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Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Leading Public Organizations - Public Administration Essay
Leading Public Organizations - Public Administration - Essay Example In addition, they may differ in their abilities to cope up with the unforeseen situations. This holds even more relevant for public administration in organizations. Hence, it requires a coordinating function to deal them effectively so that the out put production would be maximum in any firm. Among all the role players in public administration, leader is very significant one who initiates the process of thinking towards new ideas or innovations and accordingly fixes the responsibilities of various employees in different sections (Hickman, 2009). He also makes them aware about the objectives and goals of the organization and gives them timely targets. The main challenge for a leader in an organization is to manage the communication process to different individuals or groups of individuals who have diverse nature. At the same time, conflict management and ethical decision making also become very complex when leader initiates the process of dealing the individuals or groups of diverse n ature. Let us analyze them one by one. Communication process is one of the most important factors that decides the success of any public organization with employees of diverse nature (Ivancevich, 2009). Leadership in public sector faces a big challenge in the form of large size of groups of individuals of diverse nature and hence their employee coordination is a tough task. The individuals or groups of individuals differ significantly in their critical thinking nature and perception about the decisions of the organization and hence clarity in communication is must for the higher coherence among the employees and the leaders may concentrate on easy way of dissemination of information using the latest technology. The employees must feel that they are integral part of the organization for getting optimum results, this can happen only when they are informed about the objectives and work plan of the organization. If a leader uses any single mode of communication, the employees may not be able to perceive it in same manner. Hence it is necessary to identify the right mode and time of communication process according to the nature of the individuals or groups. The effective communication process once implemented in public administration in organizations with special emphasis on crisis management communication, there is a vast scope for critical thinking and skill development among the employees of diverse nature (Shockley-Zalabak, 2005). There are different ways of communication process that can be well utilized to inform about the present status and future requirements of the organization. The advent of information technology is of immense help in dissemination of information to the employees of different tiers. In some studies, it was found that the use of a Computer-mediated Communication (CMC) system in-group conflict management has become a reasonable success (Hampden-Turner, Charles and Fons Trompenaars. 2000). The group working relations coding system (GWRCS) w as found to be useful to examine group interaction patterns that characterize the conflict management process. It was also noticed that an intellective task conflict can be well managed by a high confrontiveness where as cognitive task conflict requires a moderate confrontiveness strategy. Similarly, effective team building also promotes the communication pro
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Management (individual influence on the organization) Essay
Management (individual influence on the organization) - Essay Example For instance, while developing plans, the roles of individuals along with their leadership styles also their decisions, will deeply control how they plan their tactics for the future. In specific the behavioral and the cognitive styles of leadership have deeply affected the organizations of today. With reference to some of the experts in the field, an independent leadership style gives in positive energy to the triumph of a corporation whilst a dramatic imagination, the tendency to believe in provisions of metaphors rather than expressions, as a rule generates a better level of leadership decisions. There are a lot of instances of where the disparity amid triumph and collapse of a business entity has been unswervingly accredited to the leadership style of its higher management. Complete organizational tasks bring about a limitless level of patience for dissatisfaction mainly as leaders set a soaring accent on the outcomes. Nevertheless, the efficient leader recognizes that realizing these outcomes impose joint efforts for which the leader ought to be people orientated. So, the value of leadership styles towards the success of a corporation cannot be modest. Thriving leaders have to be efficient altering agents. They have to be able to come to terms with the varying outlook of their elements.
