She Didn't Know

“What a beautiful morning”, Shelli said to herself as she rolled over and opened her eyes. The birds chirped a melody that brought life to the rising of each morning for her. The sun spilled through her small old broken unlocked window, barely warming her face. “Thank you”, she said in a faint whisper to herself. She lay there taking in a few more moments of natural harmony. With her eyes shut she drew in a few more deep breaths, and opened her eyes.

At that moment her cell phone rang! Shelli slowly sat up, and picked her phone up off the speaker next to her bed. Looking at her cell she noticed the number was unfamiliar and not saved into her call log. Yet it was early enough to receive business calls, so she quickly considered answering as soon as she heard the first ring. After all, Shelli was an inspiring entrepreneur, slash go getter, slash contractor, slash small business consultant, and many other resourceful things. Her dreams of fixing distressed communities, becoming an advocate in the fight to eradicate poverty, as well as moving out of the ghetto until it was fixed, were definitely her goals.

Shelli pushed past her chalky breath in hopes that it would be that call from that important ally which would plug together all her business arteries, and finally give her business model the traction it deserved! Shelli swallowed that dry lump in her throat and slid the green bar on her cellular device, and answered the phone. “Hello”, she said softly and professionally. “Yes, Shelli Synder'', the voice asked? “Yes”, this is she speaking, Shelli said. “This is Louann from Blake Realty''. “Yes, how can I help you?”, Shelli asked politely. The woman on the other end of the line spoke sharply and said, “We received your money orders for rent for 322 Bentin this month but it was late”, she said. Shelli spoke up quickly and replied, “Yes but I included the $75 late fee and the $10 a day for 5 days for the mishap”, Shelli stated. The woman on the other end of the call paused briefly and said, “Well we filed an eviction already and we require a $500 eviction filing fee for you to stay, and you would have to bring cash into the office today”, she included.

Slapped by disbelief Shelli leaned slightly forward and wiped her hand across her face. Blank in that moment she inhaled and smelled the light fragrance of lavender and vanilla from her hand. Her bath and body still worked, delivering that wonderful soft scent in a brief moment of clarity so she could attempt to talk some resolve into this woman. Whom by the way called her in the early hours with bad news. Disappointed Shelli asked, “When did you file an eviction, and why can I ask you”? The woman replied back quickly in a displeasing voice, “I don’t know when they filed it, I’m just calling to inform you that they did, and to tell you that you have the option to pay the eviction filing fee”.

Now at her wits end, just moving in, and mounted in financial debt, being homeless was not something that was an immediate idea of Shelli’s again. She thought within what seemed to be a split second in an attempt to fix the mishap she created and said thoughtfully, “My lease does not specify a due date for late rent payments”. ”I paid all the late fees in full, and I was only late 4 days”, she exclaimed out of hurt. Hoping Louann would have some empathy she waited for a response. In that moment Shelli felt very low in herself, embarrassed, irresponsible, and vulnerable.

As if Shelli could not be delivered more blows, Louann said callously, “Well it’s filed and it’s not our fault you can’t pay your rent on time”! Baffled, insulted, and wanting resolve, Shelli said, “I would like to see paperwork for the eviction filing, or I can’t pay it”! Desperate for hope that this may be some sick joke or dream she hadn’t woke from, Shelli told Louann that she would come into the office that day, and she dismissed the call in disgust. So many questions went through her mind. How could they be so callous and rude? Do they even know why I was late paying the rent this month? “I hope I can talk some sense into them”, she thought.

This can’t possibly be legal she thought as she got up. She dressed quickly, groomed herself, and pulled her hair in a ponytail. She grabbed her jacket and keys from her favorite old living room chair, brushed her teeth, and strode for the door to start the car. She rode in silence, her mind raced with thoughts of where her life would go after all of this was over. She pulled up at the office, parked close to the front door and exited her car. She walked up to the building and opened the door and stepped into the office. Looking around the office, and at all the prying eyes that glanced right at her, Shelli heard someone shout, “We’ll be right with you”! Shelli gave a quick nod, she continued to look around the cold, dark and eerie entrance. She couldn’t help but notice the office being closed off from the entrance of the building.

