Chapter One:
Phoebe fumed. Why did Casey get all the awards, accolades, and positions? She had the background and the knowledge about how a real newspaper worked. She’d worked for her Grandfather Thorson the last three summer vacations. And she’d given up her last two Christmas breaks!
“I can already imagine my dad’s disappointment when he learns I came in second to Casey Collins. Again!” I muttered in exasperation as I glared at Casey. “Even his hair looks great,” she thought as she fingered her rain-flattened hair, “Stupid umbrella.” The memory of Casey’s laughter when her umbrella popped backward, heated her face.
“I can’t believe I crushed on him in junior high,” I whispered to Ava.
“I couldn’t believe it when he started to laugh when your umbrella broke,” Ava commiserated with me. “And saying he was ‘laughing with you,’ ugh! I never did understand what you saw in him,” she arched an eyebrow at me.
“At the time, I thought we were friends,” I shrugged, “and he was so much nicer back then.”
“He’s a guy. What do you expect?”
“I know.” My voice trailed off as Casey glanced my way and raised his arms in victory.
5 years later
“Hey, Ava.” I swiped my arm across my forehead.
“Whoa, Phebs, you look hot. As in the miserable kind, not, you know, getting ready for the date kind.”
“Tell me about it. It’s sweltering here. I don’t know how all these people manage to survive here. It is so harsh. But Grandpa said I needed to experience the world if I wanted to be editor someday. “
“What does he think you’ll get out of this?” she waved vaguely at the scene behind me.
“According to Grandpa, I should ‘Get an understanding for the world as it is, not how it is written or seen through someone else’s eye.’”
“So how much longer do you think he’ll have you ‘globe-trotting’ the world?”
“At least until the end of the year. He’s already booked my next four destinations. I don’t see why I can’t get more experience in the office instead. But Grandpa is adamant that if I’m going to take over when he decides to step down, I have to do it his way.”
“That’s rough,” Ava sympathized.
“Yeah,” I sniffed, trying to keep my tears back. “If Daddy hadn’t died, he’d be getting ready to take Grandpa’s place. And I’d be reporting the news from home. And getting a byline for my work.”
“What do you mean, ‘getting a byline’ for your work?”
“Grandpa is publishing the articles I’m sending him, but not with my name anywhere near it.”
“You’re kidding!” Ava’s voice expressed her outrage on my behalf.
“Nope, Grandpa insists I write the human interest pieces but then publishes them under P.T. Thorn. He says it is for my own good.”
“Your Grandpa is a jerk,” Ava fumed.
“Maybe,” I hesitated a second before adding, “but he is in charge. And I’ve been writing under the name P.T. Thorn since I was ten.”
“What!”
“Yeah, Grandpa let me write my first article when I was ten. But we didn’t want Mom and Dad to find out about it.”
“Why didn’t you want your parents to know you were writing?”
“Well, Grandpa wasn’t supposed to bring me with him. But I begged him to take me. He told Grandma we were going out for breakfast.”
“Did you have breakfast?”
“Do stale donuts in the break room count? If they do, we did.”
“So, truth in reporting, yet withholding certain key points of the story? Phebs, I’m shocked,” Ava’s face smirked at me from my screen.
“Well, we didn’t report that particular story to anyone. It was our little secret.”
“So, what was the story?”
“Do you remember when our school did the food drive for the local animal shelter?” At Ava’s nod, I continued, “Well, the story I did focused on the shelter always needing food for all the animals they housed. Well, someone in school saw it and organized a Thanksgiving Animal Shelter Food Drive. That drove home the power of the press. It made me want to follow in Grandpa’s footsteps. It made me dream of the future and all the good I could do with my words.”
“I take it back.”
“What?”
“Your Grandpa is not a jerk.”
“I know.”
Two weeks later
“Hey, Ava. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you until Friday. Not that I’m complaining.” I smiled at her.
“Well, I’m checking in early because I have a question for you.”
“Okay?” I couldn’t imagine what was so important for Ava to break our routine of the last few years.
“When was the last time you talked to your grandfather?”
“Just this last week, a couple of days ago. Why?” I asked as Ava became interested in something out of my screen view.
“Was it a FaceTime call or a phone call?”
“Phone. Grandpa doesn’t FaceTime, Skype, or anything. I’m lucky he even uses his cell phone to text. But again, why?”
“He’s looking tired, Phebs. And his color is just off,” her voice dropped. “I, I just don’t want you to be surprised when you see him. This last year has aged him. But this seems like it’s something more”
“Losing Grandma really hit him hard. I wanted to stay with him for a while, but he insisted I needed to get back to my immersive world experience. He said I’d be home permanently soon enough to learn all the ins and outs of being editor-in-chief. But maybe I’ll give him a call to, you know, check in with him. Make sure he’s alright.”