Presidential nomination Essay Example for Free
Presidential nomination Essay My first reaction to this paper was that I wanted to know more. The fact that Fremont rose to national prominence even though his mother was not married to his father seems unusual for the time period and as though it offers hope to others who come from single-parent families. I also liked that he was kicked out of finishing school and went on to explore the West and run for President of the United States. Though he did not win, it again shows that the American dreamâ€â€that anyone can grow up to be leader of the free worldâ€â€was alive and well. The explorations that Fremont conducted added greatly to the growth of the nation and I find it intriguing that he was a Southerner who opposed slavery and ran against Lincoln for the presidential nomination. It makes it interesting to contemplate how the country might have been changed if Fremont had defeat Lincoln to become the Republican nominee for president. I wonder if having a Southerner in the White House might have prevent the South from seceding. This was an interesting look at the way one man can help to change the course of history and helped give a better view on how the people alive during the westward expansion and the Civil War were all intertwined.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Ranganathan Science Library
Ranganathan Science Library SHIYALI RAMAMRITA RANGANATHAN Brief overview of Ranganathans life According to Gopinath, in Memorabilia Ranganathan, Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, often referred to as S. R. Ranganathan, was born August 9, 1892 in Tamil Nadu, in southern India. He lost his father early in childhood, and he also married his first wife at a young age. Ranganathan and his second wife had one child. After a long, impressive career, Ranganathan died at the age of 80 on September 27, 1972. Education and career Documentation Research and Training Centre, 1962 http://www.isibang.ac.in/library/portal/Pages/photo.htm Ranganathan as a student, 1913 http://www.isibang.ac.in/library/portal/Pages/photo.htm Leaving Mathematics and teaching had not been easy for SRR. His colleagues and the principal had given him great moral support. The year was 1924. http://www.isibang.ac.in/library/portal/Pages/photo.htm Before Ranganathan influenced the world of library science (he is said to have coined the term), he earned his Masters degree in Mathematics and a degree from a teachers college. From 1917 to 1921, he retained a position at Presidency College in Madras, India, teaching math and physics. According to Gopinath, students loved Ranganathans lively teaching style and often applauded after his lectures. When a better paying library position opened at the Madras University Library, Ranganathan reluctantly applied and, with no previous library education or experience, was surprisingly accepted. After a week, out of boredom he tried to resign. Instead, he was sent to London for nine months where he learned library science and began to design his own classification scheme, among other concepts that he later wrote about, including his Five Laws of Library Science. He stayed at Madras University until 1945, after reorganizing the library, creating a library science school, and influencing much o f southern India. After his so-called retirement, he went to Banaras Hindu University and Dehli University, created and served on numerous professional committees and boards, as well as promoting public library legislation. From 1954-1957, Ranganathan stayed in Zurich, where he continued his work in library science. Then he went to Bangalore where â€Å"the pinnacle of†¦his entire life was†¦the founding of the Documentation Research and Training Centre under the auspices of the Indian Statistical Institute†(p. 2423). This institute exists today offering courses and degrees in information and library science (see drtc.isibang.ac.in/ for more information). Major contribution to librarianship S. R. Ranganathan, also known as the Father of Indian Librarianship, contributed more than 60 books and over 1,500 articles. He wrote on library management, book selection, reference service, library buildings and furniture, and the â€Å"chain procedure to deriving subject index entries†(Gopinath, 2003, p.2427), among other topics. But, one of his biggest contributions to librarianship was his â€Å"Five laws of library science†that continues to be a guide for library management and operation today. 1. Books are for use. 2. Every reader his/her book. 3. Every book its readers. 4. Save the time of the reader; save the time of the library staff. 5. The library is a growing organism. These five ideas shape many aspects of libraries. The following ideas derived from Ranganathans five laws are presented in a lecture from Atherton (1973) that she gave at the Documentation Research and Training Centre in Bangalore: Readers should know what information is available; libraries should know what their readers want; readers should have access to library material, catalog searches should lead the reader to their desired material; the organization systems of a library should be designed for efficiency; as information grows, so do libraries. All of these laws persist in importance in terms of the mission of the library and the services it provides for its patrons. Various versions of the five laws of library science can be seen in As electronic information becomes more pervasive, these laws still apply as an over-arching philosophy and guide to connecting patrons with information. Yet â€Å"new violations have emerged†with the growth of the web and other online resources (Cloonan Dove, 2005, p.59). Information architects and other information scientists