how dare he?' "
Susan was the administrative assistant to the vice-president.
She loved her work. She kept everyone and everything in balance:
the trainees, the secretarial staff, the president himself and
Ray. She even had time to visit her parents and sail weekly with
the team.
She felt her top teeth sink mercilessly into her lower lip and
pinch the lip cruelly against her lower teeth. "Oh! That hurts!
Be careful or I'll be bleeding!"
Her eye mechanically surveyed her office: diploma discreetly
framed on the opposite wall, favorite photos of the boat and team
to the right, her beautiful desk with its neat files, and the
large window to the left overlooking the intersection. Numb in
her thoughts, she gazed below. Red light. Green light. People
crossing. Cars passing. "How dare he!" Her concentration returned
to the report immediately in front of her.
Ever since she began, it was this way. Work hard. Give it her
all. Every rating "Excellent!" But always, "Susan, this is great
but I need you to .. a little overtime again!" Again she realized
her lower lip was painfully squeezed between her teeth. She
relaxed her jaw "What if I had a partner and children waiting
somewhere? At least the team doesn't eat till 9 p.m. Maybe ..."
She glanced at the report: "Part 3. Include Bill's concerns.
That'll take hours!" Picking up a pen she settled back into her
chair. Bill's concerns were outlined on the top. Her eye scanned
the first line. But then she raised her head.
"What's really going on? What's the real issue? Why all these
last minute needs? Is it pity? I'm not married and so he needs to
keep me busy? Is it power? He's on the board and I'm not. Is it
I'm a woman and he's the man?" She shuddered at that thought. "Is
he hard-hearted? Genuinely ignorant? Doesn't he see his own
pattern? His meeting isn't 'til next Thursday. He doesn't 'just'
need it ..." She breathed in deeply again. "That's it! I'll get
the revision done and on time. But not tonight and not without
talking to Ray and if necessary with Paul in personnel. The
report will be done; it will also be noted in my office journal."
She opened the journal confidently and made a brief entry. "Paul
will appreciate this journal -- it was his idea when I last talked
with him about Ray. Ray and I need to talk and reach an
understanding or I move on. I'll no longer grin and bear. I'm
worth it! Paul knows it. So does Ray."
Notation finished, Susan closed her journal and the report
file and went determinedly and cheerfully to meet her team for
the sail.