“Let’s call it a night so it won’t be too late for you to get ahold of your grandfather.”
“Thanks, Ava. I might end up coming home sooner if I don’t like Grandpa’s answers.”
“Night, Phebs.”
Thorsonville Tribune Faces Difficult Days Ahead
By P.T. ThornWith the recent health crisis faced by Theo Thorson, the leadership of the Thorsonville Tribune will transfer to his granddaughter, Pheobe Thorson, who worked under her grandfather during her high school years. But taking the reins and working as Editor-in-Chief will be a new experience for her, just as it was for her grandfather sixty years ago when started this paper with a staff of two.
Much has changed during Theo’s leadership, even the way the newspaper is printed and news stories gathered. But one thing that hasn’t changed is Theo’s drive and commitment to providing the best coverage of news that has an impact on our lives, whether it be local, national, or world news. We can be sure that Theo’s commitment will be carried on by Miss Thorson.
When asked about the sudden and unexpected change, Miss Thorson said, “My Grandfather is a wise man. He began instructing me on the intricacies of his job from an early age. I remember the first time he brought me into the office. The sights, sounds, and smells just called to me, and Grandpa knew it. He told me something that day, and I’ve never forgotten it. ‘There are no small news stories. It is of great importance to whoever’s life it touched. It might seem insignificant to you or me in our day-to-day lives, but it changed something in someone else’s. Even if it was just a detour because a road was closed for a downed tree, it made a difference.’ I’ve tried to live by that philosophy, and I hope to continue to do so as the new editor-in-chief. Even if this is just a temporary position while Grandpa recovers from his stroke, I’m going to carry on his vision for the Thorsonville Tribune, and I hope our readers will be patient with me as I get accustomed to all the various aspects of the job. But we have an excellent staff and top-notch reporters who know their jobs and will carry on as they have been.”
Any well-wishes can be directed to the Thorsonville Tribune’s office and will be passed on to Theo as he begins therapy to help him recover from the stroke that has taken him, hopefully temporarily, from the world of news that he loved.
Taking a deep breath, I prepared to enter Grandpa’s office for the first time as editor-in-chief. I wasn’t ready; I needed Grandpa, but his stroke changed everything, catapulting me into a role that should still be years away in the future. But Grandpa’s long-ago promise echoed through my mind, “Someday, you will sit at this desk, Phebs. It is a promise to share the truth no matter what. It’s a promise you make as soon as you sit at it. It’s a promise I made years ago and one I hope to pass on to you.” I reached out my hand as I had that day. Only Grandpa’s hand wasn’t there. Instead, I grasped a cold brass doorknob. I swallowed back the sob that wanted to escape. I could do this. I had to do this. Grandpa had trusted me with this, and I wouldn’t fail him.
Blinking back the moisture in my eyes, I opened the door and stepped through.
I quickly found myself embraced by Tammy, the circulation manager. “Oh, Honey, I’m here whenever you need me. If you need an ear to vent to, a shoulder to cry on, or just a hug from someone who’s known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper, I’m here or a phone call away.” She gave me a quick squeeze before letting me go.
Swiping under my eyes, I wiped away the touch of moisture that had escaped. “Thank you, Miss Tammy. I didn’t realize how much I needed one of your hugs. I’ve always considered you my honorary aunt.”
“Everyone is waiting in the conference room if you want to have a quick word before you get started.”
“Thank you. I do want a quick word with them. Did you arrange for them to be in there?”
“That I did, Honey. You are so much like your grandpa, and I knew you’d want to start off like he did.”
A deep breath pushed past my lips, and I headed towards the conference room. Stepping into the room, I was faced yet again with the weight of this job as twenty pairs of eyes focused on me.
And then I saw him, Casey! Internally, I groaned. Why couldn’t he have been away, reporting on a story, out with the flu, rescuing a cat from a tree, anyplace but here? The one person I dreaded seeing was here waiting, probably to pounce on any mistake I made or misspoken word I uttered.
My smile tightened. I couldn’t help it; I didn’t feel like smiling, but I knew it was expected. Firm upper lip and all that hooey. “Thank you all for the work you’ve been doing during my grandfather’s absence. I know he would be proud of the efforts you have been making during this last trying week. Carry on today as you had already planned. Starting tomorrow, I will be here daily and will begin overseeing things as my grandfather did. Wrap up the stories you are currently working on and submit them as soon as possible. I will begin assigning stories as you submit them. I know Grandpa likes to assign new ones at the start of the week, so be sure to have them to me by the end of the week if you want an assignment next week. Until I’m used to your style and strengths, this is how I’ll be working. Please be patient as we work through this time of transition together. I know we will come through this stronger, and I look forward to working with you all.”
Slowly, soft applause filled the room. With a quick nod, I stepped out and retreated to Grandpa’s office, everything just as it was that fateful day that stole part of his life from me.