The office was separated by a reception desk that stretched to the end of the entire entrance, with a door that locked from the inside of the office blocking any chance of physical contact; such as a warm handshake. Shelli thought the most shocking spectacle was the tall bullet proof 4 inch thick glass that sat on top of the reception desk, which was encased, and also stretched the length of the entire office. A few moments after her brief mental thoughts of the cell she walked into disappeared, a slender woman walked up to the glass and said, “How can I help you, a second time”?

Shelli walked up to the glass, gave her name and address, then asked for information on the eviction at her address. At this point she was a little desperate for some resolve, and Shelli had to excuse all the discomfort and anguish she was going to instill upon the woman at the window because she didn’t know the personal issues which were affecting Shelli's stability. This was a dire situation unfolding now. Things weren’t all as well as Shelli needed. Nor were they as good as she wanted right now in her life despite her doing great things for her community, holding a job, and doing independent work to. Shelli only wanted reason at this moment, resolve, and she didn’t want to lose her home.

The woman typed on the computer and confirmed the eviction for Shelli's address and also for the cost associated with the eviction filing fees. Shelli quickly requested the date and a copy of the eviction filing. She also assumed the housing company filed the eviction knowing she paid the rent because it was all to suspicious. Shelli figured the rental company wanted some quick extra petty cash. She suspiciously assumed they had received the money orders for her rent but neglected to account for it before the rental company filed paperwork with the court. The woman dodged the request for the copies and began to quickly type on the computer again. She looked up and said, “I don’t see anything in here for the court paperwork on the eviction, let me check in another location for our recent's”, and walked off.

Growing impatient, Shelli took a deep breath, folded her arms, and began tapping her feet. The woman came back to the front desk and told Shelli she couldn't find the copy of the filed eviction but there was definitely an eviction filed under the house's account. She continued speaking fast, and waving her hands in gesturing motions explaining and giving excuses for paperwork misplacements. She again asked Shelli for the $500 filing fee, and said they only accept cash as a form of payment. Blown back by her disregard and lack of providing immediate proof of their actions, her being a tenant, and the company offering no relief but to pay or go, Shelli began to boil inside with overwhelming emotion.

Shelli didn’t have an extra $500 to pay the housing company. This was Shelli’s second month in the home as a tenant. She was homeless for a year, and lived out of her car as shelter before she moved into their property. Sleeping under that big round moon in the dark park on that hill for many nights changed Shelli’s soul. She was now on the hunt for a better life, immediate stability, and now, here, in this moment it was all going to be robbed from her for $500 measly dollars. Broken at the events unfolding. Shelli lashed out, “This is not fair, this is not right, you expect me to give you $500 in cash right now, but you can’t show me the paperwork proving that you filed an eviction on me before you received my money orders which prove I paid rent in full before you filed”? “This is wrong”, Shelli sadly exclaimed! “Well that’s all we can do for you, pay or move”, the woman snarled back sharply behind the glass!

Before Shelli could utter more, another woman approached the window. She was fancied down with a red suit, shining with jewels, and made up in makeup like she was the star in the next major opening of a Broadway musical. She had an envelope in her plump over jeweled hand. She proceeded to slide the envelope into the metal window slot below the thick glass. Shelli looked down and was startled, she looked at the envelope and could quickly identify the hand writing on the outside of the white envelope, it was hers. The envelope was opened and looked to contain paper items. Shelli quickly grabbed the envelope and opened it! It was both of her money orders, uncashed, and unreceived.

Shelli’s heart sank. She quickly shook her head no back and forth and said, “I’m not going to take these back”! “I paid the rent late but I paid it a few days later, and in full”! Shelli slid the envelope back in the slot, and the juicy woman snapped. “Take the money orders back or I will write void on them and you won’t be able to cash them”, she yelled! “Or you can pay the eviction fees today”, she hissed again! In disbelief at her rudeness Shelli felt all the sorrow in her come about. Shelli looked back at Louann the woman who walked up to greet her at the window and said, “How could you do this”! “You knew I was just coming in from off the streets, I was homeless for Christ's sake”, Shelli snapped! “I had the housing agency show up with a check for the first month’s rent for that property, and your company denied a third party check”! “I had to go hustle up the money just to move in”! “Why go through the trouble with it all, you should have just denied me the house then”! “I mean it’s been two months, and I don’t have the money you are asking for”, Shelli said sadly!