look to Ranganathans ideas (Steckel, 2002). In 2004, Noruzi published a set for the Web: Web resources are for use. Every user his or her web resource. Every web resource its user. Save the time of the user. The Web is a growing organism. These modern challenges to maintain the ideals of library science are the major working in the fields of information and library sciences. Major contribution to cataloging S. R. Ranganathans most important contribution to cataloging was his Colon Classification scheme. Three main types of classification used are enumerative, as is the Library of Congress Classification, in that it â€Å"attempts to assign designations for all the single and composite concepts required in the system†; hierarchical, as mostly describes the Dewey Decimal Classification scheme; and faceted classification that confine their explicit lists of designations to single, unsubdivided concepts†(Taylor, 2006, p. 393). Facets are aspects of the book (or any information object) that can be used as an area for classification. In Ranganathans Colon Classification scheme, he determined there were five facets: personality, matter, energy, space, time that are â€Å"used to analyze a class or subject and to construct a composite class notation for it†(p. 395). In the PMEST formula, each facet is separated by different punctuation marks and informs which type of facet is coming next: , (comma)personality ; (semicolon)matter : (colon)energy . (period)space ‘ (apostrophe)time Taylor (p.395) gives the example of notation for a book on â€Å"the eradication of virus in rice plants in Japan, 1971†as J , 381 ; 4 : 5 . 42 ‘ N70†¦The breakdown of the notation is: Jagriculture(main subject) 381rice plant(personality) 4virus disease(matter) 5eradication(energy) 42Japan(space) N701970s(time) Considered â€Å"analytic-synthetic How does it compare to Dewey? Less biased Better for classifying complex items, new subjects â€Å"does not assign fixed slots to subjects in sequence†(p. 394). Current use of Colon Classification The faceted approach of Colon Classification makes it ideal for computer use. Faceted class notation â€Å"is especially important for online retrieval†¦as a complement to verbal retrieval methods y subject headings or keywords.†(p. 396) Because facets are used, as opposed to hierarchy, a user can easily search by facets. â€Å"Rather than deciding ahead of time what the ‘proper trees, the computer can construct a tree on the fly based on the users interaction†(Weinberger, 2007, p. 81). The users begin the search with one facet and then narrow it with other facets. â€Å"The result is a system that lets [the users] become data squirrels, jumping from branch to branch†(Weinberger, 2007, p. 81), with new branches being created by the users queries. As explained by Glassel (1998), â€Å"each term in a Yahoo! notation string contains individual words which have meaning on their own, but once combined with other words into a string, a context is created , providing a deeper meaning. In this way it is much like a faceted classification†( ¶ 11). Here is an example of how the classification of a book based on its facets can easily migrate to a search engine. Using a books subjects: Research in the cure of the tuberculosis of lungs by x-ray conducted in India in 1950s, the CC notation is L,45;421:6;253:f.44N5. And as words, the notation is translated as: Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment;X-ray:Research.India1950 (Chan, 1994, p.391). This translation are keywords in a search that, if matched to controlled subject headings would likely result in positive hits. Annotated bibliography of Ranganathans principle works. Ranganathan, S. R. (1933). Colon Classification. Madras: Madras Library Association. (1st edition). An introduction to the colon classification system using five facets (personality, matter, energy, space, and time) Ranganathan, S. R. (1962). Elements of Library Classification. Bombay: Asia Publishing House. Ranganathan, S.R. (1963). Colon classification : basic classification (6th ed.). New York: Asia Publishing House. Ranganathan, S.R. (1963). The five laws of library science (2nd ed.). New York: Asia Publishing House. Introduction to his five deceptively and elegantly simple â€Å"laws of library science†that affect every aspect of the library. User-centered approach Ranganathan, S.R. (1967). Prolegomena to library classification (3rd ed.). London: Asia Publishing House. 640-page book rules and guidelines Timeline Dewey born (1851) LCC developed (1852) Colon Class. designed (1924) 5 Laws of LS (1928) Ranganathan dies (1972) 1850-1875 1901-1929 1950-1979 1876-1900 1930-1949 1980-present DDC developed (1876) Ranganathan born (1892) Dewey dies (1931) CC, LC, and DD class. systems modified, still used Appendix A CANONS FOR THE IDEA PLANE 1.    Canons for Characteristics a)     Canon of Differentiation b)    Canon of Relevance c)     Canon of Ascertainability d)    Canon of Permanence 2.    Canons for Succession of Characteristics a)     Canon of Concomitance b)    Canon of Relevant Succession c)     Canon of Consistent Succession 3.    Canons for Array a)     Canon of Exhaustiveness b)    Canon of Exclusiveness c)     Canon of Helpful Sequence 4.    Canons for Chain a)     Canon of Decreasing Extension b)    Canon of Modulation d)    Canon of Consistent Sequence 5.    Canons for Filiatory Sequence a)     Canon of Subordinate Classes b)    Canon of Coordinate Classes CANONS FOR THE VERBAL PLANE 1.    Canon of Context 2.    Canon of Enumeration 3.    Canon of Currency 4.    Canon of Reticence CANONS FOR THE NOTATIONAL PLANE 1.    Canon of Synonym 2.    Canon of Homonym 3.    Canon of Relativity 4.    Canon of Uniformity 5.    Canon of Hierarchy 6.    Canon of Non-Hierarchy 7.    