The Underdog (A Work of Fiction)
The Underdog: Story Teller's Challenge Treasure #13 (Short Story)
Treasure #13
Music filled the air. Choruses of angels were probably singing praises to the Almighty, but no. The Trent Siblings were singing. After their rendition the audience gave them a standing ovation. People approached the performers and congratulated them. All of the boys were praised, but their little sister, Alanna, ceased to exist. Her parents hugged their twelve year-old, homely girl. For them she was the most beautiful angel they have ever seen.
Years passed, and now Alanna was a grown woman. She worked as a secretary for one of the youngest Chief Financial Officers. The CFO's name is Craig. He is handsome and almost everybody at the office had a crush on him. But he had little interest in them; he was in love with Alanna, but he did not want to admit it, not even to himself.
~0~0~0~
Alanna finished a document she was doing on her computer. She printed it then buzzed her boss. "Come in," said Craig. Once Alanna entered, Craig was not his usual self. He was even fidgeting. Alanna handed him the papers. His hands shook as he took the papers. He tried to find the right words to say to her.
He wanted to tell her what he truly felt, but instead he just said, "Wow Alanna. You've been working for me for about two years now, and you've always worked ahead of schedule. Is there anything you can't do?"
Alanna blushed. She wasn't comfortable hearing praises and since she worked for Craig she was hearing quite a bundle. "Sir, there are a lot of things I can't do," she said smiling. "If I were such a genius as you always say, I wouldn't be working for you. Maybe, I would be competing for your position."
Now it was his turn to blush. Alanna went on. "I wasn't able to finish college, remember?" When Alanna's parents died she had to stop going to the University and started to work instead to pay off her student loan. She could have worked part time and continued her studies, but sort of lost the drive. Losing her parents depressed her, but somehow, working hard made her a little joyful. She traveled miles away from home to be with her best friend who is five years older than her.
"Still, you're the best." Craig was uneasy. For the first time in his life he was admitting to himself that he was in love with her. He could not decide if he should break the news to her or leave the words unsaid.
"Is there anything else, sir?"
Craig did not answer until Alanna cleared her throat. "No. You may go." Alanna left. Craig was burning inside. He started pacing and told himself he was stupid several times.
The following day, the first of a long-awaited weekend, Alanna and her gorgeous best friend Melanie were at the mall. Men were staring at them and whistling. To stop the commotion, the two entered an expensive boutique. As they entered Alanna said, "Everybody is staring at you."
"How do you know that all of them are staring at me?"
"Come on, Mel. I do look at the mirror and I know that I'm not a sight to behold."
"But you are very beautiful inside. That's the reason why you're my best friend. Besides, you're not ugly."
"Thanks, Mel," Alanna responded, her thoughts distant.
"What's bothering you, Al?"
"I'm just thankful that we're still friends even if Alvin is now married to Tess."
"Come on, Alanna. We were friends before Alvin and Tess became an item. That's why we're here, together, thousands of miles away from them." Melanie squeezed Alanna's right hand," I love you, Al."
"I love you too, but we better stop this. People might think we're not straight."
"Are we?" Melanie asked, chuckling. Alanna smiled. After a brief period, they finished their shopping task. They entered the boutique to shop, not to dodge the men in the mall. They bought two glamorous dresses that made the patient sales lady smile.
While Alanna and Melanie shopped, Craig and his friends were at the beach. Girls were flirting with Craig, but he gave them little of his attention.
"Is your friend gay?" asked Billy's girl.
"Craig? No way!" said one of Craig's best friends, Joseph.
"He's just picky," said Billy, Craig's closest friend.
"Do you have an unattached friend that he could date?" asked Joseph.
"I do," said Billy's girl. "But if he would act the way he's acting right now, we better forget it."
"We'll tell him to behave," said Joseph confidently. "Let's not worry about him for a while. Look, the waves are tubular!" They got their surfboards and enjoyed themselves.
Craig's friends had set him up with at least a dozen girls, but he just wouldn't budge. Later that same day his friends continued to conspire. "Phyllis is the last one," said Joseph's girl. "But if he just walks out again, we should give up." Joseph's girl sounded mad. They planned the date carefully. To be safe, Phyllis suggested that Craig have dinner at their house, so that it would be less humiliating for her if he decided to leave.
The evening of the dinner, all went well. While they were having dessert Craig praised Phyllis's cooking.
"You're just saying that," Phyllis responded.
"No, I'm not. You actually remind me of someone."
"I do?" Phyllis asked.
"My one true love."
"Then what is this meeting for?"
"Friendship," Craig suggested.
Phyllis was disheartened. Another friend? Do I need that? she thought.
"Don't be sad," Craig said, offering to comfort her. "I know this great guy named Trek. You'd hit it off."
