The ring of the phone prompts a nervous stirring. Thankful for the
answering machine, Julie has a few seconds before deciding whether to pick up the reciever
while she screens the call. A telemarketer she can safely ignore, but what if it's
her boss? And what if it's bad news? What if she answers and her throat
catches as she speaks and her voice sounds weak?Tim is at a party he
has reluctantly been taken to by a friend. Everyone appears to be having a good time
as his friend drags him into a circle of people and introduces him. He feels a lump
in his throat grow to the size of a basketball as the group turns and smiles, awaiting his
first words. Tim wants to enjoy this gathering but decides at that moment he would
be better off if he had stayed home and not risked looking like a fool as he struggled to
open his mouth.
Everybody seems to be looking at Jeff as he enters the meeting late.
Already he feels self-conscious that he has drawn attention to himself. He
has come to the meeting knowing he has an important statement to make that he has
practiced. When the appropriate time for his comment arrives his heart rate speeds up, he
begins to sweat, and he finds himself unable to raise his hand. He goes home
frustrated by his silence.
Dan's co-workers all take lunch at a great diner down the street.
Unfortunately, the path to the diner goes right by a cafe where dozens of people
eat and watch the crowd move along the walkway. For Dan, this cafe is like a
gauntlet, where a multitude of strangers will criticize his appearance and will realize
that even his stride seems unnatural. Rather than lunch with his friends, Dan
brownbags it.
Tina has watched a makeover show on Oprah and mustered the courage to
go to the department store and get a free makeover at the cosmetic counter. Once
sitting in the chair, she suddenly feels ugly and ridiculous, knowing that the makeup
artist is secretly laughing at her and that everyone who walks by is in on the joke.
Brent has been overcharged on his credit card for an expensive item he
didn't buy. He has the 800 number for his bank in front of him and tries to work up the
resolve to make a complaint. Even though he has never met the faceless person on the
other end of the line, he knows they will doubt his account and will argue the charge.
Conflict is something he just doesn't need right now. He hangs up the phone
without dialing, thinking that he'd rather pay than confront someone who will judge
against him.
Evan's smile feels false on his face even though he means it to be
genuine. He knows they see that he isn't relaxed and that his face is strained and
that they'll never really like him.
Ben has a presentation to make in his English class. He has
known about it for two months and it counts for one half of his grade. He prepares
his talk, spending hours reading and taking notes, but an hour before the class calls the
teacher and fakes an illness.
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