Canon of Mixed Base 8.    Canon of Pure Base 9.    Canon of Faceted Notation 10. Canon of Non-Faceted Notation 11. Canon of Co-Extensiveness 12. Canon of Under-Extensiveness CANONS OF MNEMONICS 1.    Canon of Alphabetical Mnemonics 2.    Canon of Systematic Mnemonics 3.    Canon of Seminal Mnemonics PRINCIPLES FOR HELPFUL SEQUENCE 1.    Principle of Later-in-Time 2.    Principle of Later-in-Evolution 3.    Principles of Spatial Contiguity a)     Principle of Bottom Upwards b)    Principle of Top Downwards c)     Principle of Left to Right d)    Principle of Clockwise Direction e)     Principle of Counter-Clockwise Direction f)     Principle of Periphery to Centre g)    Principle of Centre to Periphery 4.    Principles of Quantitative Measure a)     Principle of Increasing Quantity b)    Principle of Decreasing Quantity 5.    Principle of Increasing Complexity 6.    Principle of Canonical Sequence 7.    Principle of Literary Warrant 8.    Principle of Alphabetical Sequence POSTULATES 1.    Postulate of Five Fundamental Categories 2.    Postulate of Basic Facet 3.    Postulate of Isolate Facet 4.    Postulates for Rounds of Manifestation a)     Postulate of Rounds for Energy b)    Postulate of Rounds for Personality and Matter c)     Postulate of Rounds for Space and Time 5.    Postulates for Levels of Manifestation a)     Postulate of Level 6.    Postulates for Facets a)     Postulate of First Facet b)    Postulate of Concreteness c)     Postulate of Facet Sequence Within a Round d)    Postulate of Facet Sequence Within the Last Round e)     Postulate of a Level Cluster PRINCIPLES FOR FACET SEQUENCE 1.    Wall-Picture Sequence 2.    Whole-Organ Principle 3.    Cow-Calf Principle 4.    Act and-Action-Actor-Tool Principle References Atherton, P. (1973). Putting knowledge to work: An American view of Ranganathans five laws of library science. Dehli: Vikas Publishing House. Chan L. M. (1994). Cataloging and classification: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Cloonan, M.V., Dove, J.G. (2005, April 1). Ranganathan Online. Library Journal, 130(6), pp. 58-60. Retrieved on July 22, 2008, from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=9hid=103sid=3d1ade8a-3357-4c16-8584-676fda875d4d%40sessionmgr9 Garfield, E. (1984, February 6). A tribute to S. R. Ranganathan, the Father of Indian library science: Part I life and works. Current Comments, 6, 37-43. Retrieved on July 21, 2008, from http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/v7p045y1984.pdf Glassel, A. (1998). Was Ranganathan a Yahoo!? End Users Corner. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://scout.wisc.edu/Projects/PastProjects/toolkit/enduser/archive/1998/euc-9803.html Gopinath, M.A. (Ed.) (1994), Memorabilia Ranganathan. Bangalore: Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science. Gopinath, M.A. (2003). Ranganathan, Shiyali Ramamrita. In M. A. Drake (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science (2nd ed.) (pp. 2419-2437). New York: Marcel Dekker. Noruzi, A. (2004). Application of Ranganathans Laws to the Web. Webology, 1(2). Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://www.webology.ir/2004/v1n2/a8.html Spiteri, L. (1998). A simplified model for facet analysis. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, 23, pp. 1-30. Retrieved July 22, 2008, from http://iainstitute.org/pg/a_simplified_model_for_facet_analysis.php Stekel, M. (2002, October 7). Ranganathan for IAs : An introduction to the thought of S.R. Ranganathan for information architects. Boxes And Arrows. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/ranganathan_for_ias Taylor, A. G. (2006). Introduction to cataloging and classification (10th ed.). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Weinberger, D. (2007). Everything is miscellaneous: The power of the new digital disorder. New York: Henry Holt and Company. July 16, 2008, 11:23 AM, Erin M. OToole, recommended in an email to use the following resources: LIS encyclopedias and dictionaries online reference works available in the LIS Subject Guide at http://www.library.unt.edu/research-tools/subject-guides/library-information-science/electronic-resources/dictionaries-encyclopedias the UNT Library Catalog at http://iii.library.unt.edu the 3 LIS databases listed in a row starting with Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) on this webpage: http://irservices.library.unt.edu/ais.cfm?alpha=L favorite search engine and keyword Google Images Search at http://images.google.com
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Life Struggles of Phoenix in Eudora Weltys A Worn Path Essays -- Worn
Life Struggles of Phoenix in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path "A Worn Path," by Eudora Welty is a heartbreaking story about the heroic trip of an old African American woman, Phoenix. The readers won't find out right away the plot of the story or why Phoenix won't give up her exhausting trip to town-the conflict of this story-especially on a very cold day. The title, "A Worn Path," indicates that Phoenix has obviously walked down this path many times before-also the fact that she can cross a creek with her eyes closed confirms the title's message. Her trip is full of obstacles, from bushes of thorns that get caught in her dress, to her crossing of a creek. These elements complicate the conflict and increase the readers' curiosity about the plot. Phoenix can't trust her eyes, choosing instead to walk along with her eyes closed and sense her way with the help of her cane. While needed rest forces her to stop for a while, she has a vision of a little boy handing her a slice of marble cake. So many questions arise in the minds of the readers. Who was the little boy? Is she halluci...
