Jack* tossed the papers on my desk -- his eyebrows knit into a straight line as he glared at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He jabbed a finger at the proposal. "Next time you want to change anything, ask me first," he said, turning on his heels and leaving me stewing in anger.

How dare he treat me like that, I thought. I had changed one long sentence, and corrected grammar -- something I thought I was paid to do.

It's not that I hadn't been warned. The other women, who had served in my place before me, called him names I couldn't repeat. One co-worker took me aside the first day. "He's personally responsible for two different secretaries leaving the firm," she whispered.

As the weeks went by, I grew to despise Jack. It was against everything I believed in -- turn the other cheek and love your enemies. But Jack quickly slapped a verbal insult on any cheek turned his way. I prayed about it, but to be honest, I wanted to put him in his place, not love him.

One day, another of his episodes left me in tears. I stormed into his office, prepared to lose my job if needed, but not before I let the man know how I felt. I opened the door and Jack glanced up.

"What?" he said abruptly.

Suddenly I knew what I had to do. After all, he deserved it.

I sat across from him. "Jack, the way you've been treating me is wrong. I've never had anyone speak to me that way. As a professional, it's wrong, and it's wrong for me to allow it to continue," I said. Jack snickered nervously and leaned back in his chair. I closed my eyes briefly. God help me, I prayed.

"I want to make you a promise. I will be a friend," I said. "I will treat you as you deserve to be treated, with respect and kindness. You deserve that," I said. "Everybody does." I slipped out of the chair and closed the door behind me.

Jack avoided me the rest of the week. Proposals, specs, and letters appeared on my desk while I was at lunch, and the corrected versions were not seen again. I brought cookies to the office one day and left a batch on Jack's desk. Another day I left a note. "Hope your day is going great," it read.

Over the next few weeks, Jack reappeared. He was reserved, but there were no other episodes. Co-workers cornered me in the break room.

"Guess you got to Jack," they said. "You must have told him off good." I shook my head.

"Jack and I are becoming friends," I said in faith. I refused to talk about him. Every time I saw Jack in the hall, I smiled at him. After all, that's what friends do.

One year after our "talk", I discovered I had breast cancer. I was 32, the mother of three beautiful young children, and scared. The cancer had metastasized to my lymph nodes and the statistics were not great for long-term survival. After surgery, I visited with friends and loved ones who tried to find the right words to say. No one knew what to say. Many said the wrong things. Others wept, and I tried to encourage them. I clung to hope.

One day, the door darkened in my small hospital room and Jack stood awkwardly on the threshold. I waved him in with a smile and he walked over to my bed and, without a word, placed a bundle beside me. Inside lay several bulbs.

"Tulips," he said.

I smiled, not understanding.

He cleared his throat. "If you plant them when you get home, they'll come up next spring." He shuffled his feet. "I just wanted you to know that I think you'll be there to see them when they come up."

Tears clouded my eyes and I reached out my hand. "Thank you," I whispered.

Jack grasped my hand and gruffly replied, "You're welcome. You can't see it now, but next spring you'll see the colors I picked out for you." He turned and left without a word.

I have seen those red and white striped tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years now. In fact, this past September the doctor declared me cured. I've seen my children graduate from high school and enter college. I've celebrated twenty-two years of marriage with my husband.

In a moment when I prayed for just the right word, a man with very few words said all the right things.

After all, that's what friends do.

- T. Suzanne Eller

OK...I don't know why, but now I'm sitting here crying. My twin was diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago. She is a survivor, I can only image that has something to do with it...

Thank you, MsTeddy...

That was beautiful.

Simply beautiful MsTeddy

that will bring a tear to anyones eyes, simply awesume!!!

Awesome that was and so heartfelt at times we all need to be brought back to reality to see the true meaning of what it is to be a friend for it does not mean a friend is only one that does things for you on a regular basis it is that one sometimes that shows up at the right moment with just the right word or maybe only a jester.

Friends come in many different ways. I know I have meet so many here that even site unseen and have never spoken to them I know they are there and seems to always have the right thing to say or just the knowledge that they are close by at times makes me feel all warm inside.


MsTeddy thank you for sharing that was beautiful.

And Puffins hummmmm I had tears at the end of this one as well and I don't have the same excuse you do. Maybe it just goes to show it actually touched our hearts and we are thankful for all of our friends we have been blessed within this place we call JSH.

THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL

Msteddy, I applaud your writting, but mostly your courage and strength while dealing with cancer. I was the one left behind... Believe it or not, I do know what it is to be a friend.......(smile)

Thank you for writing - so very moving.

Not my piece- but just had to share it...