Five Dimes

Chapter 1: Life HappensJo approached the large sign announcing Channel 8 as Detroit's News Authority. She took a deep breath. "Lord, I know I've been asking way too much of you lately, but today I could use some special attention just the same," she prayed aloud. "Could you please let my first day in this joint be as uneventful as possible? Maybe you could even see fit to make everyone, including me, at least pretend to be friendly," she said. "Also, do you think you could catch me before I tell someone that a story idea is racist, chauvinistic, fact-light, ill-conceived, ill-prepared, or just plain stupid?" Jo smiled guiltily. "Okay . . . at least let me be pleasant if I do have to tell somebody off." "May I help you?" the guard asked Jo as she pulled her car up to the electronic gate protecting WXNT television from its audience. "Good morning. I'm Jorja Grace, the new executive news producer." She handed him her new employee ID, the one with the photo that made her look like a frightened Chia Pet. The guard glanced at the card, then handed it back. "Welcome aboard, Ms. Grace," he said. "Your first day, huh?" "Yes, it is." "Well, best of luck to you." He leaned closer to her window. "They can be something else in there," he said with a wink. Jo pulled into the parking space marked Executive Producer. She glanced up into the rearview mirror, giving her MAC makeup-enhanced face a final inspection. The first thing most people commented on when they first met Jo was her striking resemblance to Oprah Winfrey-magazine-cover Oprah, not The Color PurpleOprah. A solid size ten, she had large, smoldering brown eyes and full, sumptuous lips. In her navy pin-striped Jones of New York pantsuit and cream silk blouse, Jo stepped out of the car. She retrieved her box of personal effects from the backseat, then made her way toward the back entrance. "Showtime." Bob Sheridan, WXNT's assistant news director, stood waiting at the door to greet her. "Good morning, Jorja. Ready for life in major-market television?" "I think so," she said, offering up as much humility as she could muster. Though she had spent the past three years in Toledo, Jo was, in fact, a Detroit native. Besides the salary, she had accepted the job at Channel 8 because it offered a return to the city she loved. Bob took the box from her, then directed Jo down the corridor leading to the newsroom. It was only eight-thirty, but already the place was a zoo. The assignment-desk editor was leaning out from his glass-enclosed booth, simultaneously screaming into a telephone and barking out orders at someone standing at the opposite end of the room. A news crew raced out the door on their way to cover a story. From the bank of monitors lined up along the back wall, the morning news team could be seen finishing up their broadcast. Both of the anchors were white, Jo noticed. The male lead looked to be in his mid-forties, with a deep tan that belied the winter frost outside. His perky coanchor was an attractive young blonde. "Well, this is your office, Jorja," Bob said as they entered an empty room off the newsroom. "Why don't you take a moment to get settled in before the morning meeting starts?" "Thanks, Bob." Once alone, Jo took a look around her new digs, pleased with what she saw. "So this is major-market television." She grinned as she dropped the box onto the chair. "I could get used to this." With great care she removed her Emmy from the box and placed it on the credenza behind her desk. Jo didn't want it to be too conspicuous, but she did want the highest honor given in television to serve as a reminder to herself and her new coworkers that she indeed belonged here. She'd won hers two years ago for a special report she had produced on single working mothers, a report she had had to fight tooth and nail to get on the air. Her news director at the time questioned whether anyone still cared aboutHilmon, Darrious is the author of 'Five Dimes' with ISBN 9780451208699 and ISBN 0451208692.