I’ve deciphered worse than this.”
She breathed a silent prayer as she bent over the sheets, hoping she wouldn’t have to correct too much. Cyrus had handpicked his intern, and Cyrus was erratic enough to make the decision based on whatever standard he thought important at the moment.
But C.J.’s writing proved to be surprisingly smooth and insightful. She read it once, quickly, and then went back over it again, checking a few places. Finally she looked up at the young woman, recognizing the tension that emanated from C.J.
“Relax, C.J. This is good, very good.” C.J.’s breath came out in a whoosh of relief. “Thanks.” She seemed to make an effort to sound blasé, but a hint of eagerness showed through. “You marked some things, though.”
“Let’s take a look.” At her gesture, C.J. pulled up her chair. She held the papers flat so that they could go over them together.
“This is a very effective word picture.” She tapped one paragraph. “Notice how you’ve used exact details to get the image across. Now, down here, the observation isn’t quite as visual. Do you see what I mean?”
“Got it.” C.J. scribbled a few words on the sheet, seeming determined to get it exactly right. She flipped to the second page. “It’s the same thing here, isn’t it?” She stabbed another paragraph with her pen.
“You’ve got it.” C.J. slashed an arrow and then began making notes on the back of the sheet.
“You can go home,” Amanda said gently. “You don’t have to work on it right now.”
C.J. moved her shoulders restlessly. “It’s hard to get anything done there. The landlord turned off the airconditioning. He says it’s broke, but everyone thinks he’s just trying to save money.”
“In this heat? How long has it been off?”
“Ten days, maybe. My grandmother’s been takin’ a walk to the market every day, just so she can go in where it’s cool.”
That was unconscionable, as hot as the weather had been. Her mind flickered to the cool, welcoming dimness of her small carriage house apartment.
“Hasn’t anyone complained to the landlord?”
“Doesn’t do any good. He’s always cutting corners like that—keeping it hot in summer and cold in winter. Besides, folks figure if they complain too much, he’ll treat them even worse.”
“But—” C.J. shook her head. “No use talking about it. I’d rather work.”
A relatively polite way of telling Amanda it was none of her business. She watched as the intern went over her work again, scribbling eagerly.
Had she had that sort of initiative at C.J.’s age? She doubted it. She’d been excited to get off to college, true, but she’d been looking forward to starting over with new people, creating a different identity for herself other than just being one of the Bodines. She’d been as excited about football games and parties as about what she might learn.
C.J. looked up from the page. “If I do this whole thing again, will you read it and tell me what you think?”
“Sure thing.” She smiled, pleased at the sign C.J. was willing to accept criticism and learn from it. “You have a lot of drive, don’t you?”
C.J. shrugged, but this time there wasn’t any sullenness attached. “My grandmother always tells me that if I want something, it’s my job to do what it takes to get it.”
Her thoughts flickered to Miz Callie. “You know, my grandmother would say exactly the same thing. I guess we have that in common.”
Amanda half expected C.J. to back away from that suggestion. Instead, she got a tentative smile that revealed an eager, slightly scared young woman behind the tough exterior.
Another piece of Miz Callie’s advice popped into her mind. God sends people into our lives for a reason, Amanda. Always watch for that, because He might have a special job for you to do.
Maybe C.J. was destined to be one of those people for her.
Ross locked his office door and started down the hallway, his steps echoing emptily on
She breathed a silent prayer as she bent over the sheets, hoping she wouldn’t have to correct too much. Cyrus had handpicked his intern, and Cyrus was erratic enough to make the decision based on whatever standard he thought important at the moment.
But C.J.’s writing proved to be surprisingly smooth and insightful. She read it once, quickly, and then went back over it again, checking a few places. Finally she looked up at the young woman, recognizing the tension that emanated from C.J.
“Relax, C.J. This is good, very good.” C.J.’s breath came out in a whoosh of relief. “Thanks.” She seemed to make an effort to sound blasé, but a hint of eagerness showed through. “You marked some things, though.”
“Let’s take a look.” At her gesture, C.J. pulled up her chair. She held the papers flat so that they could go over them together.
“This is a very effective word picture.” She tapped one paragraph. “Notice how you’ve used exact details to get the image across. Now, down here, the observation isn’t quite as visual. Do you see what I mean?”
“Got it.” C.J. scribbled a few words on the sheet, seeming determined to get it exactly right. She flipped to the second page. “It’s the same thing here, isn’t it?” She stabbed another paragraph with her pen.
“You’ve got it.” C.J. slashed an arrow and then began making notes on the back of the sheet.
“You can go home,” Amanda said gently. “You don’t have to work on it right now.”
C.J. moved her shoulders restlessly. “It’s hard to get anything done there. The landlord turned off the airconditioning. He says it’s broke, but everyone thinks he’s just trying to save money.”
“In this heat? How long has it been off?”
“Ten days, maybe. My grandmother’s been takin’ a walk to the market every day, just so she can go in where it’s cool.”
That was unconscionable, as hot as the weather had been. Her mind flickered to the cool, welcoming dimness of her small carriage house apartment.
“Hasn’t anyone complained to the landlord?”
“Doesn’t do any good. He’s always cutting corners like that—keeping it hot in summer and cold in winter. Besides, folks figure if they complain too much, he’ll treat them even worse.”
“But—” C.J. shook her head. “No use talking about it. I’d rather work.”
A relatively polite way of telling Amanda it was none of her business. She watched as the intern went over her work again, scribbling eagerly.
Had she had that sort of initiative at C.J.’s age? She doubted it. She’d been excited to get off to college, true, but she’d been looking forward to starting over with new people, creating a different identity for herself other than just being one of the Bodines. She’d been as excited about football games and parties as about what she might learn.
C.J. looked up from the page. “If I do this whole thing again, will you read it and tell me what you think?”
“Sure thing.” She smiled, pleased at the sign C.J. was willing to accept criticism and learn from it. “You have a lot of drive, don’t you?”
C.J. shrugged, but this time there wasn’t any sullenness attached. “My grandmother always tells me that if I want something, it’s my job to do what it takes to get it.”
Her thoughts flickered to Miz Callie. “You know, my grandmother would say exactly the same thing. I guess we have that in common.”
Amanda half expected C.J. to back away from that suggestion. Instead, she got a tentative smile that revealed an eager, slightly scared young woman behind the tough exterior.
Another piece of Miz Callie’s advice popped into her mind. God sends people into our lives for a reason, Amanda. Always watch for that, because He might have a special job for you to do.
Maybe C.J. was destined to be one of those people for her.
Ross locked his office door and started down the hallway, his steps echoing emptily on
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