FICTION

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Jeri 49-K-3 FPE

I answered the advertisement in SR partly out of curiosity and partly out of real desire. Let me explain.

I had gotten my MA in English Literature that same year, but was in a quandry as regards definite plans for the future. Logically I should have pushed on for my doctorate, but in the back of my mind was an urge to do some creative writing on my own, and I thought that in all honesty I would be doing the wiser thing to take a sort of sabbatical to collect myself. I was in no real hurry, for I had only myself to answer to. I thought I would get a job as an instructor in a small college somewhere for a year and come to grips with myself. There was no question in my mind that this was a wise choice; I had been supporting myself on the fractional sum that is paid for teaching assistants and it came as a real surprise when I was not able to find anything of any sort.

When I marched back from getting my diploma, I had only about three dollars to my name, one month's salary due me, and the deposit on the cap-and-gown, not a princely sum you'll agree.

This lack of resources kept me from moving anywhere else and after only a few days, I reluctantly sought employment elsewhere. You wouldn't think that having a master's degree would be a handicap — let me tell you it is! To begin with, I'm really not built for too demanding physical work, and somehow, everyone else seemed to question either mental or social adaptability; as one employment manager put it: "Nothing personal, you understand, but with your education, you just wouldn't fit into our picture." End quotes. About the time I began to seriously consider purse-snatching or some such occupation, I was able to get a job as a sales clerk in the shoe department of one of the larger department stores in town.

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