Daily Prompt: Mouth Drop

In exactly 100 words creatively describe one moment when your mouth dropped open, chin hit the ground, and tears rolled down your face (figuratively or not). If you prefer to develop this into a longer post, that’s fine too!

A while ago I attended a teachers workshop in Elmhurst ,Illinois. It was arranged by a couple who were well-known and popular.

I stayed in the residence, every day we attended the workshop from 9AM to 2PM. There were teachers from all over the United States, I was the lone Canadian from Newfoundland.

There were three hundred fifty of us.

On the last day a well-known children’s novelist was invited to meet us. He was a  delightful man, who talked about teaching. He was careful not to make his speech too long.

He was also an artist and all the covers of his books was done by him. He asked for an easel and pen, he started relating a story from one of his books, and drew pictures to go with it, there was a box beside him which he used to lay his pictures.

He drew twenty-five pictures in about half an hour. When he finished our workshop organizer announced they will have a draw to see who wins the pictures. Our names were already put in another box. I cannot recall who picked the names, probably Mrs. Halloran the wife of the organizer.

There was pin drop silence in the auditorium as each of us were hoping to win and watched the names picked. At that moment I knew I had no chance , three-hundred fifty teachers and twenty-five pictures.

When it came to the twentieth picture and still my name was not called out I gave up hope. Twenty-one, twenty-two still my name wasn’t picked. Mr. Halloran in a loud voice called out twenty-three, and with a broad grin he  looked at me and announced, the winner is Mrs. Asgar.I could not believe he called out my name, I looked at him and then at the picture he was holding, the teachers were clapping and telling me to go forward and collect my prize. Slowly I went with a numb feeling, when I heard Mrs. Halloran saying,”We were hoping you’d win one, you came from so far away!”

This is when my tears flowed uncontrollably when I took the picture. All I could say was, “I never won anything, this is the first time, I’m so glad!”

…………………………… 🙂

 

DP Daily Prompt: Standout Post by Ranu

I went to a workshop in Elmhurst,it is a place near Chicago. There were three hundred of us at that workshop. There were teachers from all over the United States. I was the only one from,Newfoundland,Canada. I wore a sari. This caught the attention of all those who attended the workshop.

We were asked to introduce ourselves When I stood up and said I was from Newfoundland,Canada,all eyes were focused on me.The workshop was run by a husband and wife team, the Hallorans. They were glad to have me in their midst. I was given all kinds of opportunity to speak. I loved the attention.

The workshop lasted for five days. In the end they had a guest speaker,he was  an author of several books for children. At the end of his speech,he was provided an easel with large papers where he started sketching amazing pictures. Our names were placed in a large box, he picked the names,as he completed his artwork. I knew the Hallorans wanted me to have one. I think there were thirty or thirty five pictures. The names were picked one at a time,I could see disappointment on the face of Mr. Halloran,my name wasn’t picked and there were only two left,suddenly my name was called.Mr Halloran was so happy he came up to me and said,’I am so glad you got one’!