What If You Were Hungry?

What If You Were Hungry?

Anna had never been laid off before. She had arrived to work on time as usual this morning after an easy morning jog on the treadmill and a quick stop at Beans & Cream for her half-calf oat-milk hazelnut latte. As she walked into the 7th floor suite of the Hillcrest Tower there was an unusual uneasiness in her boss’s voice. She didn’t think much of it until later that day. Anna wasn’t at her desk for more than half an hour when Sandy, the company’s VP popped her head around the door frame of Anna’s office and asked if she had a minute to come to the small conference room across the hall. "Which client did we lose this time?" Anna mumbled as she stood up to follow Sandy.

This past month alone they had lost 10 key clients due to an indiscretion of a senior executive that got out to the press. For a small CPA firm this was a huge loss. Since starting at Kline & Jasper, Anna had quickly risen to be the number 1 paralegal and specialized in tax law research and briefs which the company’s CPAs incorporated into their deliveries for the high-end clients. When she applied around New York City before landing the job at her current employer, Anna had 7 top companies that wanted to hire her. Flattered as she was, Anna decided to go to work for the smaller of the group as it felt more like family and she figured there would be the greatest opportunity for impact.

“Hi Anna,” came Dave’s voice across the table. "I’d like to start off by saying that this conversation is not one I woke up excited to have. You are family, and I have loads of respect for you as a person and the value you have brought to our team, so I’ll show you the courtesy of getting to the point of calling you in here. With the loss of 30% of our AAA clients, we have no choice but to dissolve your position. I no longer can afford to keep you at this time.” Anna held back tears as he continued. “In this envelope I have written you a personal letter of recommendation with a glowing review that I hope will be helpful as you take the next step of your journey. Although I have no severance package to offer you, here is a check for what we owe you since last Friday plus a Bean’s & Cream gift card for $350 good at any location in the country. I truly am sorry Anna.”

As she stumbled out of the office she could feel the eyes of her colleagues across the suite trained on her. A few of her closest associates figured out what happened as she was in her office packing up a box and wiping tears from her face. They each in turn gave her a hug and said their goodbyes and well-wishes. Anna placed her close companion, a little black notebook on the top of her pile, turned off the light for the last time, and made her way to the subway.

Once the tears subsided, the reality sank in and she begin to think about the one week of pay she had just received and how she was barely making it week-to-week with her expensive apartment. Anna had assumed the rent would work out as there had been talk of a substantial career opportunity and a raise within the company. This new place put her within a short walk of the office. “Will the landlord let her out of the lease early," she pondered. “If not, I will have to hand over my entire check!” She called Rick and Sue, the elderly landlord couple, hoping she would get sweet Sue… nope, it was Rick who picked up and he sounded in a particularly crabby mood. After laying out her dilemma, Rick said that if she was out by the morning she would not have to pay rent this month but that he would keep her entire security deposit for the inconvenience. "Besides," said Rick, "I want to raise the rent and I have 3 lawyers calling me for a place and willing to pay top dollar. Good luck Anna. Leave the key above the door frame.”

The next 3 and a half hours flew by with a mix of anger, uncertainty, and sadness. Anna didn’t have much as the apartment had come fully furnished and she lived a materialistically simple life. Anna had grown up in the country and had kept her VW van from her college days in storage. She made her way to the bank to clear out the $200 she had to her name, adding it to the $1000 check she cashed, and the Beans & Cream gift card.

As Anna turned the corner onto the street of the unit her van was stored in, she saw a homeless woman and 2 young kids in tattered clothes with the typical dilapidated cardboard chunk barely legible “Anything Helps. God Bless.” Anna as an over-achieving individual and a naturally skeptical person, had tended to assume that most homeless people were simply a product of their own poor choices and even if they weren’t trying to make an easy buck by preying on the hard-working-class, they should not be encouraged to continue begging but rather feel compelled by necessity to go “get a job.” However, today Anna found herself surprised at the compassion she felt in her heart toward this young mother in need. Anna gave a polite “hello” as she quickly walked by and headed toward unit 37.