Friday, October 11, 2019
Business Plan †Book cafe Essay
1.0 Summary Profile Business Name: GRYFFINDOR BOOK CAFÉ Type of Business: A Book Cafà © Legal Structure: Partnership Address: No. 17, Ground Floor, Parramatta Road, Broadway Gryffindor Book Cafà © operated under a partnership between 3 people. It is classified to be within the hospitality industry, with its main focus is in serving people. The partners view the Cafà © industry Australia to be lucrative due to the growing demands of coffee. Gryffindor Book Cafà © will be operated within the University zone amongst the University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney, in Broadway. Hence, the cafà © will be in close proximity to its target market. To differentiate our cafà ©, we will embark upon a unique physical appearance, which sets it apart from local cafà ©s, provide free reading materials, such as local and foreign newspapers, different types of magazines, books and novels. We will be providing a cafà © for customers in which, they can relax and escape from the daily pressures of work and offers a place to converse with mates over a cup of coffee. Furthermore, aside from the cold and hot drinks available, the business will also provide complementary side dishes, such as cakes. Hence, Gryffindor Book Cafà © will offer a variety of choices to our customers. Gryffindor Book Cafà © will gain its competitive advantage in the market by the quality of its products, warm customer service provided by our staff and the uniqueness of our facilities, which offers an escape from the everyday rustics. Furthermore, the main promotional strategy employed by the business is the word of its satisfied customers and the various discounts the business will offer. 2.0 Critical Success Factors for the Survival of the Business  · Efficient and concise management – Good management allows operations of the business to be well coordinated.  · Detailed planning – A well-planned business would clearly lists its goals and objectives and clearly identify the methods to be implemented.  · To constantly monitor and evaluate the business’s performance to ensure efficiency and hence maximise profits.  · Quality financial management – to ensure a healthy cash flow within the business.  · Well-planned marketing strategy – to be able to provide the goods and services demanded by consumers and to be able to reach potential customers.  · Sufficient capital – in order to pay its debts and continue operations and increase sales.  · A strong competitive advantage to distinguish the business within the market.  · Entrepreneurship spirit – continuous dedication from the owners/management is needed to operate the business effectively and profitably.  · Entrepreneur’s background knowledge and experience greatly contribute to the success of the business as it aids its operations.  · Location is a vital element to a small business, which must be of easy access to its customers. 3.0 Executive Summary Gryffindor Book Cafà © recognises the importance of prompt and amiable customer service in the hospitality industry. It is a small business that provides high quality coffee and hot and cold beverages with cakes, muffins and cookies. It differentiates itself from other cafà ©s by its unique services of providing reading materials, i.e. newspapers and magazines from different countries, which the business incorporates as their prime function. Operating as a partnership between Angelene Alburquerque, Nicole Tsui and Jeff Chan, Gryffindor Book Cafà © belongs in the private sector and in the tertiary industry. It is located in Broadway, along George St. where it is easily accessible for its target market. The following business plan will analyse in details the situational analysis of the business in its establishment, and the operational, marketing and financial plans that it will implements in its start up. 4.0 Situational Analysis 4.1 Business Name: Gryffindor Book Cafà © 4.2 Prime Function: Gryffindor Book Cafà © provides:  · Hot drinks – coffee, cappuccino, lattes, etc.  · Cold beverages  · Milkshakes  · Cakes  · Pastries  · Cookies  · Reading materials – i.e. newspapers, magazines and books 4.3 Vision Statement To be the best cafà © with a difference with a reputable image supported by:  · High quality products  · Impeccable customer service 4.4 Mission Statement Gryffindor Book Cafà © is dedicated to:  · Providing customers impeccable service within a warm, friendly environment and comfortable facilities supported by promptness, quality and style  · Serve customers with the best cafà © products in the market at a value price  · Continually find improvement in our are of operations and service  · Be socially responsible by complying to a code of conduct, which would ensure fairness to its stakeholders  · Be environmentally conscious by using earth-friendly materials 4.5 Goals Ø Financial Goals · Maximising sales and profit · Business stability · Progressive growth Ø Personal Goals · Job security · Increase