Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Atonement (01/22/26)
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TITLE: A New Lease | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terry R A Eissfeldt
01/29/26 -
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The key slides in, and she twists the tumblers, opens the door, closes it, and slides the chain into place. Leaning against the door, Clare releases the trapped air in her lungs in a rattled sigh. She replaces her keys in her coat pocket and drops the cloth bag onto the kitchen counter.
Leaving her few items to unpack later, she flops down in a wooden chair at the square table. Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, she wills her heart to stop pumping blood at racehorse speed.
Opening her eyes, she glances at the Bible Verse of the Day calendar on the table. In her rush to get to the store first thing this morning, Clare forgot to flip the page. She rereads Hebrews 4:16
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
“I needed You yesterday and I still need You, Lord. How am I going to pay my rent? I’m already two months behind.”
Flipping for today’s verse, she reads 1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Squaring her shoulders, infused with strength from the Word of God, Clare gets up and puts her groceries away. Suddenly someone knocked lightly on her door.
“Who can that be?” she thinks. “It can’t be the landlord. He yells and bangs.”
She has no intention of opening the door, but glances over. Someone has slipped a letter under it. She closes the fridge and goes to pick up the letter.
The envelope is satiny, like expensive paper you’d use for a wedding invitation. At fifty years old, an only child, and unmarried, Clare can think of no-one that would invite her to a wedding.
It’s addressed to her: Clare Williams - Apartment 15.
Carefully Clare slips her index finger into the little space at the top where the glue never reaches and slides it along the V. The papers separate.
Gold foil sparkles as she opens the envelope. Her curiosity is piqued. What can this be? She takes out the card.
“Dear Clare,
Thank you for being a loyal and excellent tenant these past five years. Records show you’ve been struggling to pay your rent.
My name is Joshua Freer, your new landlord. I’ve recently bought this building.
Here are my plans:
I have forgiven all back rent.
You’re invited to live here, rent-free, for the rest of your life
Renovations will begin immediately: roof, wiring, water lines, new rugs, tiles, paint, appliances, and light fixtures. Anything to make your home safe, comfortable, and convenient.
Please come to an orientation meeting tomorrow morning at 10:00 in the lobby.
Sincerely,
Joshua Freer
Clare reads the card three times, turning it over and over, looking for proof it’s real. But who would joke about something like this?
No rent? Renovations? Safety?
A smile breaks across her face. Her shoulders dip in relief. She feels as if a heavy weight has lifted off her chest.
Suddenly violent banging startles her.
“Open up!” The landlord yells. “I’m here for the rent.”
Clare doesn’t know what to do, but he keeps banging, so she opens the door. His greasy hand pushes the door, but the chain holds.
“Where’s my money?” He sneers, scrunching his face like a dried apple. All the goodness evaporated.
“I…uh…I got…” she holds up the card. He tries to grab it but can’t reach through the door.
“Ha!” he cackles. “You don’t believe that, do you?”
“I…uh…” Clare stutters.
“Excuse me.” A calm voice interrupts. “Why are you bothering my tenant?”
The landlord turns and slithers away without saying a word.
Mr. Freer turns to Clare. He looks to be around thirty years old. Kind brown eyes and a smile that emanates peace immediately puts Clare at ease.
“It’s okay, Clare. As I mentioned in my note, I have paid your debt. If that old landlord ever bangs on your door again, don’t open it. Call me and I’ll deal with it. Okay?”
Clare nods and smiles back at her deliverer.
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