"Are you sure?"
"Am I an earthling?" Craig said pointing to himself.
"I think you'd make a great friend," Phyllis smiled. They talked all night.
A week after, the three best buds were drinking beer at Craig's condo. "I can't believe that you set up Phyllis with Trek Davies!" exclaimed Joseph.
"Trek is nice," Craig said with a smug attitude. "Besides, they already have wedding plans."
"You know, I'm beginning to believe the rumors I hear," said Billy as he looked at Craig.
"What rumors?" Craig asked.
"That you're not straight."
Craig just laughed.
"Craig, Craig, Craig! You can have any woman of your choice and yet you opt to stay unattached. Well, there's nothing wrong with being unattached, but why don't you go out and have fun? Collect, then select!" Billy said, totally flabbergasted.
Craig explained that he was already in love with someone without stating who she was. "She's simply the best!"
"Why don't you introduce her to us?" the two friends chorused.
"You already know her."
"It's Melanie, right?" asked Billy.
"No, it's Saundra!" Joseph said confidently.
Craig's thoughts were now in oblivion. How could I tell them?, he thought. He felt forlorn, even though Billy and Joseph were suppose to be his best friends.
Monday arrived all to soon. Craig arrived at the office at six thirty in the morning. He was surprised to see Alanna already there brewing coffee. "That smells good," he said.
Alanna was startled, "Oh, it's you sir. You're early."
"Didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to beat you here."
"Now you know my secret," Alanna said. Craig's face was blank. "How I finish ahead of schedule, that is. I arrive early, do some bible reading, then I prepare your coffee. While its brewing, I finish the things you assigned to me."
"Still, you're brilliant."
Alanna blushed. "I baked some chocolate cake sir. Do you want a slice?"
"Sure." While Alanna was slicing the cake Craig said the first think on his mind. "Alanna I lo...." He couldn't finish his thought.
"What is it, sir?"
"I love... your chocolate cake."
"But you haven't even tasted it."
"I smelled it. That's right," he said as if he was trying to convince himself. "I smelled it." He sighed in relief. "Besides, there is nothing that you baked that I don't like." Alanna handed him the slice; he tasted it, and after munching a bit, he said, "See, I was right. This cake is scrumptious." He was about to take another bite when he said, "I'll just finish this inside. Bring me the coffee when it's done."
"Yes sir." Alanna was floating on air. She knew in her heart that Craig loved her and that he couldn't tell her. And she wasn't in love with him, at least not yet. That was the irony. She could learn to love him, she thought.
Days passed and still Craig did not have the guts to tell Alanna how he felt. One day while Alanna was driving home, she was so happy, she sang a delightful melody; the melody was one the Trents sang so long ago.
At the other side of the long road a truck was having problems with its brakes. "Hey Lennie, the brakes aren't working," said the big, bulky truck driver. "Let's hope that we don't hit anybody."
Alanna's car was almost near the truck when she noticed that it was out of control. She tried not to hit it, but the truck swerved, hitting Alanna's car. The car tumbled. After a few seconds, she was out of the car. Lennie jumped out of the truck and ran to Alanna. He carried her away from the car. Seconds later, the car exploded the same time that the truck hit a tree.
Inside the hospital, Lennie and the driver were pacing. After long, anxious moments, Lennie stopped pacing and started to pray. Melanie and Craig arrived; Melanie was hysterical and Craig was furious.
"Don't you know that the woman lying in a coma is the one I love. She could have died," Craig shouted at the two men.
Melanie calmed herself; she was dumbfounded by Craig's remark. Lennie was shaking. The truck driver burst into tears. The two men explained everything that happened and how they got Melanie and Craig's phone numbers. Craig's heart was softened and after some quiet time passed, he offered them money for the truck's repair.
A month later, Alanna was still in a coma. Craig had resigned from his job to take care of her. He was by her side day and night.
One day while Melanie was visiting he asked, "Why did it have to happen to her, Mel?"
"I don't really know, Craig, but maybe, just maybe, this happened so you could admit to yourself that you love her."
Craig's eyes filled with tears; he bowed his head in silent prayer.
"Craig, I have your job now," Melanie said. "Are you mad?"
"I'm glad that they gave it to you. You deserve it." He squeezed Alanna's hand. "I love you, girl. I can have other jobs, but I can't have another you." With those words, Alanna's hand moved, and although she was still unconscious, it offered a ray of hope that Craig felt in his heart.
"You're one lucky girl, Alanna," Melanie said.
"No, Melanie. I'm the lucky one," declared Craig.
