HOPE

Hope continued his job search east of the industrial area. He saw a huge sign in front of a massive industrial complex that read, “Crystal Horizon Industrial Group.” Suddenly, there it was, the huge company Barry referred to as CHIG. He decided to go there. At the plant entrance, Hope quickly discovered that there was a security guard shack through which all personnel must pass.

As he entered the guard shack, one of the security guards confronted him and demanded proof of the reason for his visit to the human resources office. He did not have any. It was around shift change. The security guard on duty asked him to go through the exit door. He encouraged him to return when he had a valid reason for a subsequent visit to that facility. Nevertheless, Hope insisted on speaking to the head of human resources. Finally, almost at the point of no return, he dropped Barry’s name to the security guard.

“You mean Barry Pritchard at Senecan sent you here?” the security guard asked.
“He said it would be worthwhile to speak to the head of human resources,” responded Hope.
“Why did he not call or give you a note to see her? Does she know about this?”
“I did not ask him for details,” Hope answered.
“Barry is well known around here,” said the security guard. “However, we cannot allow just anyone from the street to enter this facility based on hearsay. Let me check a couple of things first. I don’t even know whether she is still in her office.”

Hope was not about to back down from his insistence on seeing the head of human resources, even if that meant he must take a risk. He went on the information Barry gave him. Even though it could be considered hearsay, he followed up on that lead. Hope did not believe Barry would lie to him about something that important. He was anxious to get a head start before the positions were officially advertised, but he could not relay that to the security guard.

Though he ran into opposition, Hope did not lose hope. He had the will to stand his ground. He did not allow himself to slip into the doldrums of sadness, discouragement, and despair. He was convinced he had a real opportunity to put in an employment application at CHIG.

He had other reasons to stand his ground. He wanted to disprove a statement that haunted him. Jimmy characterized him as a good-for-nothing young man. He wanted to prove him wrong.

His failure could mean the loss of the opportunity to eventually rescue Avenice from its economic decadence, redeem his family name, develop a viable profession for himself, and make his life meaningful as well as purposeful. Thus, there was a lot at stake as far as he was concerned. Hope considered such factors integral components of the purpose of his destiny.

He stood at the crossroads and was determined to persist to victory no matter how miniscule the opportunity that presented itself.

There were anxious moments as he faced the security guard. He watched the guard make a few calls, presumably to the head of human resources or Barry to verify his statement. For some reason, none of those calls went through. Hope slipped into a pensive meditative state shortly. In order for him to gain access to the head of human resources at CHIG, something miraculous must happen.

At that point, someone tapped on his shoulder. It was Quincy Baah, the security guard he previously met at the rail terminal on his first arrival at Giboad City. It was Quincy who had given him a ride to the mission house where he lodged for a few days. The security company he worked for also provided security services to CHIG. He recognized Hope and told the other security guard that he would take care of this situation. Thus, Hope got the miracle he asked, sought, and knocked on the heavenly realm for.

Quincy asked him to take a seat as he went through procedures to relieve the guard who had tried to prevent Hope from going to the human resources office. A situation that could have been disastrous to Hope’s purpose turned out to be an opportunity for them to get reacquainted since they last saw each other.

Hope related how desperate he was to get employment at CHIG despite the opposition he ran into with the previous security guard. He had heard through the grapevine that a couple of openings might come up soon. However, he did not have any inside connections.

Quincy paused for a moment, and then told Hope, “Wait a minute, friend. I got into a conversation with the head of human resources about three days ago. If my memory serves me right, I heard her say she was born and raised at a town near Avenice. However, they had to relocate here. Is that where you told me you were from?”
“It is a small world. Yes, that is my hometown, Avenice,” replied Hope.
“Well, in that case she might be your in to CHIG. Let me call her office and see if she has not left work yet,” he said.
“That will be great. Give her a shout, buddy.” Hope was already excited.
“She is still there in her office. She said she was about to leave but can squeeze in a few minutes to talk to you. Go down that hallway there. Take the first turn to the left. She is in Room 215. Good luck, friend,” Quincy said.
“I don’t know how to thank you for this great chance you have given me. I owe you one,” responded Hope as he hurried down the hallway.

Within a couple of minutes, he got into the office of the head of human resources at CHIG. She was a middle-aged woman. She was about five foot eight inches tall, bespectacled, well-groomed, and adorned with a variety of jewelry.