Today is the day Keisha had long awaited!!

At the ripe age of twenty-five, Keisha had obtained a few of her major goals!

She had recently graduated from nursing school, obtained her loft apartment and had applied for her first nursing job!

Her position would be on a pediatric unit at the world renowned, Martinsville Medical Center in downtown Detroit. Most of her student nurses, in her graduating class spoke of high hopes of landing jobs at Martinsville, on either the maternity or pediatric units.

Keisha, was ecstatic after finally, receiving the long anticipated call, to set up her

interview for “ her dream job!”

Two months had passed since submitting her résumé, so Keisha naturally assumed, that she was not in the pool of applicants, and would not be offered an interview… But much to her delight…she was!!

**********************************************

“Oh Noooooo! No Way!….No Seriously???” this can’t be happening!!!”

Keisha scream!! as she glanced over at the red numbers illuminated on her alarm clock, glaring back at her from her oak nightstand?

“I can’t believe my alarm clock didn’t go off again!!” she exclaimed, as she vigorously rubbed sleep out of her eyes, she became entangled in her fluffy, purple duvet, and almost tumbled and scrambling out of her queen size bed.

“ It’s 9:48 and my interview is at 11:00! so that gives me about an hour to make it to the hospital on time” she thought.

I’ve heard it’s proper etiquette to be at least 15 minutes early if possible, Keisha

rapidly rationalized to herself.

Thankfully, she had already reserved her Uber, the day before. The driver’s estimated time of arrival was to be between 10:15 -10:25.

At a records pace, Keisha quickly showered, wrapped herself in her warm velour towel, and hastily applied her make-up to her flawless, cocoa butter, skin. She then sprayed rosewater on her golden brown, Sister Locks while shaking her head three times, back-and-forth for styling.

As Keisha slipped into her Vera Wang black suit, with crisp white blouse, she received a call from an unidentified number.

“ Great! This is probably my Uber driver calling to say he’s a little bit early”… Keisha speculated as she proceeded to answer the call.

But, much to her dismay, the gentleman

on the other end was calling to

inform her that her Uber driver had been

involved in a minor fender-bender, and there were no replacement vehicles in the area

at this time.

“Wow! …Um…. Um….Okay!!!…

Keisha abruptly ended the call, while stomping her feet in disbelief.

She immediately called her next-door neighbor Donovan, who owed her a few favors,

as she frequently watched “Penny” his Labrador retriever, while he was away.

Donovan, medium height, middle-age man with salt and pepper hair, worked nights.

After several rings, he sluggishly answered the the phone, briefly hesitated…but finally agreed to give Keisha a lift.

Martinsville Medical Center, was only

about 10 minutes away from Keisha’s

loft apartment. If they headed out by 10:30,

she should arrive in plenty of time.

Keisha, slipped into her six inch black suede pumps, to complete her look,

took one final twirl, in her full

length mirror, and was extremely pleased!

She shouted “You go Girl!, You’ve Got This!”

Feeling an extra sense of confidence, she gathered her black Michael Kors purse,

and ran outside to meet Donovan,

whose head was under the hood, of his 2008 green Ford pick up.

His mahogany toned face, appeared frustrated as he slammed the truck’s hood, after hearing Keisha running down the concrete apartment steps.

Keisha and Donavan were driving along, carrying on small talk, when suddenly ,

the pick up began making, high sounding, sputtering, clinging, and backfiring noises.

After a couple minutes of that, the truck began to smoke, and finally completely shut off!!

Keisha’s, eyes became “big as saucers”

as she fidgeted in her seat, slightly turned and glared at Donovan.

She spoke with clinched teeth, “Donovan!!!what’s going on with your truck??” She pleaded.

while trying to contain her composure.

“Hmmmm …sounds like we might be out of petro! My little “green machine’s” gas gauge doesn’t work anymore, but no worries…Miss. Keisha, I always keep my gas can close by.

And, the station is just down the road

on the left” Donovan explained.

“Donavan!! I know where the gas station is!!

But …I just …don’t have time …for this!!”

my interview is in 20 minutes!!!

Keisha snapped as she continued.

“I …Um….Well… I’m going to let you take care of this situation, Keisha spoke nervously, while hastily exiting the truck, and Um…. I’m … Um….just going to….going to …walk the rest of the way!…

“We’re only about five blocks from the hospital, Donovan mumbled, as he proceeded to

grab his red gas can…

“So Sorry about this Miss. Keisha,

Good luck on your interview”

Keisha, threw up her right hand, and began walking to the hospital which should have been a piece of cake, but walking a few blocks in six inch pumps, presented a bit of a challenge.

Keisha, was making great strides, and had walked a couple blocks, with three more to go…when all of a sudden she heard …

Creek! …Crack! …Pop! And her left foot was now level to the ground! as her six-inch shoe heel,

had completely broken off!! and had landed behind her on the ground!

Tears begin to wail up in Keisha’s eyes,

she thought …I have one of two options… I can

either…um…limp on or …

Um…I can just take these babies off!

I choose the latter! Keisha picked up the broken black suede heel that was laying on the ground, and took her right shoe off, in order to carry both shoes in each hand.

Keisha appeared, oblivious to the awkward stares from passersby’s that she received in downtown Detroit. She continued on the rough pavement, barefooted, with only her black tights on to cover her feet.

After reaching the elegant main entrance of

Martinsville Medical Center, the lavishly but warmly decorated lobby, with a relaxing water fountain in the center, helped to sooth Keisha’s inner jitters.

Keisha received directions from the elderly silver haired hospital volunteer at the information desk.

She was the last to entered the elevator headed to the seventh floor.

The glares and inquisitive looks she received, while being barefooted on a hospital elevator,

were quite amusing.

When the elevator doors opened, Keisha briefly glanced at her Apple Watch and exited.

Time read 10:55.

As soon as she entered the office, the

perky young blonde receptionist, behind the desk immediately greeted her, asked her name

and gestured for her to take a seat.

“Mrs. Alexander will be with you momentarily”

She insisted, while flashing her sparkling smile.

After observing that Keisha was bare footed and carrying her shoes, the receptionist went on to

say …”Poor thing, your shoes must be killing you?”

“As Keisha, continued on to her waiting room seat with shoes in tow, and pride intact,

she briefly, shook her beautiful locks, glanced over her shoulder, and smiled…

“It’s a long story” …Keisha sighed.