“Well we can’t help you”, the plump lady said again sharply! “You need to pick those up and leave before we have to call the cops”, she hissed! In disbelief, Shelli grabbed her envelope and stuffed it in her purse. She wasn’t just going to leave without telling them how wrong, illegal, and callous they were regarding the eviction, and the housing company returning her rent funds without proper justification. She began to speak, yell, and cry all at once, and what she felt in that moment seemed like to her that she lectured them for a while. However reality had set in within three minutes when a police officer walked in behind her.

The officer quickly said, “Excuse me, please come with me”! Shelli said, “I’m not coming with you, I need to file a police report, and a complaint on this company”! “They are trying to take my money, and evict me illegally because I won’t give them cash without proper verification and that’s extortion or bribery right?” “Well let’s take this outside”, the officer said sharply! “We can’t handle this outside Shelli snapped back, we have to do this here and now”, she exclaimed, this is wrong! Frustrated with Shelli’s forward intent, the officer walked to the door that Shelli entered and swung it open. “This is the last time I ask you”, the officer said irritated.

Shelli gave a last desperate look towards the ladies behind the window and yelled, “You didn’t even ask why it was late”. “Don’t you even care”, Shelli asked? “The ladies just stood there, one’s hands crossed atop the other, and Louann just stood there looking baffled. Outside Shelli pleaded her case to the officer hoping she wouldn’t take her down to lockup. Shelli was let off with a warning, told to go home and calm down. Walking off the premises upset, Shelli returned to her car and sobbed emotionally. She could not believe the system could be used on people to hurt them in this way. How could they have so much power to change people’s lives for the worst, she thought? Shelli was crushed. All that was left was to figure out what she needed to do to keep a roof over her head at all times. She also had to figure out how she would argue in court against the case that was only a bribe claim that now had actually been filed against her.

Several weeks had passed by and Shelli was repacking the few items that she had managed to unpack to make her house feel like a home a few months earlier. She realized that she was in for overtime to keep herself a float. She got up and helped herself to a cup of tea she was brewing and went to check the mail. Upon looking through the mail she discovered a letter from the courts. She went for her bed and sat down quickly placing the tea cup on the speaker by the bed. With many emotions rushing through her she ripped open the mail and took out it’s contents. She unfolded the letter and prepared herself for a quick read. Her eyes immediately noticed the headline of the letter. Shelli's eyes opened with astonishment and disappointment. “I knew it”, Shelli said aloud! In the headline of the letter from the court, the date for the eviction filing by the rental agency was for the same day that Shelli had gone to visit the housing company to get proof of their filing the eviction. The letter indicated the time was for 7 p.m. Shelli left that morning by at least 10 a.m the same day. “Their audacity”, Shelli said aloud in frustration!

Putting together what she could about what had transpired, Shelli came to the conclusion that she was trying to be bribed by a team of housing constituents for extra money. Shelli was sickened, and kept reading the allegations. The document further gave instructions to attend court in a few weeks at a specified time, and for the surrendering of the property by another date. “Well it’s final”, Shelli thought to herself, I have to move again. Shelli noted her calendars with the court dates and times, and walked into her office and took a seat in her old office chair. Tapping the now folded letter on the desk, Shelli looked around the unpacked office she had turned the other bedroom into, and started to cry again. She must have sat there for what had seemed to be forever. Finally finding her inner strength, Shelli wiped her tears away while at the same time feeling a deep ache in her heart. She put the letter in her files with the rest of the reciepts and paperwork that she signed at the residence when she moved in and got up. Shelli went back to the other room sadly and commenced to finish packing her belongings.

