Nonfiction
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 17
One of the most important, yet over looked aspects of cricket is umpiring. Being an umpire is a tough and often thankless job. Spending the whole duration of play on the field, unlike me waiting around for hours before going out and snicking off or leaving one on middle for a blob, takes immense concentration. All while making split second decisions between the lulls in action and also trying to keep the peace. With every decision you can’t please everyone. For example, each appeal shout ends up in either a happy bowler and an angry batsmen or vice versa.
By S. J. Leahy3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Ms. Donatella | Part VI of VI
During my time at the Department of Prominence, I held the position of telecommunication specialist, working on the shift from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The communication center was predominantly male, but there were also six women, including me, working on different shifts. This meant that there were always two women working alongside the men during my shift. One of my colleagues was Ms. Donatella, a kind and quiet woman who always seemed to be tired, walked at a slow pace, and had puffy under-eye bags.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | The Task Force Official | Part VI of VI
Regrettably, tragic occurrences unfold across the globe, prompting my government agency to establish a round-the-clock Task Force at our Operations Center. The task force's purpose is to thoroughly examine the issue at hand, evaluate potential courses of action, and then present its recommendations in the form of a comprehensive report.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Black and White Office Party | Part VI of VI
I was scheduled to meet with Mr. Sadoski, a high-profile government official who worked in my bureau at the U.S. Department of Prominence. There was no topic of discussion on the Microsoft Calendar e-invitation on why I was meeting with him. And his scheduler, JoAnn, was not telling me why I was to meet him. I got scared and worried that my unfiltered words may have inadvertently said something that annoyed one of our colleagues. My moment of reckoning was about to happen, and I was terrified!
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | The Mailroom Christmas Party | Part VI of VI
The holidays were upon us in the U.S. Department of Prominence; therefore, all the offices were gearing up for their Christmas Office Party, and unbeknownst to Marcello and me, we discovered that the mailroom Christmas party was the very best!
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 16
According to the conditions and our tough schedule, we spent a fair amount of time recuperating in our bubble. For some, these periods were spent watching movies or just lounging around. I was very appreciative of the extra sleep time on those mornings and it definitely helped the body recover. Others, who were more active during their downtime, had the gym and pool to keep their heart rate going. This was also a valid past time between visiting the eateries and passing the time until we could visit room 105.
By S. J. Leahy3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Snowstorm | Part VI of VI
As the Washington, D.C. region braced itself for an impending snowstorm, my employer at the U.S. Department of Prominence remained vigilant, fully aware of the imminent chaos it would unleash upon the rush hour traffic, inundate the city’s transportation systems with a surge of commuters, and potentially lead to a government shutdown. Thus, my journey back home became an arduous odyssey, fraught with challenges at every turn.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 15
I feel Pakistan is widely misunderstood in the Western world. Although the warnings of terrorism, crime and bombings were coming from the ill informed, it was still clear that security was important for this trip. Regular correspondence from the Australian Federal Police and consular staff on the ground, along with a raft of Pakistani security intelligence had as more informed than those at home on professor google. We were also fortunate, that our arrival was preceded by tours from the Nepalese Men’s and South African Women’s teams.
By S. J. Leahy3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Mentor Mrs. Jean | Part VI of VI
This story is a homage to Mrs. Jean, my esteemed mentor at the U.S. Department of Prominence, where I worked as an office secretary. She turned my self-doubt into confidence and guided me on how to learn specific tasks, enabling me to work with higher-level government officials in Washington, D.C., and overseas. I am forever in her debt.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
