Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Like Living in a Goldfish Bowl (11/07/13)
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TITLE: Behind Closed Curtains | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ann Menschel
11/14/13 -
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Sharon muted the commercial blaring on the TV. “Looks like the her Bible study is over for another week.”
Jeff looked up from the newspaper to glance across the street into Julie’s house. “Uh huh.”
“And now the curtains go closed, just like every evening,” Sharon added.
“Julie’s a woman of routine and order. Maybe you could learn something from that,” he said, pointedly looking around their cluttered living room.
Sharon unmuted the TV, ignoring the dig and continued to occasionally glance across the street.
An hour passed. The curtains opened. Julie picked up the phone, chatted for a while and then turned on the evening news. At the end of the broadcast, she switched off the TV and the living room lights, heading to the bedroom. The curtains were left open.
“I don’t get it,” said Sharon as she switched off their TV. “Why does she leave the living room curtains open day and night – like she doesn’t know or doesn’t care that people are watching – except for that hour or so every evening. It’s driving me crazy. What do you suppose she does behind those closed curtains?”
“If it bothers you that much, why don’t you just ask her?”
“If I ask her, she’ll know we watch what she’s doing.”
“We?” Jeff mocked.
“Well, if you ever did anything besides read want ads, maybe you would be curious too.”
“Okay, it does seem a little odd. It’s like she’s inviting the whole neighborhood to watch her life – except the time behind the curtains. Maybe that’s when she does her binge eating, or watches her soap operas or exercises in a skimpy spandex outfit,” Jeff speculated.
Sharon threw a pillow at Jeff and they headed to bed.
The next evening Julie fixed supper, dusted the living room, talked on the phone and watched a couple programs on TV. Sharon kept an eye on events across the street as usual. About nine o’clock, the curtains went closed.
“There she goes again,” Sharon said.
“Uh huh,” came the response from behind the newspaper.
With the curtains drawn, Julie sat down on the couch, a small journal in her hands. Before opening it, she closed her eyes. “Heavenly Father, as I come into Your sacred presence tonight, I continue to desire to be Your light to this community in which You have placed me. I ask that You use my life to show Your love to each of my neighbors. Please help Sharon and Jeff to . . . “
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Lots of truth and human nature revealed in your story.
Thanks for sharing.
I especially loved the closing prayer.
Good job!
God bless~