It was my first job, working as a temporary sales girl during the Christmas rush at Richardson’s, the finest jewelry store in our city.

The job was very important to me. Dad had passed away and Mother and I did not have enough to live on in those hard Depression years. I worked in the diamond department. My duties were to arrange the goods, keep them clean, and run errands (跑腿). It was interesting work that I enjoyed thoroughly.

As Christmas drew near, the days became more rushed, but also more exciting. One afternoon, Miss Allan, the head of the department, asked me to get her the diamond ring from the end showcase. I hurried back, with the ring in my hand when I noticed a man on the other side of the row of showcases. He was tall and in his early thirties. But it was the expression on his face that stopped me. He looked bitter, angry and confused. From his well-cut but worn-out suit, I could tell he was one of thousands trained for jobs they could no longer find. He gazed at the beautiful stones with the despair of a man whose right to earn them had been taken away. I had a sudden feeling of sympathy. But I had other things on my mind and soon forgot about him.

A few minutes later Miss Allan called for me again. This time for the clip (夹子) that went with the ring. The clip was at the very front of the window. I got it. But just as I was backing out, my sleeve caught on the corner of a tray (盘子) of diamonds. The tray started to fall, and six magnificent diamond rings rolled across the floor.

Down on my knees, I collected five rings with the greatest speed and put them in the tray. But I couldn’t find the sixth! I thought it must have slipped through the tiny opening between the showcase and the window. I ran around the counter and looked down. It wasn’t there. Just then, out of the corner of my eyes I saw the tall man moving quietly toward the door of the shop, a few yards away. At that moment I knew that he had the ring. He had been standing at the only spot to which it could have rolled. I reached him just as he got to the door.

I am looking forward to your early reply.

Yours,

Li Hua

More than half a year ago, my factory was bought by a large corporation and the majority of the managers lost their jobs, including me. That was the time I decided to do something I’d always wanted to do — become a freelance writer. Changing professions has meant that my lifestyle has changed in a number of ways.

I work just as much as I did before — between 46 and 51 hours a week — but my schedule is much less fixed than it used to be. As a manager, I worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, with a few extra hours on weekends. Now, however, I work when I feel like it. For instance, sometimes I work until midnight or 3 a.m., then sleep until noon. I really prefer this kind of schedule.

While I was working as a manager, I never exercised. I already felt tired after work, so I just came home in the evening and watched TV. However, last December, I joined a health club and began to do regular exercise. As a result, I have lost over 10 pounds and I feel much better. I’ve also started to eat healthier foods. I used to eat a lot of fast food, but now I do my own shopping. I buy lots of fruits and vegetables and cook them at home.

Of course, not all the changes have been that easy. For example, I don’t feel as safe financially as I used to. When I was working as a manager, I never worried much about money. I could always count on getting my paycheck every two weeks. Working freelance, I don’t have a regular paycheck. So now I have to make sure that there’s enough money until the next check arrives.

All in all, I really like my current lifestyle. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll never want to have a “regular” job. But for me, at least, it suits me.