A Different Day for Jennifer
Marc Franco
Jennifer Jones is in her early 30s, and she lives in Dallas, Texas. She has a very regimented life. She always does the same things every day. She keeps to her daily routine because it makes her feel in control.
In the morning, her alarm clock goes off at exactly 6:00 a.m., even on weekends! She drinks a glass of orange juice and goes for a walk in the park. At 6:45 a.m., she takes a shower.
After her shower, she has breakfast. She usually has a cup of black coffee and two slices of toast with strawberry jam. While she eats her breakfast, she reads the news online. At 7:30, she gets dressed for work. She always leaves her apartment at 8:00 sharp.
This morning is different. Just as she is leaving for work, her phone rings. Jennifer is surprised because nobody calls her so early in the morning.
“Hello?” she says.
“Hello, Jennifer? It’s Peter.”
“Peter! What a great surprise! Is everything okay?”
Peter and Jennifer are old high school friends. He lives in Hawaii now, so they do not see each other very often. Peter’s call changes Jennifer’s routine, but she is also very happy to hear from him.
“Everything is fine. Sorry for calling so early,” Peter says.
”That’s fine! I’m happy to hear from you.”
“I’m at the airport in Dallas right now,” Peter explains. “Do you think you can come and spend a few hours with me while I wait for my flight?”
Jennifer usually never changes her plans, but today she feels different. She is not upset about the disruption to her routine.
“You know what? Yes, I’ll call my office and take a day off,” Jennifer says with a smile on her face. “I’ll be at the airport in about 30 minutes.”
“Great! I look forward to it,” Peter says.
Jennifer and Peter meet in a small café near the airport. They talk for hours. Peter tells her that he is getting married next year. He also says he wants to move back to Dallas after the wedding. Jennifer feels very excited about the news.
“Congratulations!” Jennifer says.
“Thank you. The wedding will be in Hawaii, but I’d love for you to come.”
“Of course! I’ll be there.”
After a few hours, Peter leaves for New York, and Jennifer goes for a walk in the park near her apartment. Her day was very different, but she is not upset about the disruption to her routine.
Jennifer smiles and thinks, “Sometimes, changes are wonderful!”
