63. Jerusalem, 1999 - WTF

In which Eleanor gets angry. Really angry.

Eleanor has a hissy fit. She decides to talk to Jerry.

Eleanor

31 March 1999

I am so angry. So, so angry.

How dare he. How dare he! HOW DARE HE!

I want to throw something at him, scream at him. This—this is too much. This is going too far. Now he has compromised us all.

The histrionics, the temper-tantrums, the moodiness that we all have to tip-toe around—that’s bad enough. But this—no. This makes all of that seem minor by comparison. Now his selfishness has put us all in a horrendous position. Anita has more decency and integrity than he does. She could publish, she’s totally within her rights to do so. It would be such a scoop for her. But she won’t, she says. “I’m a political reporter, not a tabloid news hound sensationalizing private matters.”

For over a year, I’ve bitten my tongue. He’s my boss, this is my first posting, I’m desperate to make it work. But he’s made it so hard to have any respect for him. He is so pre-eminently intelligent and capable, there is so much I could learn from him…want to learn from him. But the way he subjects all of us to his temper, and moodiness…he acts like an entitled prima-donna. When I compare him to Mahdi, I just want to weep.

But this? This???

If this gets out, all the good work we’ve done as a mission—it all gets besmirched. All of our relationships, so carefully cultivated, will be in question.

How am I supposed to know what to do with this? How am I supposed to navigate a situation like this?

Jerry. Ask Jerry. Jerry will be able to guide me.

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Chapter One | Table of Contents

NEXT WEEK

Reading from Book 2, the completion of Eleanor’s Adventure

Spring Writes Literary Festival.

May 15, 2025, 7pm ET

While y’all are reading Book 1, I’m working on Book #2 - the conclusion to Eleanor’s adventure.

Just how does she land up on that office bathroom floor one dark winter night? What’s her comeback strategy this time?

Register with Spring Writes at this Zoom link to listen to the next phase of Eleanor’s journey.