self-confidence · Improving managerial skills · Professional recognition · Increase power and Influence Ø Social Goals · Comply with ethical conducts · Provision of local employment · Sponsoring local events 4.6 Business Objectives Time Period: 12 months  · To break even with revenue and total costs in the duration of 10 months  · Reduce cost by efficiency by 10%  · Increase market share by 15% through effective marketing strategies 4.7 Business Ownership/Legal Structure Gryffindor Book Cafà © will operate as a partnership between Miss Angelene Alburquerque, Miss Nicole Tsui and Mr. Jeff Chan. Advantages and disadvantages operating as a partnership are as follows. ADVANTAGES · Low start up cost · Workload and responsibility is shared · Business profits are not taxed, but personal income only · Funds and talents of the partners are combined · Lower cost involved compared to operating a company · If one partner dies, business operations may continue DISADVANTAGES · Unlimited Liability · Conflicts between partners may arise · Liable for all debts, including debts held by other partners · Incompatible characteristics, making it difficult to find a suitable partner continue 4.8 Industry Analysis Australian coffee consumption is running at an all-time high. In September, economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel reported that we consume about 2.4 kilograms per person per year, double that of 30 years ago. (Tea consumption, by contrast, is on the slide.) And cafes, says Sean Edwards, managing director of cafe-industry organization CafeBiz, are â€Å"a $7.5 billion industry in Australia†. 4.9 Competition There are two general competitors in our cafà © market. They are the multinational specialty beverage chains, such as Starbucks and Gloria Jeans, and the local coffee houses or cafes, both with an established clientele and a quality product. There is a dramatic distinction among the customers of each of these outlets. Ø Michelle’s Patisserie Michael Patisserie is a pure Australian company, which mainly sells bakery products in the Australian community. Michael Patisserie is now a national system with around 270 outlets throughout Australia and is averaging new store openings of approximately 1 per week. Company Strengths  · Well-known products in Australia  · Recognized franchise  · Offering bakery bakes  · Specialty coffee roasting, coffee retailing and coffee training  · Easy accessible location Ø Starbucks Starbucks is an international corporation, which is the leading premium coffee cafà © in the world, with more than 23 branches locates in Sydney. Due to its distinguishable reputation of Starbucks will be a threat to Gryffindor Book Cafà ©. Company strengths  · Experienced in premium coffee  · High quality of services  · Famous establishment  · Lower production cost  · Recognizable franchise Ø Gloria Jean’s Coffee Gloria Jean Coffee is another large cafà © franchise in Australia, with stores in most major shopping centers and has almost 70 branches located in the Sydney region. With the renowned celebrity compared to our brand new cafà ©, it becomes a great challenge for the business to establish a certain market position. Company Strengths  · Standardized quality products  · Well-located place  · Eminent celebrity  · Employee-trained Local Cafà ©s Although small, a very tough competitor for our cafà © is the established local cafà ©s. Their previous experience in the industry would certainly be beneficial in further developing their cafes, which will greatly disadvantage Gryffindor Book Cafà ©. The quality of beverages served at an established cafe will surpass any of the regional or national chains. Company Strengths  · Plenty of product choices  · Easy access  · Consistent menus  · Quality product  · Well-serviced The competitive edge of Gryffindor Book Cafà © over the local cafes is based on the attributes of:  · Foreign newspapers and magazine service  · Consistent menu  · Quality product  · Discount purchases 4.10 Competitive Advantage Statement â€Å"Aside from our deliciously baked cakes and tantalising freshly brewed coffees, which is of the highest quality around, Gryffindor Book Cafà © guarantees the best customer service in the business.†SWOT Analysis Strengths · Business & management master’s degree held by each partner – intensive knowledge · Strong motivation and commitment held by each partner as personal success is dependent on the business’s performance · Focus on excellent service in satisfying customer’s needs · Well defined goals and objectives · Employs a variety of marketing strategies to reach customers · Unique facilities, which sets it apart from its competitors · Ability to provide personalized service Weaknesses · Undercapitalisation · Minimal experience in the hospitality industry · Minimal experience in making and preparing foods and drinks Opportunities · Increase market share · Take over dissatisfied customers from their businesses · Increase variety of products · Positive forecasting Threats · Competitors – i.e. Transnational corporation (E.g. Starbucks & Gloria Jeans) · Unpredictable downturn in economy · Changes in government policies/laws · External government department controls – i.e. showing up unexpected 4.11 Economic Conditions Economic conditions will greatly affect the business. For example, changes in interest rates will affect the business’s bank loan. A change in unemployment may see a reduction of sales from the business, as customers are not willing to spend. Furthermore, economic conditions determine price levels. For instance, prices must be set lower during a recession. 