Amanda and the women at her book club quickly judged a pregnant 50-year-old woman without knowing the entire story. It was only when they learned the true nature of her pregnancy that they regretted their actions.Amanda was in her 60s and was happily single. She never married, nor did she have any children. To keep herself busy, she hosts the weekly neighborhood book club in her house, where women who lived in the area would gather every Saturday. Amanda only ever got along with the people in her book club through the years. She loved order, so every time a neighbor’s child would break a flower pot or dirty her side of the street, she would get angry. Because of this, the children were afraid of Amanda.
They steered clear of her front yard and never offered her any baked goods and juices they sold every summer, which other neighbors happily supported. One day, Amanda went to the grocery store. There, she met Jane, a 50-year-old neighbor whom she hadn’t spoken to. Jane was at one of the aisles, looking at junk food. “We shouldn’t be eating that kind of junk now that we’re older,” Amanda told her. Jane politely smiled and told her that her household always had chips available at home for their guests. Amanda shook her head and told her which ones to buy. “Then at least go for the organic ones,” she said, pointing at those she thought were better.Amanda always thought she knew best, and the entire neighborhood knew it.
So instead of arguing with her to mind her own business, Jane thanked her for her suggestions.Coincidentally, Amanda and Jane met again at the checkout counter. There, Amanda decided to invite Jane to their book club. “You must get bored on the weekends. You should join our book club,” she said, handing out a flyer. Jane smiled and accepted. “Sure. I’ll see you on Saturday,” she said as she took her grocery bags and left the store. Amanda was pleased that she had recruited another member to their club. That weekend, Jane showed up. The routine at the book club would always be the same: they’d talk about a book for an hour, eat sandwiches and drink tea for another hour, and chatter the night away.Jane showed up for another two weeks before she started to be absent.
