Short Story > A Wonderful Opportunity

This is really fantastic, she thought.  I'm going to write an article for a new webzine.  Not only is it a chance to showcase her talents, but also an opportunity to impress that special someone….

Way back, when at school, English had been her favourite subject, and she fancied herself becoming a Journalist. Well, she had done until she’d been to see the school Careers Officer. Asked whether she was confident enough to mix with reporters from the Sun, track down celebrities and assorted newsworthy characters to find and break big stories whilst under pressure…..Well, of course, her confidence had crumbled instantly. Blushing embarrassingly red, she’d muttered that perhaps her confidence wasn’t that great, and the Careers Officer had turned her attention to discussing banking and the Civil Service…….

Yes, then she’d been stuck in a job in the local benefit office for 10 years, desperately trying to break free of the round of signing clients and processing benefit claims. At each performance review being told that, if she wanted to change or progress, she must be more proactive and confident.

Hmm, well all that was several years ago now, and since then she had done three assertiveness courses, a self-actualisation course, counselling and stress management. Reflecting on it now, she did feel it was having an impact.

So, this really was a chance to grab her opportunity, write a great article and to impress that special someone……

Writing an article of interest to the “woman in the street” for a new lesbian oriented webzine, they were asking for submissions, it shouldn’t be that hard. What could she write about? There must be loads of things………

Now what had she done recently that was different? Perhaps she could write about her recent trip to an auction that had been fun. The auction had been organised by a friend in aid of charity. Although she had arrived half way through, due to her usual difficulty in finding places she was unfamiliar with, it had turned out to be fun. Mind you, the fact that she had inadvertently ended up bidding for all the items that no-one else wanted might not demonstrate her understand of the interests of the “woman in the street” that well……..

Yes, she still hadn’t’ decided what to do with the selection of 30 garden pots in rather unusual murky colours, and that trip to the black museum for a party of 12. What was the black museum, anyway? But she was digressing, all that could wait. There were plenty of aunts and other relatives that she could give the pots to as presents.

This was her big opportunity to write something witty and interesting and impress that special someone…..

How about the colour and style consultation she had finally decided to fork out for a couple of months ago? That sort of thing always goes down well with the “woman in the street”. For years she had struggled to find the appropriate colours and outfits to suit her, and she had seen this as her chance to change all that, and to “dress to impress” (especially that special someone…..)

She had gone with her friend, Jane; totally the opposite colour to herself. Jane had dark hair and olive skin; she had mousey brown hair, and pale skin. Many of the colours had looked good when they held them under her chin; she could see how they lifted her colouring. Some even made her look quite attractive, she thought, blushing furiously.

The style consultation had brought her down to earth with a bang. They said she needed to mix and match, and blend at the very least 3 colours together. (She had enough trouble deciding on one!) And she was meant to pay attention to her shape, to wear padded jackets to counteract her rounded shoulders, and to adopt feminine little touches like hankies sticking out her pocket, scarves and other accessories. This was so fussy, and not her at all. The unfortunate thing was, she thought nervously, it was probably much more like the “typical woman in the street”.

She envied Jane, her consultation said she could wear trousers and a contrasting blouse and jacket, and not bother with all those fripperies and frills. That is what would really suit her own straightforward personality so much better.

Hmm, so the colour and style consultation might not be such a good thing to write about…..

She was conscious that she was beginning to feel depressed now. No inspiration and not much chance of impressing that special someone with her literary skills.

Cheering slightly, she remembered she had read something recently about hypnotherapy. Perhaps she should give that course a try? She could be hypnotised to think like a typical woman in the street, so as to build her confidence, focus her mind and write a stunning article, so as to impress that special someone.

Written by Fran Taylor