Anna loaded her large rolling suitcase, backpack, laptop bag, purse, and cardboard box that she had just lugged 6 blocks into the van. The engine sputtered and that classic VW purr brought back a wave of memories. Anna laid her head on the steering wheel, feeling alone, unwanted, and heart-broken. The tears flowed once again and this time she did not hold back. 20 minutes passed. Anna thought about her sorry state and then about the homeless mom and kids and how privileged she really was. Suddenly, as if by divine inspiration, Anna had a powerful thought race through her mind in vivid and freeing detail. “Now is as good of time as any to drive across the country heading west from New York to Colorado and anyone she saw in need she would try to help without asking questions. If someone wanted a ride she would say “yes” and invite them to join her journey. There was at least one Beans & Cream every 100 miles or so… perhaps she could buy her companions a scone, coffee, or soup. She fixed her mind on the journey ahead, took out her little black notebook, wrote in bold lettering at the top of page 3 “I will not hesitate to help everyone who I see in need, WITHOUT JUDGEMENT, and invite them on my journey starting now with a mom and her 2 children.

Taking time for each soul she interacted with was foreign to Anna who was used to scurrying about her day with little margin for the inconvenience of deep and meaningful human interaction. This new approach to life turned a 3 day drive into a 3 week adventure. With each life she impacted, Anna felt her joy returning and she even began to feel grateful that she was laid off only days earlier. Before tilting her seat back in her VW and closing her eyes to sleep she would take out her companion, the small black book and journal the tales of her day and write the names of each of the incredible people she met along the way. Each soul had a story. Each, like her, walked with a limp whether physical or emotional, and each one wanted to be known, to be loved, and to matter. There was an occasional meal or room to stay in for the night that was offered to her by one of those she met along the way, but most nights were spent alone in the van in a parking lot or rest area. Anna didn’t mind. It was a surprising relief from the chaos of business life in New York.

One morning about 8:45 on a Tuesday Anna’s phone rang. She was a bit surprised that the cell phone company had not terminated her service as she was now well past due. “Hello, Anna here.” The voice on the other line said “Hi this is Bill Rice from the Phil & Belinda Bates foundation… say I heard about what you are doing from someone you helped last week and I’d like to hear more about your story, do you have some time now to chat?” Anna laughed… "that’s about all I have now.” Bill and Anna talked about her past couple weeks, the tipping point that triggered this adventure, what she had been learning, and about some of her favorite stories so far. Bill seemed keenly interested in Anna’s expertise with tax law and her paralegal experience. “You know Anna, I’ve really enjoyed talking with you and hearing some of your story. I promised my granddaughter that I’d take her for ice cream here in about 30 minutes for her birthday so I have to run but I wonder if you might be willing to meet me in person at our corporate office next week when you get to Colorado? We are easy access off the freeway in the Springs.” Anna agreed and showed up at the appointed time.

As Anna approached the building, framed by snow-capped mountains, she noticed that it was an unassuming 2-story structure with a timber-framed roof, industrial metal siding, and a very cheerful entrance. A stark contrast to the high-rises and intimating entrances that she was accustomed to. Walking through the tall-cedar double doors, she was greeted in the lobby by Cindy, a bright-eyed and cheerful woman in her mid- 50s that looked full of life and ready to conquer the world. Cindy made Anna feel welcome and soon Bill came out and they sat across from one another on some very comfortable couches, a nice relief from the VW seats.

“Anna, I appreciate you taking time to come see me. Here at the Phil and Belinda Bates Foundation we are laser-focused on one thing… stamping out hunger across the US and abroad with a vengeance. We have been long in need of a top notch paralegal for our growing organization and we have been looking for someone who embodies our mission to change the world one real person at a time. I took the liberty of doing some digging and spoke with your boss who had nothing but a glowing report to give. He seemed sad to lose you and told me I would never regret it if you came to work with us. I will pay you 20% more than you were making before… you just tell me what that was, and in addition I wanted to do something extra special to sweeten the deal. We can offer you, as a signing bonus, $20,000 to distribute to people in need as you see fit. Well Anna, what do you say?” “YES!” Anna blurted out, “Yes I am all in!” She burst into tears…. But this time tears of joy and relief as she had just about come to the end of the cash and the Beans & Cream card had a whole $3.97 left.

The man introduced Anna to his wife… the energetic Cindy who she had met on the way in. They invited her back to their house for dinner and a room to stay until she could find a place of her own. For the first time in her life, Anna felt truly alive, full of purpose, gratitude, and a new found perspective on those in need. Anna thumbed through the pages of her trusted companion, the little black book and scribbled out the incredible turn of events with joy and a thankful heart. She ended her entry for the night with the moving words she had seen on one of her new friend's signs, "What If You Were Hungry?"