Attacking the sink full of dirty dishes was the third item on Alyson’s list of chores for that morning. She’d already vacuumed the large area rug in the living room and the runner in the hall, as well as tackled the laundry. The satisfying hum of the dryer, accompanied by the light swishing of the delicate cycle on the washer, gave the house a nice homespun harmony as she padded barefoot into the kitchen. She worked durin...

Jack arrived home later that afternoon with exciting news. Jonathan, the manager at the tire shop, had called him into the office to meet with the regional manager. They told him that Jonathan would be retiring soon and that Jack had been pegged to replace him. Even better, he was told that corporate was watching him and that, if all goes well, he might be considered for a district manager position that would be opening u...