.
A long long time ago, way before family, I was single and lived in Chicago. Well, I made up my mind that I wanted to do a certain project but I needed some money. I knew Mr. So and So was a wealthy Jewish philanthropist and so I decided to pay him a visit.
I marched right in to his office and informed the whispery -voiced secretary that I would like to speak with Mr. So and so. After communicating with him via her intercom, she said I should go into his office.
I went. I felt pretty confident. Had on my best clothes, had my script ready. I was on! I stated my cased and made my request....
He agreed!!! He gave me some money and we agreed on a time to pay him back.
Time passed, life happened and lo and behold it was near the time to pay back the loan! I had been slowly accumulating money to pay him back but I was nowhere near at the amount that I needed to have. The time was fast approaching and as hard as I worked there didn't seem to be any way that I would have that money in time. So I had to make a decision: Either I call him and apologize profusely and request for an extended time or I hide away. In my great twenty something year old intelligence, I decided to do the manly thing and hide away!
The date came and went and I didn't go to see him. I was hiding. All the while praying that i don't bump into him in the streets. Slowly slowly I worked until I was finally able to gather the money to pay him back!
I was elated. I could finally show my face again! No more shame and humiliation. As soon as I gathered the money I ran straight to his office. Convinced I was that he would be so happy to receive his money back that he would understand and forgive and forget my previous hiding away.
I boldly knocked and entered his office. There was the whispery-voiced secretary as usual. I told her who I was and proudly announced that I was ready to pay Mr. So and so back. Again, she communicated via intercom in her whispery voice...
"Mr. So and So, Ms Miriam is here to see you..."
"Send her in!!" was his response. It sounded alittle angry, I thought. Sort of like a...growl... But clutching the money I figured he'd instantly change once he saw what it was about. So I innocently marched into his room.
Rich people are truly rich! Just looking around his room was amazing. His office desk was made of this thick beautiful wood. Everything said "rich" in his room.
"Hi Mr. So and so, Its me, Miriam, I'm sure you remember our interaction?"
silence.
Suddenly, there was a pretty sizable lump in my throat.
I began to realize, this guy is not in a very good mood to see me. I felt some beads of sweat appearing on my forehead. At that point, I wanted my momma. I wanted so badly that Haitian-Creole speaking, belt using, nice when they want to be-parents. I tried to be tough. Surely, i'll make him happy when I present him his money back. I tried to convince myself once again.
"Have a seat" he said without lifting his head from whatever it was he was writing. I slid over to the cushy soft armchair that was in front of his desk. It was very soft. So soft in fact that I just sunk in deeper and deeper into the chair.
The deeper I sunk, the more the realization sunk in. This guy is not happy with me. And why would a wealthy man care so much about such money? He can burp this amount in his sleep! No, it was the principle that counted. The lack of honesty that i showed by not reporting to him at least on the day that I was supposed to pay him back, just too ask for an extention was bothering him. Money was a non issue -he had plenty of that, principle was more valued. Why didn't I just call him that day? What harm could that have done?? I sunk deeper into that chair.
Finally I felt like two eady beady eyes staring out from inside that armchair. Then he lifted his head to look at me. His eyes said it all: No mercy.
I swallowed hard and braced myself. I had it coming...
(Epilogue: So he pretty much admonished me-quite sternly- for messing with his trust. He would have much preferred that I was straightforward with him and asked for an extension. He said it made him weary to loan money again from that experience. I am so sorry for my foolish decision. Thank God it didn't last too long in there- 10 minutes tops. )
A long long time ago, way before family, I was single and lived in Chicago. Well, I made up my mind that I wanted to do a certain project but I needed some money. I knew Mr. So and So was a wealthy Jewish philanthropist and so I decided to pay him a visit.
I marched right in to his office and informed the whispery -voiced secretary that I would like to speak with Mr. So and so. After communicating with him via her intercom, she said I should go into his office.
I went. I felt pretty confident. Had on my best clothes, had my script ready. I was on! I stated my cased and made my request....
He agreed!!! He gave me some money and we agreed on a time to pay him back.
Time passed, life happened and lo and behold it was near the time to pay back the loan! I had been slowly accumulating money to pay him back but I was nowhere near at the amount that I needed to have. The time was fast approaching and as hard as I worked there didn't seem to be any way that I would have that money in time. So I had to make a decision: Either I call him and apologize profusely and request for an extended time or I hide away. In my great twenty something year old intelligence, I decided to do the manly thing and hide away!
The date came and went and I didn't go to see him. I was hiding. All the while praying that i don't bump into him in the streets. Slowly slowly I worked until I was finally able to gather the money to pay him back!
I was elated. I could finally show my face again! No more shame and humiliation. As soon as I gathered the money I ran straight to his office. Convinced I was that he would be so happy to receive his money back that he would understand and forgive and forget my previous hiding away.
I boldly knocked and entered his office. There was the whispery-voiced secretary as usual. I told her who I was and proudly announced that I was ready to pay Mr. So and so back. Again, she communicated via intercom in her whispery voice...
"Mr. So and So, Ms Miriam is here to see you..."
"Send her in!!" was his response. It sounded alittle angry, I thought. Sort of like a...growl... But clutching the money I figured he'd instantly change once he saw what it was about. So I innocently marched into his room.
Rich people are truly rich! Just looking around his room was amazing. His office desk was made of this thick beautiful wood. Everything said "rich" in his room.
"Hi Mr. So and so, Its me, Miriam, I'm sure you remember our interaction?"
silence.
Suddenly, there was a pretty sizable lump in my throat.
I began to realize, this guy is not in a very good mood to see me. I felt some beads of sweat appearing on my forehead. At that point, I wanted my momma. I wanted so badly that Haitian-Creole speaking, belt using, nice when they want to be-parents. I tried to be tough. Surely, i'll make him happy when I present him his money back. I tried to convince myself once again.
"Have a seat" he said without lifting his head from whatever it was he was writing. I slid over to the cushy soft armchair that was in front of his desk. It was very soft. So soft in fact that I just sunk in deeper and deeper into the chair.
The deeper I sunk, the more the realization sunk in. This guy is not happy with me. And why would a wealthy man care so much about such money? He can burp this amount in his sleep! No, it was the principle that counted. The lack of honesty that i showed by not reporting to him at least on the day that I was supposed to pay him back, just too ask for an extention was bothering him. Money was a non issue -he had plenty of that, principle was more valued. Why didn't I just call him that day? What harm could that have done?? I sunk deeper into that chair.
Finally I felt like two eady beady eyes staring out from inside that armchair. Then he lifted his head to look at me. His eyes said it all: No mercy.
I swallowed hard and braced myself. I had it coming...
(Epilogue: So he pretty much admonished me-quite sternly- for messing with his trust. He would have much preferred that I was straightforward with him and asked for an extension. He said it made him weary to loan money again from that experience. I am so sorry for my foolish decision. Thank God it didn't last too long in there- 10 minutes tops. )
