The Glory of Hope

Bess joined Donna at the Andrew Jackson Hotel. She was nervous and quiet. “Are you kidding yourself Bess? You really think that you can get up in front of all these people and say a single word, much less an entire speech, condensing the last few years in a few paragraphs?” “There’s no backing out now, she thought. Why did you agree to this, what were you thinking?” People mingled in and took their seats. Bess sat at a front table on a platform with Donna and other guests. She introduced everyone, including Bess, as the guest speaker. Bess was in a simple black dress that buttoned down the front and cap sleeves. “I suddenly feel frumpy” Bess thought as she stood when introduced.

Lunch was served and everyone chatted and ate. Donna stood and read the minutes of the last meeting and went over some other business details. It was time for Bess to speak. Bess drew a breath and walked forward. The crowd was much larger than she imagined. She was trembling. But this was nothing, this was nothing. She felt the cold hard blow of a fist against her face. Memories swept and enveloped her. She knew this was not about her. But about others. Others that may be facing the same, over and over, she knew this was happening too many around her.

She stood and went to the podium and stared out at the sea of people before her. She placed her index cards with her speech in front of her, and then dropped her hands so that no one could see her uncontrollable shaking, and she began. Her voice near a whisper.