£100 prize… For your story

When things seemed set to go wrong for Jenny, a tiny gesture brightened her day

Jenny locked up her bike, checked her watch and gave herself a mental pat on the back. She was early, hadn’t laddered her tights and there was time to tidy her hair and re-read her notes before her interview. Her mother would have been proud of her.

Jenny breezed in through the revolving door bearing the Thompson-browne logo, smiled warmly at the rather stern-faced receptionist and gave her name.

‘Ms Walker? And you’re here to see?’ the receptionist asked. ‘Mr Browne. It’s for the PA position,’ Jenny replied, smiling. Stern Face glanced at her computer screen again.

‘Sorry, no interviews are being held today and we don’t have a Mr Browne. Are you sure you have the right office?’

‘Yes, of course I am. Thompson & Browne, publishers.’

‘We’re Thompson-browne & Statham, accountants. I’m afraid you’re in the wrong building.’

Jenny stared in disbelief, feeling the familiar heat of a flush rising across her chest and neck.

‘But I checked… I went on to Street View to make sure I knew the best route and… oh, this can’t be happening!’

Afraid she was about to burst into tears, Jenny apologised, whirled around and left the building. She stabbed her password into her phone. No signal. Resisting the temptation to throw it at the nearest wall, she started to unlock her bike when, to her surprise, Stern Face appeared alongside her.

‘Ms Walker… Thompson & Browne isn’t far away. Look, it’s just across the bridge. Cut through the park and you’re there.’

She handed Jenny a map with the route and wished her luck. ‘Oh! Thank you…’ Jenny began, but Stern Face-turned-guardian Angel had already gone inside.

*********

In contrast to the accountants, Thompson & Browne had a small office that was accessed through the back of a bookshop.

Mr Browne – ‘Please call me Tim’ – shook Jenny’s hand and brushed aside her apologies for being late.

‘No worries. You’re here now. Come in. Cup of tea? Let’s see what we make of one another, shall we?’

Half an hour later, a job offer had been made and accepted. In addition to Jenny, the publishers had taken on an editor and two writers, with whom she was to share an office. A somewhat unusual office, as she explained to her brother, Hugh, when she called in on her way home.

‘Well, it’s actually a converted shipping container in the garden,’ Jenny told him, still grinning with the thrill of her news.

‘Jen, that’s fantastic!’ Hugh told her, grinning back. ‘You’ll need a thick sweater in the winter, though!’

‘I don’t care. After all this time unemployed, I’d work at a bus stop. You still okay for drinks on Friday? My treat. I have a salary to look forward to!’

‘Yeah, definitely – see you then and congratulations again!’

Jenny waved goodbye and, as she tucked her phone into her bag, she noticed the map she’d been given by the receptionist.

*********

Coming back from her lunch break, receptionist Amelia Barton was handed a small but beautiful bunch of flowers and a card by her curious colleague, Sue.

Amelia smiled. The card read: Guardian Angel – I got the job! If you’d like to, come for a drink to celebrate: King’s Arms, High St, this Friday, 7pm.

Thanks for the random act of kindness! Jenny Walker x

*********

Amelia pushed open the pub door. Normally reserved with strangers, she had needed courage to accept the invite, but Sue had told her it would be churlish to refuse.

In any case, Amelia had been touched by Jenny’s gesture and scanned the room for her. ‘Hi, are you here for Jenny?’ asked a voice at Amelia’s side. ‘I’m Hugh, Jenny’s brother.

I saw you looking and had a hunch.’

Amelia gazed up at Hugh’s handsome face, surprised for a moment. ‘Yes, I’m Amelia.’

‘Lovely to meet you. Jenny asked me to look out for you, she’s just popped to the loo. What can I get you?’

Amelia was about to respond when she found herself suddenly embraced by Jenny.

‘You came! I’m so pleased my Guardian Angel could be here.’ ‘I wouldn’t go that far, but congratulations!’ said Amelia, laughing as they headed to the bar together.

The trio settled down for an evening that spun by in a whirl of conversation and laughter. Hugh and Jenny put

Amelia at ease with their warmth. She revealed a witty, smart intelligence and open heartedness normally reserved for longer-standing friends. Jenny realised she had been wrong about Amelia, she wasn’t stern-faced at all.

At closing time, the siblings walked Amelia to her bus stop. Hugh, having secured her agreement to have drinks with him the following week, enveloped her in a warm hug.

‘You’re smitten, Hugh!’ said Jenny as they walked away.

‘Yes, I suppose I am.’

Jenny smiled. Who knew where Amelia’s random act of kindness would lead next?