First (Wrong) Impressions: A Modern Pride & Prejudice Read Online Free PDF Page A

closer, “since I am in town, I decided to see if anyone deserved my money more than I did.” He casually put a forkful of sausage into his mouth.
    Lizzy gritted her teeth and said, “I’m sorry for what I said last night.”
    “Don’t say things you don’t mean, Ms. Bennet.” Darcy cut another piece of sausage.
    Lizzy sat back and didn’t say another word to him, instead stewing and steaming inside. What an arrogant, pompous ass! He knew she’d said those things among friends and family, but he was determined to hold them against her. He’d probably come just to spite her. No doubt he’d switched place settings so she’d be next to him.
    “Our next speaker is Elizabeth Bennet, Director of Street Services at The Faith-Hope-Love Refuge. Her proposal caught the eye of the committee. Today she is going to tell us a little about the exciting work she’s doing feeding Edmonton’s homeless. Elizabeth?”
    Lizzy’s throat constricted. She was never nervous speaking in front of people about her job; this was what she did. But Darcy’s verbal barb had thrown her off-balance and she needed to re-align herself and fast.
    She gave the crowd a smile, walking to the front. She chanted, “Don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip,” as she went. She shook hands with the MC, took the podium and folded out her notes just in case she blanked.
    Darcy had turned in his chair and was staring right at her, dark eyebrows cocked and ready for her to fail. Well, she wasn’t going to fail. Any attempt to intimidate her would only make her more determined to succeed.
    She took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you this morning on a topic that is close to my heart: food insecurity. It’s a simple phrase, really, and yet it has powerful meanings. Food insecurity: the poor’s insecure access to food. Lack of access means a lack of choices. A lack of choice means lack of dignity.”
    And Lizzy went into her educational lecture from memory, ignoring her notes. She explained how The Faith focused on helping people, as opposed to changing people. She explained that high and drunk individuals needed a safe place to eat and be protected from the elements, yet most of the agencies in the downtown core were not equipped, able, or willing to allow them access to their programs.
    She did not insult those agencies or programs, and in fact justified the importance of facilities maintaining dry environments. But that created a hole in the safety net, and The Faith tried to plug that hole. Her clients came to her to meet a basic survival need: food. But through that contact, she could assist in reducing harm, by providing condoms to street workers, providing a safe place to dispose of needles as opposed to a playground, and The Faith required no payment, gave no social commentary, and offered no judgment.
    The Faith gave them a drop of dignity in a barren world devoid of it.
    Did she believe all that? Most days. There were some days she didn’t, when it was all too much and she was convinced she did more harm than good. But most days, she believed it. Today, she believed it. Today was all that mattered.
    She praised the other organizations that would be presenting and explained how she fully supported housing, literacy, drug rehab, and prison volunteer programs. She simply reminded everyone that The Faith worked to keep safe those who weren’t ready for change, whatever their reasons or situation.
    She felt Darcy’s eyes on her the entire time, but she did not allow him to rattle her. This was her job. People depended on her. She met his critical gaze and said, “On behalf of my clients, who do not have a voice, thank you for allowing me to tell you their stories.”
    The crowd clapped and the MC shook her hand. Her table mates praised her speech as she returned to her seat, and even people from surrounding tables leaned over to offer their praise.
    Once that had died down and the next