Life's Test

Susan Colder has risen from a sales representative at the Beautiful Your beauty care empire to the Manager. Her journey of ten years has weathered many storms, hurricanes, and a few tornadoes. It was her love for beauty culture that gave her the strength to keep going. She has been robbed and cheated by family and friends who purchased her beauty products and promised to pay. Some would hide, others sold her hard-luck stories and some just refused to pay. Many times, she would go hungry as her salary had to go towards paying for delinquent customers. Still, she has won many sales representative of the month awards.

Ten years later she was the manager of their New York office. Beautiful You was hiring, and the name and resumes of potential employers sat on her desk. One name was called out to her. She answered in anticipation. Three women and two men would find out today if they would be hired.

Carla Mason’s name was at the top of the list. She was early. That was a good sign. Carla was still beautiful. She didn’t seem to age a second in ten years. She was professionally attired as she walked in behind Mrs. James the secretary.

“Sit down Miss Mason,” Susan said, her resume in hand while searching her eyes for any form of recognition. There was none. Carla began selling herself so convincingly, that even Satan would believe her.

Susan smiled nodding, which gave Carla more confidence and she rolled it out.

Then she finished with, “My references have checked out, so when do I start?”

Susan smiled at her, put her resume on the brown envelope it came in, took a receipt from her desk drawer, and said, “Yes, your references have and you are more than qualified for the job, but you owe this establishment $197.80.”

“What?” Carla’s eyes popped like corn kernels.

“Ten years ago, I sold you this,” Susan said handing her a receipt with her signature. “I can’t believe you have forgotten me.”

“Damn,” Carla said biting on half of her lip. “Susan! Girl I am so sorry.”

“That’s what you said the last twelve times I saw you,” Susan reminded her.

“Please,” she begged. “I really need this job. Give me another chance to prove myself?”

“That’s what you said the last time I begged you to pay me before threatening to take you to court. But you knew that the statute of limitations has run out. In ten years, I have seen you more than ten times. And each time you promised to pay me. You never did. The phone numbers you gave me over the years I called them all. The ones that were answered, weren’t even yours.”

“Give me this job and I promised I will pay you back with my first paycheck,” Carla touted.

“I am sorry, but you have cheated this company once, you might do it again. You see Carla, life is a test, and not all of us passed the first time. Some get a second chance to resit. You have gotten more than ten, and you have failed all of them. I cannot hire you, but with your qualifications, references, and personality you shouldn’t have much difficulty finding employment.”

Carla grabbed her resume and envelope off the desk and walked out disappointed.

Life is a test, and not all of us pass on the first try. Few of us get a third or fourth chance to resit. When life tests you for honesty, try not to fail, because getting high marks is only one of the rewards.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.

Image and story Copyright 2020-2021 by Annelise Lords.