Candice Goolsby

Small Black Notebook

Genni sat patiently in a chair outside of the office. She fiddled with the newspaper clipping in her hand. Just yesterday she had found out about this job. It was peculiar to say the least: “Reward for Joy-Bringer”. The details beneath the headline requested anyone up to the challenge of bringing a smile to the face of dear Mrs. Puttnam, a handicapped woman living at the estate. Her son, Hamish, was the owner of several successful companies. He published the article in hopes that someone would be able to bring a speck of joy into his mother’s life. For several years, she had appeared miserable. Each day she would sit in her wheelchair, overlooking the green lawns with a far-off gaze from her window. Servers would set her meals on a nearby table throughout the day, but they remained hardly touched. Despite her inability to form words, she was unafraid to show her disapproval with a firm shake of her head and a scowl. The door opened and a voice called, “Miss Genevieve?” The young woman stood and dusted down her skirt. Her flats echoed on the wooden floor of the empty halls. A lady in a dress suit gestured to a plush couch, the room in itself grand and luxurious. “Please, have a seat.” They shook hands over a glass coffee table before sitting down.