She rubbed her palms against her thighs in anticipation of the challenge. 1
Her heartbeat increased, and her forehead showed beads of sweat. She smiled, she couldn’t remember the last time she felt such joy, such rush, such exhilaration.
She wasn’t the last one to be called over, but she felt it was her turn. Maybe it was the way the leader looked at her for an extra beat, or maybe it was the way her little sister jumped after their last huddle. Or maybe it was just that little tingling feeling she always got when something great was about to happen.
“RED ROVER, RED ROVER, WE CALL JESSICA OVER!” they all chanted.
She sprung into action, making a direct line for Lizzie, her kid sister. She was the weakest link on the team. With but five feet to go, she shot off to her right. Her last second change of course threw them off guard. The look of surprise in Joey’s face betrayed him. She knew she’d made the right choice by heading straight into the strongest boy on the team. With ease she crossed his clutching hand. Triumphant, she returned to her team.
The receptionist’s phone buzzed. She picked it up, brought the receiver to her ear, she nodded and looked at Jessica. “Yes, I’ll bring her right over,” she answered, and hung up. She stood up and turned toward her “They’re ready for you,” she said. She made her way around, “Let me take you to them.”
That same tingling feeling came back to Jessie, the one that allowed her to break through the strongest links. She stood up, and smiled at the receptionist. She winked, “It’s ok, I can show myself in,” she said. She straightened her skirt, picked up her bright red satchel, and thanked her for the glass of water.
Red Rover, Red Rover, I’m coming right over she chanted to herself. She walked with her head held high, and entered the interview room knowing she was going to nail this one.
1 Quote from Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
…………………………………………………………
The pulled quote was the writing challenge chosen by Eric Storch. Link here to join this week’s Master Class.
Have I mentioned that I started working a little over a month ago?
my cyber house rules 
That was a cool little trip into her memory. I always loved that game and kicked some ass at it if I must say so myself! Feeling that same triumph could help going into an interview.
LikeLike
🙂
I have been sitting on this for a few days now. Actually I wrote the flashback part, but didn’t like where I was going with it afterwards. This morning I woke up and everything else just flowed out. Don’t you just love it when that happens?
And why am I not surprised you kicked ass at this game? I wasn’t very good I was always the weakest link…
LikeLike
Great story, Marie. How’s the new job going? What are you doing?
LikeLike
Hi Cathy! What am I doing? I’m not having much time for the weekly photo challenges is what I’m doing! Ha!
I’m actually working on product delivery for an international meditation experience (the Oprah & Deepak Meditation Experience) and it’s really keeping me on my toes!
LikeLike
Very cool! I had read about that on Oprah’s ezine. It sounds like a great program.
LikeLike
Oh it’s amazing! I’m so honored to be a part of that team, most days I pinch myself and wonder how did I get so lucky.
LikeLike
So are you working in Chicago or remotely?
LikeLike
Remotely, but we’re an offspring from Deepak’s team. And his center is in San Diego (which is how I got looped in.)
LikeLike
Have a great time with that! I know you will!
LikeLike
This was a great analogy. Very creative.
LikeLike
Thanks Tara! The whole red rover thing was the first idea that sprung to my mind when I read the prompt.
LikeLike
You merged the past and present so smoothly here. I love the way her memory gave her the strength she needed for the interview at hand.I’m glad you linked up this week!
LikeLike
Thanks Sam! When I read the line to use, I had immediate visions of that game, then all I needed was to let it sit with me… I’m glad I linked up too!
LikeLike
Wanna pick the line for next week? Any book, last line. Email it to me at theauthorSAM@gmail.com. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh cool! *Giddy* Now I need to wrack my brain for ideas on which book to pick… Hmmm….
LikeLike
Hahaha!
LikeLike
past and present weaved so well within your words that you smiled with her.
Red Rover got us ready for life in so many ways didn’t it? 🙂
LikeLike
Yes it did, and a great basis for a metaphor all will understand. But I was never really very good at it, I just hope I’ve been better at life than red rover. Maybe it’s all about how you handle the road blocks.
LikeLike
or how you find and make use of the weakest links? (that is the other Kirsten talking, the one that would never do it…)
I was never good at RR either, mostly because I never wanted to hurt anyone, or try to get past them. sigh.
LikeLike
Hmmm… Come to think of it, maybe I didn’t want to break through either. Being held back was almost like a competitive group hug, kind of thing…
LikeLike
I like the tie-in between winning a game and winning a job in the story – very cool.
LikeLike
Thanks! I love tie-ins and I’ve been wanting to do one for a long time. Finally the opportunity jumped in my head.
LikeLike
I love how tied in a childhood game to a modern situation. How fun.
Side note: I hated Red Rover. I was always terrified the chain wouldn’t break and I’d flip over them.
LikeLike