This Is For Me

                                                        This Is For Me
                                                    By :  Tsurtidogni
                                                            050210

Audrey, a pretty lady works as a Communications Manager in one of the big firms in the big city. She is well-loved by her staff as well as the Top Management's favorite because of her brilliance and treated the people around in a friendly and  diplomatic manner. Her joy in life aside from having a happy family and a well-paid  job that she truly loves, includes reading books and watching telenovelas in the late afternoon before dinner.

Audrey was in a hurry, she wanted to be home early so she can watch her favorite Mexican telenovela with the
beautiful leading cast Marimar who can dance so gracefully, who can sing so nicely, and who can act so naturally.

She cleaned her desk and told her secretary Angela, " I need to go ahead, please put off  the airconditioning system. Please tell the guard to monitor the fax message that is badly needed by the Chairman tomorrow,
and please  tell him to get the message, and put it on top of the Chairman's desk.." Angela replied, "Yes ! Ma'am !
Enjoy  Marimar .  Please let me know if it is a happy ending or not !" Yes, Angela,  I  will ! See you tomorrow! "
Audrey replied with a wink in her eyes.

Audrey got her shoulder bag and walked quickly to the door. She was smiling as she passed by the ladies busy completing their reports at the Finance Department. She told them, " See you tomorrow, ladies" They yelled back "Take care, Ma'am  Audrey ." 

She  walked  faster to the lobby. She  noticed that it was so quiet inpite of the piped-in music that could be heard clearly. She thought " How come the lobby has no one to be seen ?". as nobody was around in the
whole area when her eyes caught the sight of a small book on top of the sofa at the receiving part of the lobby.  Audrey was wondering,"Who owns this ? How come it was placed here ? How come nobody's here ?" She looked around trying to find out if someone was  nearby.  She also went to the comfort rooms and checked, but nobody's there. She made a decision: " I will take this with me. I will  put an ad at the bulletin board's " Lost and Found" tomorrow morning."

She continued walking still wondering. She arrived at the gate, seeing the guard she told him about the small
book and the guard said " I will take note on that Ma'am and will let you know tomorrow if someone will make a report of a missing item. Audrey said" For the meantime, I will take this with me, I  will bring it back tomorrow, if someone looks for it you assure the owner that the book is in  safe hands." That was agreed!

When she arrived home, the maid already prepared food for dinner,  while waiting for her husband from the office and her daughter from school, Audrey watched the telenovela with all her interest and full attention forgetting about the small book that she placed in her shoulder bag. Eventually the telenovela had a very happy ending, Marimar reunited with the people that she truly love and who loves her in return.

Dinner Time

Carlos and Rona noticed that Audrey ate only very little for supper. "No appetite, Mama?" Rona asked. Her husband Carlos seconded" Yes, no appetite honey ? The food is so good. I love this fried milkfish a lot."
Audrey replied. "I had some snacks while watching Marimar, and did I tell you it's a happy ending ?"
Carlos and Rona were laughing " Yes ! You did tell us a hundred times ! " they were still laughing when
Audrey excused herself, "Excuse me, I need to read that small book that I found and I have to do it now because the owner might claim it back tomorrow! " "What small book ?" Carlos inquired . "Yes ! Mama, who is the author ?" Rona so interested too.
"Wait ! I did not read the book I hurriedly placed it in my shoulder bag. I'll see you later" She rushed to the room where she placed her bag.

The Book

A small book Copyright 1954
Written By : Josemaria Escriba
The Original Title: Camino
The English Version: The Way

Audrey excitedly opened the first pages of the small book which has 208 pages. She reads about the author who was a priest and was born January 09, 1902 and died on June 26, 1975. He founded the Opus Dei. It has
169 editions with a total printing of 2,982,620 copies, in 34 different languages.The book's aim is to love God and live by God.

Reading the Preface and the Introduction, Audrey talked to herself: "This Is For Me", and she continued the
reading until the last page without knowing that time passed so quickly. Her husband Carlos entered the room and said" Honey, is there anything wrong with you ? You were crying when I saw you sleeping holding this
book of Msgr. Escriba." Audrey replied, "Oh, this book. Each line was written for me and for you, and to the rest of the world. If this book will be taken back by its owner, I will gladly give it with a grateful heart, then I will buy my own copy and check with the bookstore about more writings of this author." Carlos replied" I will buy them for you if I will see them at the bookstore, how about letting me read this before I go to sleep, and before you will return it to its rightful owner?" "Of course! Of Course ! Here is the book"  She handed the book and kissed her husband on the cheek.

The following day Audrey posted in the "Lost and Found" section of the Company's bulletin board. Days, months, years passed by yet  nobody claimed it. Her husband bought a copy of the book for himself and another copy for their daughter Rona. Her husband and her daughter bought another book"Furrow"  written by the same author, and gave it as a present to her on Mother's Day.

Eventually, Audrey retired from her work.  She permanently  placed the small book in her desk at home. On her 57th birthday she took it from the desk and read it once again but before that she said :
"Msgr. Escriba wrote this book for so many reasons, but  most of all he did it because  "This Is For Me."






The End..



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