Hope Story 01

Lorraine takes time to learn about a new co-worker.

Choosing Friends

Sherry and Lorraine were friends all through high school. When they graduated Lorraine moved into a board and care home and Sherry went to independent living. They kept in touch and did things together on the weekend. Both women missed having a close friend to spend time with every day. Lorraine got a job at the library and Sherry worked part time at a bakery and took classes at community college. Both women worked all day so it was harder to make new friends than it used to be in school.

One day a new volunteer, Hank, came to work in the library. He was super friendly and made Lorraine laugh. He liked the same movies she did and they got to know each other because they took their lunch breaks at the same time. After a few weeks, she started telling Sherry about her new friend. Sherry teased her a little but then she got serious.

“Listen, Lorraine. You have to be careful and take your time with this person. You don’t really know him and you’re already saying he’s your friend. It takes time to tell if someone is going to be a good friend.”

“Don’t worry so much. He’s volunteering at the library. I don’t think bad people do that, do you? Anyway, he’s officially helping there so it’s not like he’s a stranger or something. And I feel really comfortable around him.”

“Ok. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Character counts and you can’t find out about someone’s character in just a few weeks.”

About a month later Lorraine saw Hank in the break room. He didn’t know she was at the door. There was a $20 bill on the floor near the coffee pot. He picked it up and put it under a magnet on the fridge. Then he used the note pad on the fridge to write “found on floor” with an arrow toward the money. He turned to leave and spotted Lorraine at the door.

“Oh. Hi Lorraine.”

“Hi Hank.”

Lorraine came into the break room and looked at the $20 bill on the fridge. She thought about Sherry’s warning to take her time getting to know Hank. She knew her friend was right. Today she did get to know him a little better.

“Looks like you are an honest person, Hank,” she thought to herself. Character is doing what’s right even when we don’t think anyone is watching.