It Couldn't Be Done- A Short Story

This is a post from last year, but I wanted to share it.  Welcome "Write on Edge" friends!

The May 1st story prompt from StoryADay was to write "a story that contains the line “They said it couldn't be done." I'm definitely a little behind in writing this one, but it caught my attention. The following is a story about one girl who is constantly told that her dreams won't come true.

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It Couldn't Be Done

by Karen Lockinger Greenberg

Susan had always dreamed of running a kennel for golden retrievers. It wouldn't just be any kennel, though. This one would be special. It would include the standard boarding facility, of course, but it would also serve to educate the public. In Susan's eyes "Golden Girls.... and Guys, Too!" would be perfect. There would be classrooms, demonstration rooms, and rooms set aside to help the golden retrievers who needed rescuing. Susan knew a thing or two about needing to be rescued.

When she was 12-years-old, Susan told her mother about her plan. "That's nice," her mother had replied. "Where are you going to get the money for this project of yours? It just can't be done. Don't forget to sweep the kitchen after you finish your homework."

In her freshmen year of high school, Susan's English teacher gave the class an assignment. They were to write about how they saw their lives in the year 2000. Most of the class would be turning 50 that year. Susan wrote a beautiful description of "Golden Girls... and Guys, Too!" She was devastated when she got her paper returned with an 89 percent- a B.

"I'm not quite sure what was wrong, Mrs. Bradley," Susan said when she was talking with her teacher about the grade.

"You were told to write a realistic portrayal of where you will be when you are 50-years-old. This is a nice fantasy- a wonderful dream- but it's just not going to happen. You would need to win the lottery AND have an entire staff of volunteers to pull something like this off. It just can't be done."

Susan crumpled the paper and threw it into the gutter on her way home. She didn't even feel guilty about littering. She simply walked on, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes. When she got home her mother asked how she had done on her paper.

"I got a B."

"You know.... if you tried just a little harder you could be a straight A student. Maybe next time you should put a little more effort into your writing. Don't forget to wash the dishes before you go to bed tonight. Stop all that silly day dreaming about that kennel. You know it's never going to happen."

Susan moved along, working her part time job at the veterinarian clinic down the road on weekends and holidays, always keeping her plan in the back of her mind. The veterinarians agreed that the idea was fantastic, but it just wasn't realistic. On the days Susan wasn't working at the clinic she babysat for the neighbors. She wasn't a social girl, and the trivial parts of life that excited the other young ladies her age just didn't interest her.

When Susan was in her final year of high school she decided that she was going to take an art class. The final exam was to design a dream home. Susan went above and beyond, putting her heart and soul into the project. She sketched the entire complex where "Golden Girls.... and Guys, Too!" would be housed. It had three separate buildings, including the house where she and her future family would live. In her dream, Susan would live on-sight so there would be someone available to check on the dogs at all times of the day or night. It was the perfect arrangement.

Once again, Susan was shocked when she received her grade. Mr. Walker had given her an 85%. Susan was getting used to hearing the same story over and over, and this time was no different. Mr. Walker told her that the assignment had been to design a home. No one in their right mind would live at a dog kennel. It would be too loud, and no one would be willing to work 24 hours a day. The dedication a person would need to live and work in a place like this just doesn't exist. While the complex she had mapped out was beautiful, it simply didn't fit the instructions given. Susan nodded her head in understanding and walked away feeling defeated. No one would ever understand and support her dream.

As the class of 1968 prepared to graduate the following year, Susan looked back at the life she was leaving behind. There was nothing really memorable in her high school experience. She had gone a few dates, attended a few of the festivals and fund raisers, and was present in classes, but nothing really sparked Susan's interest. Nothing drove her into the future.

When Susan finally did graduate, the valedictorian gave a speech about living out dreams. He went on and on about not giving up, to find mentors to help guide the graduates through life, and to see the future as bright and rosy. Right, Susan thought. I've tried that with no luck. Give me a plan that will actually work. Something that sounds more like: Live your life doing a job that doesn't require you to think, give everyone else your time and money, but don't expect anything in return, and don't ever, ever consider doing something that might actually take some creative action. Apparently THAT is what life REALLY looks like after graduation.

Susan continued to work at the veterinarian clinic through college and her own veterinarian school days. Eventually she took over the clinic from Dr. Malone. He was getting older and was ready to retire. He couldn't think of a better vet than Dr. Jankowski to take over the practice that he spent his life building. As he was leaving, he asked Susan an important question. "Dear, you are being given a beautiful office with all the clients you need. You're really not going to need to advertise or have any of the costs other young veterinarians are going to run into. Why don't you move out of that tiny apartment you're living in and find yourself a home that you can be proud of?"

"I have other plans," Susan replied. "I appreciate your thoughts, Doctor, but I... well, I just have other plans."

A few years later Dr. Malone came by to visit. "Susan, it's so great to see you. What have you been up to?"

"Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that. I've been working with some Golden Retriever rescue groups, volunteering when I can. It's been wonderful to be part of the community."

