1 Janelle ran the half-block from the subway station to the office. Thank you very much, subway, Janelle thought. Thanks for picking today, of all days, to get stuck for twenty-six minutes. That was very considerate of you. Thanks for picking the very day we have a new supervisor coming to work, someone I really want to impress.

Question

2 She had risen before daylight that morning, planning to arrive to work even earlier than usual. She had planned to be at her desk, already hard at work, when the new supervisor arrived for the day. And now here she was, prompt, predictable Janelle, running late for the first time in her life.

3 Janelle entered the building and hurried to the elevator. A small crowd stood waiting for it. No, she decided; too slow. She would take the stairs, all sixteen floors of them. There was no time to waste.

4 By the time Janelle reached her floor, she was out of breath. She sprinted to her desk and threw herself into her chair.

5 Her coworker Mark leaned over

Answer 1

the partition and raised an eyebrow. "Nice of you to join us, Janelle. I thought the subway had you in its clutches for good," he teased, a grin spreading across his face.

6 Janelle shot him a look that was meant to be playful but came off as more of a gasp for air. "Very funny, Mark," she replied, trying to catch her breath. "You have no idea how much I was looking forward to impressing the new boss."

7 Mark leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from amusement to concern. "You know they don’t expect you to be perfect, right? Just be yourself. You’re great at your job!”

8 Janelle appreciated the sentiment, but it did little to calm the fluttering in her stomach. She pulled her computer screen toward her and began typing quickly, determined to make up for lost time. She couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone would be judging her, especially with the new supervisor watching.

9 Just then, the elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and in walked the new supervisor, a tall figure with an air of authority. Janelle’s heart raced as she looked up, her mind racing back to the earlier meetings she had prepared for—power points, project summaries, and charts.

10 The supervisor, Mr. Thompson, caught her eye and offered a polite smile before greeting the office. “Good morning, everyone! I look forward to getting to know all of you and working together.” His voice was confident, steady, and just as Janelle had imagined.

11 As he continued to address the team, Janelle felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. This was her chance to shine, to show him she was not just another anonymous worker but a vital part of the team. She willed herself to stand up, to find the right moment to contribute to the conversation.

12 “I have a few ideas about how we can streamline our processes and improve productivity,” she finally said, her voice echoing in the silence as she found the courage to speak up. All eyes turned toward her.

13 Mr. Thompson nodded and gestured for her to continue. "I'm all ears, Janelle. Let's hear what you've got."

14 Janelle took a deep breath, her nerves momentarily forgotten as she launched into her ideas, her passion shining through. In that moment, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be, subway delays and all.