A few more weeks had gone by. The court date had approached quickly. Shelli managed to secure a hotel room for the beginning of the following month and after that it was all fate. It wasn’t much, but she had a roof over her head for the time being. The drunkards' and druggies that walked outside the doors were normal. Shelli grew up in this environment so she didn’t fear for her life, yet she feared the man or woman that could ruin a life with a gavel. Her life seemed to be coming to a huge head and she seemed all alone and helpless. Shelli drew on her inner strength to propel her forward into a world unknown.

The morning had come for court and Shelli was on time and prepared to plead her case. She had prepared for three days and had no representation that she could afford. The truth was, this is all she could do at this point. So armed with her folder and her little black book in her back pocket, she sat and waited on her name and case to be called. When her name was finally called Shelli took the stand and waited for the plaintiff to give their burden of proof for filing the eviction charges. The rental company told lie after lie and made a lot of incomplete statements. They did not have sufficient evidence to present to justify their actions for the record and it was quite noticeable in court. When it was Shelli’s chance to rebuttal, she opened her folder and presented her defense.

Shelli started by telling the judge that she had just moved into the house a few months ago with the help from housing assistance. She further explained that the housing company turned down a third party check from the housing assistance agency for the first month’s rent upon the original move in date. She also shared as evidence that she was allotted extra time to secure the rent. She also told the courts when she obtained the funds later on a different date they accepted the money and she moved in the property instead of the agency denying her application. Shelli kept laying on the evidence and told the judge she was homeless at the time of moving in, and the company was well aware of her circumstances due to the fact that she had to obtain assistance when moving in the home. Shelli shared the copies of the money orders she mailed in, and she provided a copy of the timestamp of when the company filed for the eviction. Shelli pointed out to the judge that her lease only stipulated to pay a late fee of one payment in the amount $75, and an additional $10 a day until the full balance was paid. Shelli explained that she paid the balance in full including fees, and that the lease did not specify a deadline of when the company would no longer accept payments.

In fact Shelli's most compelling testimony for why her rent was late was centered around her car. “Your honor, a week before rent was due, I was dropping an elderly coworker off at home after taking her grocery shopping around 7 pm”, Shelli explained. “It was dark and chilly outside that evening and my coworker lived on the top floor, she had groceries to be taken up”. “I took the groceries up for her and came back down for my coworker to walk her up”. “When I came back down my car was gone. I immediately called the police to report it stolen and retrieved a police report”, Shelli said sadly.

My troubles didn’t stop there, your honor, she explained! “My car was attempting to be stole and sold out from under me by my insurance company. The insurance company used erroneous damage estimates not caused from the theft to depreciate the value of my car and total it out. I had to buy my car back from their salvage yard and pay for my own damages”, Shelli replied tiredly. She thanked the judge for listening and waited for the judge to render a decision on the case. You could feel the thickness in the room as the judge shifted through the evidence presented from both sides.

After what seemed like forever the judge finally spoke up, but not directly to either party. He told everyone that he needed more time to deliberate and go through the lease and other cased details. He would end up setting a continuance. Just like that, court was over, and Shelli still didn’t have an answer to the verdict of the case. Was she going to be responsible for nonpayment when she paid? Will she have an eviction on her rental history? Could she sue them for what they did? Shelli would just have to wait about three weeks to find out. The court clerk gave Shelli the next court date and the case was moved aside. As she turned around to leave she saw at least twenty more families going up against the same housing company and most of them seemed to be people of color.

More time had passed and justice was all that Shelli wanted. A chance to clear her name of false accusations, and a place she could call home again. The hotel was starting to wear on Shelli. It felt as if she had been stolen from all over again and the nightmare was everlasting. The weeks had staggered this time, and they only left room for her ambitions, so she worked on her business model components very closely, making drafts, and edits. The day had finally come, and Shelli was ready to hear what sense the judge had made of the messy demeaning case. She entered the court building, went through security and checked in with the clerk. Shelli gave her first and last name and the clerk began to type her information in the computer. The feeling felt all to familiar!