"That's mighty generous of you. I noticed that you are giving the groups some discounts here in the clinic, too. You really do have a passion for Goldens. You have a heart of gold, dear."

Susan blushed as she received the compliments from her mentor and friend. She never went into this business expecting praise. She just wanted to be around animals, beings that seemed to understand her more than any human every would.

"Let me ask you, dear," Dr. Malone said, "have you purchased yourself a beautiful house on the hill yet?"

"Nope. I still live in my apartment. Just the way I like it. I told you," here Susan's voice got lower, "I have other plans."

The seasons changed and clients came and went, but Susan's favorites still remained the Golden Retrievers. She spent her weekends volunteering at rescue group events, raising money for the groups and talking to people about the dogs. She was always talking to people, educating them, raising awareness, and showing her passion for the dogs she fell in love with as a young girl.

Susan's 20 year class reunion came and went without her. She just didn't see a need to send time with a bunch of people she hadn't cared for then and honestly didn't care how they were doing now. She was secure in the fact that she was successful and happy; she didn't need to prove that to the world. When the rumors were flying about her not being there, only one former classmate stood up for her. "Actually Susan is now Dr. Jankowski. I take my dogs to her clinic on 5th Street. What she's doing in life would put you to shame." Jennifer wouldn't say any more and walked away quietly.

Another 12 years passed, and mailboxes all over the country started to be filled with beautiful cream colored invitations. Each envelope read, "Happy 50th Birthday from your classmate at Woodburn High. Please join me for the biggest birthday bash and class reunion ever on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 pm. You won't want to miss this celebration!"

Curious as to who was throwing the party and why they chose the year of their 50th birthday, most of the Woodburn High class of 1968 sent in a positive response on their RSVP card. Susan couldn't have been more thrilled. For the first time in her life, she had their attention. SHE was going to be the star of the show.

November 2nd came, and it was a beautiful fall day. The air was crisp, and the temperature was perfect. Susan took her dogs out for a run before returning to her home to prepare for the party. After her run, she set out platter upon platter of food, made sure everything was ready, and got dressed. As she sat back to await her classmates' arrival, Susan remembered all the times she was pushed to the side. She wasn't going to be on the side today.

At 3:00 the door bell started to ring. Susan had set up the party to begin at her house. She would show the guest the surprise after everyone was there. The house was perfect for a party. It had a huge living room and a kitchen that was the dream of every amateur chef. Guests were mingling, telling stories of "the good old times," and filling up on the finger foods set out as an appetizer. The main meal would come after the surprise.

"Excuse me, everyone," Susan rang a small bell to get her guest's attention. She nervously went on as whispers quieted the group. "Thank you for coming today. This year marks the time when most of us will be turning 50-years-old. Together we went through high school, and though we have moved on to our own lives, we have one thing in common. We all have had a chance to explore the hopes and dreams we had when we were young. Some of us have reached those goals that we had set. Many of us changed our ideas and lived a completely different life. A few are still working on choosing a direction- and that's okay, too. The important part is that we all realize that we have dreams and that we chase after them once we decide how badly we want them to come true."

Susan stopped to take a sip of her soda. She nervously exhaled and continued, "In our freshman year of high school Mrs. Bradley gave us an assignment. You may remember it, you may not. It is because of that paper, though, that you are all here today.

She asked us to think about where we wanted to be when we were 50-years-old. If you remember that paper, ask yourself how much of it has come true. Are you happily married like you wrote? Many of us are sadly divorced and have moved on to second, and even third, marriages. I bet none of us wrote that we expected to be married and divorced, raising children with ex-spouses half way across the country.

Do you have that dream job you thought you would? About half of us didn't finish college. Are you pulling in the big bucks you expected?

How about the car you drive? Do you have that shiny sports car to zip around town in? I saw an awful lot of Soccer Mom SUVs and mini-vans pulling up."

As Susan spoke she got more and more worked up. The years and years of being told she couldn't do something were starting to wear on her. It showed in her passionate speech to her former classmates.

"Look around you friends. What did you notice as you pulled into the driveway today? Did you observe the 30 parking spaces? What about my neighbors? What neighbors, you ask. I only see commercial buildings to the left and right. Ah, ha. You're starting to understand.

You see, I DID reach my goals. Each and every one. Welcome to the grand opening of Golden Girls.... and Guys, Too." Susan put down her glass in order to wipe her eyes. The volunteers who had been waiting in the building next door came out and started offering brochures to the party guests. One by one Susan's former classmates started to understand. She may have been a nerd "back then," but this was one outcast who had outdone them all.

As Susan's guest returned to eating, drinking, and talking, she looked around, completely in awe that she had pulled this off. "Golden Girls... and Guys, Too" would open it's doors to the first boarder tomorrow. She would see her first veterinarian patient at 8:00 AM. It was all about to happen, just the way she had envisioned when she was just 12 years old. Susan leaned against her kitchen window, looking out to the clinic next door. And to think, she said to herself, they all said it couldn't be done.