The Excellent Servant

The Excellent Servant

Looking back, I wish I hadn’t done it. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it’s hard to put it back in. I can’t say I didn’t know better-I did. And there’s no use making excuses. My actions were inexcusable. But now that I know what I know, I sure wish I hadn’t done it.

           The blizzard caught me by surprise since there are no windows on that side of the building. I was hoping to finish cleaning all the offices so I would have the weekend off. Judith was off for the day. I was alone in the building; that was nothing unusual. It was the fact that I knew nobody was going to be coming for a long time, and I was stuck there until the blizzard let up. I didn’t really care how Mrs. Tompkins’s office looked. She was not such an intriguing person. But I had the key, or, as it now seems, the key had me. 

           Like a fool, I knocked on the door. Of course, I knew she wasn’t in there. It must have been the guilt of being intrusive. I put the key in there and turned it. Then I gave the door a little push and peeked in. It looked like any other office. I glanced at a stack of papers on her desk with no intention of reading them. But I saw my name. My name! Alice Went. I’m the only Alice Went I have ever known of. Went is just not your average name. It was something about me. So, I looked at it. It was a certificate of appreciation in recognition of ten years of excellent service. And that wasn’t all. Attached to it with a paperclip was a $50 gift card. I could use that at this time of the year. It was almost Christmas, and times were hard. I had the urge to pick up the certificate. No harm in that, right? After all, it was going to be mine. After I picked it up, there it was, the thing that caused all the problems. A letter. 

           The letter was addressed to Jason. Okay, now I was naughty. I read that letter to Jason from Mrs. Tompkins. Mrs. Tompkins was a married woman. The letter stated:

           Dear Jason,

I will never forget our night together under the stars. It was glorious. I must confess that I am deeply in love with you. We mustn’t let your mother know we were together, though. She doesn’t seem to like me. I suppose she thinks I am a jaded woman. But it doesn’t matter to me. I love you forever.

Your Secret Love

           I was surprised that Mrs. Tompkins would be so irresponsible in leaving the letter on her desk. After all, someone might have seen it. I was even more surprised, however, that she would be engaged in such an affair. I decided I had best get out of there quickly just in case someone came by. I put the letter and certificate back as I found them, and just as I was about to go, I spilled a cup of coffee that was left on the desk uncovered. Yes, you guessed it. I spilled it all over everything on the desk. I hurried into the bathroom to get some paper towels to clean it up. And then I left and closed the door-the self-locking door-with my keys on her desk. This most excellent servant was in a heap of trouble. 

           Only one person could help me. Only Judith could open the door so that I could retrieve my keys. I called her on my cell phone. 

           “Judith, I’ve got a problem. I need your help. I have locked my keys in Mrs. Tompkins’ office. “

           “what in the world were you doing in there? You know we aren’t allowed to go in there.”

           “I-I heard a noise and went in to check it out.”

           “Oh, gosh, Alice. This is not good. First of all, there’s a blizzard out there. And, what if she finds out I opened her door? Then we’re both in trouble.”

           “I know. I know,” I said as I burst into tears.

           Judith was my friend. She was the one who deserved the excellent service award. 

           “Don’t cry. I’m coming. I hope I don’t get stuck in the snow. It’s pretty bad out there.”

           I paced the floor for an hour before Judith arrived. She opened the door, and I got my keys. Then she took me home since I was afraid to drive in my little Toyota. I had the entire weekend to ponder my plight before going back to work. I wondered if Mrs. Tompkins would figure out that I had gone into her office. And if so, would she know I had read her letter and seen my award? Would I be fired, or would she change her mind about the certificate and gift card? Would she suspect me of trying to steal something? 

           “Well, Scarlett, put on your red dress and go to the party,” I told myself as I got ready for work Monday morning. When I arrived, I noticed Mrs. Tompkins had her door open with a visitor in her office. I tried to walk past her without being noticed. 

           “Good morning, Alice. Did you get home alright Friday?  I was concerned about you.”

           “Yes, Judith took me home, thank you.”

           “Oh, that was nice of her. This is my son, Jason. Jason, This is Alice, one of our best employees.”

           Jason was a good-looking teenager with a sheepish grin. He must have said hello, but I was so paralyzed with fear that I didn’t know. I started to continue down the hallway, but Mrs. Tomkins called out to me.

           “Wait a minute, Alice. I imagine you saw this certificate when you spilled the coffee, so I may as well go ahead and give it to you.”

           “Yes, I confess; I did. I am sorry for spilling the coffee.”

           “What were you doing in here, anyway?”

           “I could tell you a fib, but I’ve done enough already. I was waiting out the blizzard, and I wondered what your office looked like. In ten years, I’ve seen everyone else’s office but yours. I know I was intruding, and I am so sorry. I don’t deserve that certificate.” I was close to tears.

           “Oh, of course, you do. Don’t be silly. You can come in here at any time. But, I guess you found me out. Did you notice the letter to my son? I was being a very nosey mother and took it from his room. I had to confess to him what I had done. So we both have been a little mischievous, haven’t we?”

           “Yes, I guess that’s true. But, Mrs. Tompkins, I am so glad to know you are not spending too much time under the stars.”