After a few minutes the clerk looked up at Shelli from behind the desk and said, “We don’t have you down today”. Shelli looked confused and said, “There must be a mistake because this is the date the court gave me to attend”. The clerk said, “Wait one minute, let me check on a few other things”. Waiting patiently for a few moments the clerk looked at Shelli and said, “Your case has been dismissed”! Shelli was shocked and taken back. “What does that mean, when am I supposed to come back”, she asked? Shelli looked at her and could tell that she didn’t know anything about what was going on with her case. “Well your case was dismissed it says, so you don’t have to come back, there is no damage hearing on file either”, the clerk stated. Shelli took a step back and walked away from the window. This must be a sick joke she thought to herself as she walked down the hall to exit the court house.

Shelli jumped in her car and drove straight for her hotel room. On the way to the hotel Shelli’s gas hand went off but she still had a considerable way to go before she reached her room. Armed only with a folder of documents, and her little black book tucked in her back pocket Shelli remembered she left her purse, and had no extra cash on hand. She pulled over at a gas station and sat at a pump with her head down on the steering wheel. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and her frustration was mounting quickly. Streams of tears rolled down Shelli’s face as she told herself to remember to breathe. She had nowhere to turn but to the beautiful connection within her, “stress is real, this can't be happening”, she thought. “Get out of the car, and just ask someone” she said to herself.

As she stepped out of the car she looked around. She noticed that the gas station only had a few cars at the pumps, and the drivers were inside. Quickly Shelli walked toward the front door and entered the gas station. She looked around and saw a few people getting drinks from the coolers. She walked toward a man leaving one of the coolers and stopped him by the chips. She asked gently for a few bucks for gas and the man quickly denied having any spare change and breezed by her. Shelli thanked him and kept moving. Shelli had to change her approach if she was going to get any help, so she walked over to a woman standing in a cooler getting a soda, and began to tell her story while proceeding to hand her a business card from her folder. The woman looked at her and shook her head in disbelief, offered ten dollars, and gave Shelli a business card from her pocket. Shelli quickly took the business card and money with a grand thank you. She headed to the front of the store and requested for the ten dollars to be put on her pump where she parked.

The attendant took her money and said, “What pump”? Shelli responded gratefully, “Two please”, while she turned and looked out the window to verify the pump she parked at, and quickly turned back. In disbelief Shelli rotated her neck around and looked back again. Struck in horror she began to shake her head, Shelli ran toward the door, pushed it open and ran outside. She immediately noticed that her car was not where she had left it again! Shelli left the keys in the ignition in a huury to get in and out of the store seeking aid. She screamed into the air, “Oh Hell No, someone stole my car, again”! Standing stuck in what seemed like a forever trance of disbelief and horrible luck, Shelli ran back inside the gas station and asked for the phone to call the police. She cried a lot in those moments waiting. Her day had been horrible and her plans were stolen by someone else again. This time Shelli blamed herself. She had let her guard down by taking in a lot of negativity and not securing her actions.

A few more minutes later the police arrived to take her stolen vehicle report. Shelli sat on the curb and wondered to herself what have I done to deserve this. She spoke to her most intimate parts within. She wanted an answer, and she wanted someone to say something, anything comforting. She wanted the pain to go away, and she wanted to be free of this current mess of a life. In that moment she cried out to her creator to make her stable, to remove the restraints and attacks on her life while she intended good favor. She put her head down on her knees that were pulled to her chest and lay her head there and took another deep breath.

“Are you okay”, a voice said behind her? What could Shelli say? She wondered whether the woman was asking her a trick question. Shelli mustered up the energy to lift her head and turn around. She noticed it was the lady who gave her the ten dollars in the gas station.

“You’re having it pretty hard young lady”, the woman replied! “I know right, but this isn’t even half of it”, Shelli said! “Would you like a ride somewhere, or would you like to call someone”, the woman asked sympathetically? “I really don’t have anyone to call, it's just me, but I could use a ride”, Shelli said sadly. “Come along then, I’m at pump one, I will get you home”, the woman said empathetically. Shelli rose up and followed the woman to her pump. She opened the door on the passenger side and slid in her car. Shelli immediately noticed how smooth the seats were and how they contoured to her body as soon as she sat down. The car was clean of any mess down to spotless, and the car scent was new. Shelli didn’t even see the model of the car. She was still in a daze from her own unfortunate events of the day.