"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." -attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson & Charles Austin Beard
© Lara Mia Veronica M. Garcia 1997
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Treasure #13
The Lord prefers common-looking people. That is the reason he makes so many of them. Abraham Lincoln (some say it wasn't Honest Abe who said this, but Mary Todd Lincoln)
The Underdog
Lara Mia Veronica ~ Published @ STChallenge on March 10, 1997Music filled the air. Choruses of angels were probably singing praises to the Almighty, but no. The Trent Siblings were singing. After their rendition the audience gave them a standing ovation. People approached the performers and congratulated them. All of the boys were praised, but their little sister, Alanna, ceased to exist. Her parents hugged their twelve year-old, homely girl. For them she was the most beautiful angel they have ever seen.
Years passed, and now Alanna was a grown woman. She worked as a secretary for one of the youngest Chief Financial Officers. The CFO's name is Craig. He is handsome and almost everybody at the office had a crush on him. But he had little interest in them; he was in love with Alanna, but he did not want to admit it, not even to himself.
~0~0~0~
Alanna finished a document she was doing on her computer. She printed it then buzzed her boss. "Come in," said Craig. Once Alanna entered, Craig was not his usual self. He was even fidgeting. Alanna handed him the papers. His hands shook as he took the papers. He tried to find the right words to say to her.
He wanted to tell her what he truly felt, but instead he just said, "Wow Alanna. You've been working for me for about two years now, and you've always worked ahead of schedule. Is there anything you can't do?"
Alanna blushed. She wasn't comfortable hearing praises and since she worked for Craig she was hearing quite a bundle. "Sir, there are a lot of things I can't do," she said smiling. "If I were such a genius as you always say, I wouldn't be working for you. Maybe, I would be competing for your position."
Now it was his turn to blush. Alanna went on. "I wasn't able to finish college, remember?" When Alanna's parents died she had to stop going to the University and started to work instead to pay off her student loan. She could have worked part time and continued her studies, but sort of lost the drive. Losing her parents depressed her, but somehow, working hard made her a little joyful. She traveled miles away from home to be with her best friend who is five years older than her.
"Still, you're the best." Craig was uneasy. For the first time in his life he was admitting to himself that he was in love with her. He could not decide if he should break the news to her or leave the words unsaid.
"Is there anything else, sir?"
Craig did not answer until Alanna cleared her throat. "No. You may go." Alanna left. Craig was burning inside. He started pacing and told himself he was stupid several times.
The following day, the first of a long-awaited weekend, Alanna and her gorgeous best friend Melanie were at the mall. Men were staring at them and whistling. To stop the commotion, the two entered an expensive boutique. As they entered Alanna said, "Everybody is staring at you."
"How do you know that all of them are staring at me?"
"Come on, Mel. I do look at the mirror and I know that I'm not a sight to behold."
"But you are very beautiful inside. That's the reason why you're my best friend. Besides, you're not ugly."
"Thanks, Mel," Alanna responded, her thoughts distant.
"What's bothering you, Al?"
"I'm just thankful that we're still friends even if Alvin is now married to Tess."
"Come on, Alanna. We were friends before Alvin and Tess became an item. That's why we're here, together, thousands of miles away from them." Melanie squeezed Alanna's right hand," I love you, Al."
"I love you too, but we better stop this. People might think we're not straight."
"Are we?" Melanie asked, chuckling. Alanna smiled. After a brief period, they finished their shopping task. They entered the boutique to shop, not to dodge the men in the mall. They bought two glamorous dresses that made the patient sales lady smile.
While Alanna and Melanie shopped, Craig and his friends were at the beach. Girls were flirting with Craig, but he gave them little of his attention.
"Is your friend gay?" asked Billy's girl.
"Craig? No way!" said one of Craig's best friends, Joseph.
"He's just picky," said Billy, Craig's closest friend.
"Do you have an unattached friend that he could date?" asked Joseph.
"I do," said Billy's girl. "But if he would act the way he's acting right now, we better forget it."
"We'll tell him to behave," said Joseph confidently. "Let's not worry about him for a while. Look, the waves are tubular!" They got their surfboards and enjoyed themselves.
Craig's friends had set him up with at least a dozen girls, but he just wouldn't budge. Later that same day his friends continued to conspire. "Phyllis is the last one," said Joseph's girl. "But if he just walks out again, we should give up." Joseph's girl sounded mad. They planned the date carefully. To be safe, Phyllis suggested that Craig have dinner at their house, so that it would be less humiliating for her if he decided to leave.
The evening of the dinner, all went well. While they were having dessert Craig praised Phyllis's cooking.
"You're just saying that," Phyllis responded.
"No, I'm not. You actually remind me of someone."
"I do?" Phyllis asked.
"My one true love."
"Then what is this meeting for?"
"Friendship," Craig suggested.
Phyllis was disheartened. Another friend? Do I need that? she thought.
