Chapter Ten : The alternative
Lincoln continued enjoying himself in his new department at Dr. Cook's mall. The hassles and rumors from the morgue center were no longer his concern. In fact, he had almost completely forgotten about everything that happened there.
He started as a cashier, a role he held for several weeks before being transferred to the customer service department. The cashier position had proved too difficult for him. His daily accounts rarely balanced at the end of each day. To make up for the shortfall, Lincoln often had to dip into his personal savings, which became a frequent and draining cycle.
His friend Eric sympathized with his situation and even lent him some money at one point, though it nearly left Eric broke himself. Things began to improve once Lincoln moved to customer service. He found the work easier, more enjoyable, and free from the stress of handling money. His finances stabilized, and he was even able to save up.
With his basic needs met through his salary and benefits, Lincoln no longer gave much thought to pursuing a university degree. He could afford gifts and expensive jewelry for Whitney, who appreciated his generosity.
Meanwhile, Miss Carol gained admission to the state university shortly after Lincoln returned to work at the mall. Their bond remained strong, and Lincoln offered both emotional and financial support for her studies, which she deeply appreciated.
Eric, on the other hand, had been striving to get into Cambridge University to study Computer Science. After failing three times to meet the university's requirements, he shifted his focus to the state university, where he was finally admitted. Lincoln and Eric celebrated the achievement together.
However, Eric's admission stirred something in Lincoln. He, too, began yearning for a university education. But he was torn—he loved his job and couldn't imagine leaving it. Dr. Cook's mall didn't discourage staff from pursuing education, but doing so usually required leaving the job to make room for someone more available.
As fate would have it, three staff members were promoted—one from each department. Lincoln was one of them. Although it was a proud moment, the promotion only deepened his internal conflict. He deserved the recognition, especially after two notable acts of honesty and dedication.
One such instance involved a customer, Mrs. Young, who had left a bag behind. She didn't realize it until two weeks later. Prior to returning to the mall, she had searched two other locations—each search bringing confusion and even accusations.
The day she lost the bag, she had visited a car wash and later accused the young man who washed her car of theft. Bystanders defended the worker's character, and she left frustrated. Later, she remembered visiting her child's school to inquire about boarding. She was sure she had left the bag at the reception, but the staff there insisted she took it when she left. Her search proved fruitless, and the stress affected her deeply—especially since she hadn't told her husband.
Two weeks later, she visited Dr. Cook's mall. Lincoln immediately recognized her and felt certain the bag he had found belonged to her.
"Madam, I think this bag belongs to you," he said.
"Oh, it's mine!" she exclaimed.
"Are you sure? Do you have any proof?"
"Yes, absolutely! There's $2,000 in the bag. Count it, you'll find it there."
Indeed, the money was intact.
"You must be recognized for your honesty," she said. "I'm going to speak to your CEO."
"Thank you, madam. We're just doing our job. Honesty is part of our duty."
But Mrs. Young insisted and found her way to Dr. Cook's office to report Lincoln's admirable conduct.
Dr. Cook was pleased to hear the story, and this event played a key role in Lincoln's promotion.