Shuffling in her seat Shelli adjusted the seat components to remove her knees from the dashboard. She shuffled once more to get comfortable and buckled up her safety belt. “Are you hungry?”, the woman asked, “I’ll buy you a bite and it’s totally okay if you have something to say about it”. “No ma'am, it’s okay you have done way too much as it is, and the ride home is enough thank you”, Shelli replied back. “Okay well my name is Ms. Jackson”, the woman replied. “I’m Shelli and thank you again so much for the ride”. “It’s going to get better”, the woman said, “Just believe it”. “Thank you,'' Shelli responded. A few lights away from the hotel Ms. Jackson offered her another card and Shelli took it with a light smile. Ms. Jackson couldn’t help look at the shack of rooms and the drifters walking about that she had pulled up in front of. “Will you be okay here”, she asked Shelli? “No worries right”, Shelli smiled? It will get better and thank you again so much”, she said. With Ms. Jackson’s business card, and her court folder in hand she exited the car and walked up to her room, entered her room code and went in. Exhausted Shelli laid in the bed for a while in silence. She curled in a ball and went to sleep, for the next morning she knew her journey of securing her next steps would occur, and be very difficult still so she thought.

After all of the morning appointments, lunch time was welcoming for Ms. Jackson. Her and a colleague decided to go for lunch together. The ladies clocked out and headed down to the parking lot using the company elevator. They thought salads were a good health choice that would give them the momentum to make it to their, “Girls Casual Night Outing”. This was a night designated to form an entrepreneur's dream networking hub. Man or woman, who have relentlessly pursued their endeavors within the community, and who have been hit with adversities and still manage to conduct business in some proven form only qualified for attendance. On this night, food, grants, bubbly, freedom of style, and networking opportunities were the buzz. The ladies walked down to the garage talking about their outfit choice for the outing. Ms. Jackson pressed the alarm on her key fob, and unlocked the doors to her car.

Her friend opened the passenger door and something fell out and landed on her shoe and flopped to the ground. She looked down and noticed a little black book. Puzzled and still smiling she bent quickly to pick it up and got in the car. Looking at the little black book’s cover, she saw that it was clean, and had two stenciled flowers coiled together and embroidered in the top right corner. It looked to be made from scratch. She held it up and said, “This fell out of your car girl, what is it, it’s pretty”? “I don’t know, it’s not mine, she must have dropped it”, Ms. Jackson said. “She didn’t know she dropped it, I mean”. “Look through it and see if she has some contact information listed please, her card is at home,'' she asked her friend.

“That girl was going through a lot yesterday no wonder she didn't check behind her”, she explained. “I gave her a ride”, Ms. Jackson said. “Wow, well she ain’t a nobody with networking like this girl, it’s her ledger”, her friend said sharply. “She has Mr. Peters the president of our x-firm in her contact girl”, she said. “Oh, okay, she has a few more people I know we have definitely talked with in here as well. “There is no phone number or address of her residence here, but there is an employer’s manager's name and a phone number”, her friend stated. “I’ll call”, she said. With a quick flip to her phone she dialed the listed number. The person that answered the phone prompted the woman to drop it off at the front desk and leave the owner’s name. Ms. Jackson drove to the facility and dropped off the little black book as told by the receptionist. “Something is telling me we need to speak with Shelli again and she if she is on the right side of business integrity, she might become an asset”, Ms. Jackson said to her friend. The ladies drove to the restaurant they had made reservations at earlier while chatting and giggling with each other back at the office. The two ladies went inside, took their reserved seats and ordered lunch.

Overly enthused by Shelli, the ladies ate their lunch. They assumed and laughed at all the possibilities of how Shelli could possibly know their constituents. The ladies decided a deal and an ambush would be perfect to keep her on the dream team, and they would try out their plans immediately. After all, Shelli didn’t know they looked her up already. Shelli would be introduced into the company as a business developer for an ongoing economic development firm working to sustain, and restore distressed communities for the state. This position could change Shelli’s life immediately, but as of now, she didn’t know. The ladies showed back up unannounced a few days later on Shelli’s lunch break after calling to inquire about lunch hours, and available onsite meal options. The ladies were given the information they were inquiring about. Waiting outside the car the ladies heard a bell that went off in the facility.