"Don't be sad," Craig said, offering to comfort her. "I know this great guy named Trek. You'd hit it off."
"Are you sure?"
"Am I an earthling?" Craig said pointing to himself.
"I think you'd make a great friend," Phyllis smiled. They talked all night.
A week after, the three best buds were drinking beer at Craig's condo. "I can't believe that you set up Phyllis with Trek Davies!" exclaimed Joseph.
"Trek is nice," Craig said with a smug attitude. "Besides, they already have wedding plans."
"You know, I'm beginning to believe the rumors I hear," said Billy as he looked at Craig.
"What rumors?" Craig asked.
"That you're not straight."
Craig just laughed.
"Craig, Craig, Craig! You can have any woman of your choice and yet you opt to stay unattached. Well, there's nothing wrong with being unattached, but why don't you go out and have fun? Collect, then select!" Billy said, totally flabbergasted.
Craig explained that he was already in love with someone without stating who she was. "She's simply the best!"
"Why don't you introduce her to us?" the two friends chorused.
"You already know her."
"It's Melanie, right?" asked Billy.
"No, it's Saundra!" Joseph said confidently.
Craig's thoughts were now in oblivion. How could I tell them?, he thought. He felt forlorn, even though Billy and Joseph were suppose to be his best friends.
Monday arrived all to soon. Craig arrived at the office at six thirty in the morning. He was surprised to see Alanna already there brewing coffee. "That smells good," he said.
Alanna was startled, "Oh, it's you sir. You're early."
"Didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to beat you here."
"Now you know my secret," Alanna said. Craig's face was blank. "How I finish ahead of schedule, that is. I arrive early, do some bible reading, then I prepare your coffee. While its brewing, I finish the things you assigned to me."
"Still, you're brilliant."
Alanna blushed. "I baked some chocolate cake sir. Do you want a slice?"
"Sure." While Alanna was slicing the cake Craig said the first think on his mind. "Alanna I lo...." He couldn't finish his thought.
"What is it, sir?"
"I love... your chocolate cake."
"But you haven't even tasted it."
"I smelled it. That's right," he said as if he was trying to convince himself. "I smelled it." He sighed in relief. "Besides, there is nothing that you baked that I don't like." Alanna handed him the slice; he tasted it, and after munching a bit, he said, "See, I was right. This cake is scrumptious." He was about to take another bite when he said, "I'll just finish this inside. Bring me the coffee when it's done."
"Yes sir." Alanna was floating on air. She knew in her heart that Craig loved her and that he couldn't tell her. And she wasn't in love with him, at least not yet. That was the irony. She could learn to love him, she thought.
Days passed and still Craig did not have the guts to tell Alanna how he felt. One day while Alanna was driving home, she was so happy, she sang a delightful melody; the melody was one the Trents sang so long ago.
At the other side of the long road a truck was having problems with its brakes. "Hey Lennie, the brakes aren't working," said the big, bulky truck driver. "Let's hope that we don't hit anybody."
Alanna's car was almost near the truck when she noticed that it was out of control. She tried not to hit it, but the truck swerved, hitting Alanna's car. The car tumbled. After a few seconds, she was out of the car. Lennie jumped out of the truck and ran to Alanna. He carried her away from the car. Seconds later, the car exploded the same time that the truck hit a tree.
Inside the hospital, Lennie and the driver were pacing. After long, anxious moments, Lennie stopped pacing and started to pray. Melanie and Craig arrived; Melanie was hysterical and Craig was furious.
"Don't you know that the woman lying in a coma is the one I love. She could have died," Craig shouted at the two men.
Melanie calmed herself; she was dumbfounded by Craig's remark. Lennie was shaking. The truck driver burst into tears. The two men explained everything that happened and how they got Melanie and Craig's phone numbers. Craig's heart was softened and after some quiet time passed, he offered them money for the truck's repair.
A month later, Alanna was still in a coma. Craig had resigned from his job to take care of her. He was by her side day and night.
One day while Melanie was visiting he asked, "Why did it have to happen to her, Mel?"
"I don't really know, Craig, but maybe, just maybe, this happened so you could admit to yourself that you love her."
Craig's eyes filled with tears; he bowed his head in silent prayer.
"Craig, I have your job now," Melanie said. "Are you mad?"
"I'm glad that they gave it to you. You deserve it." He squeezed Alanna's hand. "I love you, girl. I can have other jobs, but I can't have another you." With those words, Alanna's hand moved, and although she was still unconscious, it offered a ray of hope that Craig felt in his heart.
"You're one lucky girl, Alanna," Melanie said.
"No, Melanie. I'm the lucky one," declared Craig.
*****************************************************************
"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." -attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson & Charles Austin Beard
© Lara Mia Veronica M. Garcia 1997
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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