As the ladies were turning to leave in fear that Shelli did not show up for work that day. Ms. Jackson looked through all the people emerging from the doors across the hall from the office they were in, and exiting another door to go outside. She spotted her! Shelli finally came out the door behind a few more employees, and exited the building. The ladies followed the group quickly to catch up with her. “Shelli”, Ms. Jackson called, "Shelli"!. Shelli turned around and looked, and smiled softly and said hello to Ms. Jackson. “Nice to see you again but what are you doing here at my job”, Shelli asked? Ms. Jackson quickly introduced her friend and told Shelli she had left a little black book in her car and they used her supervisor’s name and number to locate her, and to drop it off so she could have it back. “I was hoping I could have a moment of your time”, Ms. Jackson asked politely? “It is my lunch break and I don’t get off until 6 pm”, Shelli said. “Well have lunch with us, we have reservations not too far from here”, Ms. Jackson’s friend said excitedly. “Are you ladies sure I only have an hour?”, Shelli said cautiously. “We are sure, come on, ride with us”, Ms. Jackson said.

The ladies drove back to the same restaurant they visited the other day for lunch, went inside with Shelli and sat down at their reserved seats for three. They ordered drinks and began to talk. The conversation was very interesting indeed. Shelli explained her work abilities, her strengths, and her experience. Ms. Jackson had a twinkle in her eye, and a kindle of empathy in her heart in that moment. She could not understand how Shelli had been missed in the world, and not noticed for her etiquette alone, she was a perfect fit for the position. Ms. Jackson and her friend had already worked to secure a seat at the company for a new employee over the last few days. One who could help shake things up with communities and allies. The ladies were looking, and now they had to look no more.

“Oh gosh, I’m going to be late if I don’t get back ladies”, Shelli said before taking a final sip of her drink! “Well before we go, I wanted to tell you we have been looking for someone like you at our firm”, Ms. Jackson said. “I do not believe that you will ever have to go back to that job, if you don’t want to,'' she said. “Here”, Ms. Jackson said. She slid a white envelope across the table. Ms. Jackson’s friend smiled with joy. “This happened to me too baby, don’t be scared, we are here to help you, take it, Ms. Jackson’s friend smiled warmly and stated.

Envelops had been no friend to Shelli so she looked at it with concern and caution. Shelli picked up the envelope, opened it, and took out the thick folded papers. She unfolded them and noticed a slip of paper that fell out. She picked up the paper slip and looked at it. Her eyes shot wide open. It was a check for $80,000.

“Is this for me”, Shelli stammered in disbelief? The other customers looked and smiled in amazement at the crowning events unfolding before them. “Yes it is darling, but only if you accept the terms of the contract for four years because it’s only a sign on bonus plus half pf your annual salary upfront”, Ms. Jackson said sharply. “Yes, we took a look at your profile, and it fits what we have been looking for if you will deliver your skills, and this meeting has just sealed the deal”, her friend added! “We’ve already confirmed your new position with the firm, they checked you out and did a vote; you hit and won them over by a landslide” Ms. Jackson said. “We are glad to welcome you, and that advance should more than compensate for anything we are, or have impeded on right”, Ms. Jackson asked Shelli? “Oh my gosh yes”, Shelli said as tears ran down her face, she happily accepted Ms. Jackson’s offer. You start Monday morning, dress professionally, and call me if you have any questions or concerns. The ladies left the restaurant and headed back for Shelli’s old job to grab her rental car.

Sitting in the parking lot, Shelli read over her contract and career description thoroughly that she would hold for the next four years. Surprisingly, after all she had been through, she didn’t know, she would feel gratitude, and that she was a perfect fit for the position. The ladies didn’t hide anything, it was a real offer, and real money for a real new start. Shelli was grateful for their grace, character, and integrity. From that day forward she knew her life would change forever for the better. One small act of kindness, her own relentless efforts to succeed, and the showing that community still exists was the biggest gift one can have. Never regret using a little black book.