4.12 Socio-Cultural Conditions Australia is multicultural and is therefore important for the business to treat everyone fairly without any bias. The business can use this factor as an advantage by offering foreign reading materials to cater for the majority of our customers. For example, English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Additionally the business must continue to monitor the changing trends in society in order to provide the goods and services that customers want and be able to change. 4.13 Legal-Political Conditions In order to legally establish a cafà ©, the business must be registered and it is important to apply a food licence from the council. Moreover, the quality of food and drink is extremely important to qualify and be permitted to open. Furthermore, laws such as the Fair Trading Act and Occupational Health and Safety regulations greatly effects the conducts of business and influences its operations. 4.14 Technological Conditions Gryffindor Book Cafà © must maintain its technological edge amongst its competitors. Therefore, we can introduce some high-technology machine (coffee maker) to improve the quality of our products and efficiency of the operations in long run. In short run, we may provide on-line order service for take-away service, such as order-on-net service, and improve our record keepings by the latest softwares, which would simplify managerial tasks. 4.15 Natural Environment Conditions Through the use of recyclable products, the business would project an environmentally-friendly image and avoid wastage. Furthermore, the business can utilise methods of saving water and the use less electricity. Consequently, this may not only protect the environment, but also reduce operating expenses. 5.0 Operations Plan 5.1 Location Gryffindor Book Cafe will be located in Broadway, along Parramatta Road, which is in close proximity with out target market. The physical size of the cafà © approximately measures to be 1600 square feet and is opposite Victoria Park, which encompasses a peaceful, scenic view of the area. The reason for this location is essentially due to the two universities in the area. 5.2 Furnishings Our cafà © will mainly use wood to be our main ornamentation and use French windows to emphasise Victoria Park’s green landscape to our customers as they read. Being a cafà © which provides reading resources, the lighting must be sufficient in order to protect our customer’s health, upholding our social responsibility. Moreover, we will furnish the cafà © with snug sofas to provide contented seats for reading convenience and just relaxing. A local professional will be contracted out of the business to handle the furnishing of the place. 5.3 Operating Hours Monday – Wednesday 7:00am – 6:30pm Thursday – Friday 7:30am – 8:00pm Saturday 7:30pm – 4:00pm Sunday Closed 5.4 Cafà © Floor Layout 5.5 Details of Production and Service Ø Food Preparation  · Beverages and hot drinks are to be prepared as it is ordered  · Muffins and cakes are baked freshly on a daily basis  · Some products will be ordered from local producers i.e. cakes Ø Service  · Customers approach the counter to make their order, which they have the choice to eat in or to take away.  · Reading materials are available to the customers, such as books that are old and new and magazines, which are distributed throughout the cafà © in shelves lining the wall.  · Current local and international newspapers, particularly from Asia are available to customers to read, which are positioned at the counter as they order, for easier and more convenient access.  · Staff would walk around to customers offering reading materials and ensuring that they are satisfied with the food and service.  · Smoking is prohibited in our cafà © to facilitate fresh air supply. 5.6 Stakeholders Ø Internal Stakeholders – The partners are the internal stakeholders of the business and has a responsibility for towards one another to perform their part in the business to the best of their ability. They are also the internal customers of the business, as each of their workload is vital for all partners to be able to perform their job efficiently. – Employees – the business must provide a safe working environment, to comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations and provide training. Ø External Stakeholders – Customers – the business is responsible in providing high quality products, a safe environment and fair service. – Community – the business must be environmentally friendly, and will provide recyclable takeaway containers. – Government – the business will pay its due taxes, and will behave ethically in recording profits and expenses. – Suppliers – the business must pay its debts.  § John Fairfax Holding Limited – supplies newspapers and magazines  § Maxims – supplies food and drinks products 5.7 Proposed Organisational Chart 5.8 Method of Employee Participation in Decision Making  · The flatter structure encourages direct communication between employees and employers, which allows more input from staff and ideas to reach management at a more efficient manner.  · A suggestion box positioned behind the counter would be available for all staff to insert ideas as they work, which will be discussed in meetings.  · Include staff in meetings and allow for contribution  · Employ participatory planning, to include the staff, which will be affected by the plans made and/or will be asked to implement them.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18
Matt woke, fuzzily, to find himself still behind the steering wheel of Elena's car. He stumbled into his house, almost forgetting to lock the car, and then fumbling with keys to unlock the back door. The house was dark; his parents were asleep. He made it up to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed without even taking off his shoes. When he woke again, he was startled to find it was nineA.M . and his mobile phone was ringing in his jeans pocket. â€Å"Mer'dith?†â€Å"We thought you were coming over early this morning.†â€Å"I am, but I've got to figure outhow first,†Matt said – or rather, croaked. His head felt twice its usual size and his arm at least four times too big. Even so, something in the back of his mind was calculating how to get to the boardinghouse without taking the Old Wood Road at all. Finally a few neurons lit up and showed him. â€Å"Matt? Are you still there?†â€Å"I'm not sure. Last night†¦God, I don't evenremember most of last night. But on the way home – look, I'll tell you when I get there. First I have to call the police.†â€Å"Thepolice ?†â€Å"Yeah†¦look†¦just give me an hour, okay? I'll be there in an hour.†When he finally arrived at the boardinghouse, it was closer to eleven than to ten. But a shower had cleared his head, even if it hadn't done much for his throbbing arm. When he did appear, he was engulfed in worried femininity. â€Å"Matt,what happened ?†He told them everything he could remember. When Elena, with set lips, undid the Ace bandage he had wrapped around his arm, they all winced. The long scratches were clearly badly infected. â€Å"They're poisonous, then, these malach.†â€Å"Yes,†Elena said tersely. â€Å"Poisonous to body and mind.†â€Å"And you think one of these can getinside people?†Meredith asked. She was doodling on a notebook page, trying to draw something that looked like what Matt had described. â€Å"Yes.†For just a moment Elena's and Meredith's eyes met – then both looked down. At last Meredith said, â€Å"And how do we know whether one is inside†¦someone†¦or not?†â€Å"Bonnie should be able to tell, in trance,†Elena said evenly. â€Å"Even I might be able to tell, but I'm not going to use White Power for that. We're going down to see Mrs. Flowers.†She said it in that special way that Matt had learned to recognize long ago, and it meant that no argument would do any good. She was putting her foot down, and that was that. And the truth was that Matt didn't feel very much like arguing. He hated to complain – he'd played through football games with a broken collarbone, a sprained knee, a turned ankle – but this was different. His arm felt in danger of exploding. Mrs. Flowers was downstairs in the kitchen, but on the family room table were four glasses of iced tea. â€Å"I'll be right with you,†she called through the swinging half-door that divided the kitchen from where they were standing. â€Å"Drink the tea, especially the young man who's injured. It'll help him relax.†â€Å"Herbal tea,†Bonnie whispered to the others, as if this were some trade secret. The tea wasn't all that bad, although Matt would've preferred a Coke. But when he thought of it as medicine, and with the girls all watching him like hawks, he managed to get over half of it down before the landlady came out. She was wearing her gardening hat – or at least a hat with artificial flowers on it that looked as if it had been used for gardening. But on a cookie tray, she had a number of instruments, all gleaming as if they'd just been boiled. â€Å"Yes, dear, I am,†she said to Bonnie, who had stood up in front of Matt protectively. â€Å"I used to be a nurse, just like your sister. Women weren't encouraged to be doctors then. But all my life I've been a witch. Gets kind of lonely, doesn't it?†â€Å"It wouldn't be so lonely,†Meredith said, looking puzzled, â€Å"if you lived closer to town.†â€Å"Ah, but then I'd have people staring at my house all the time, and children daring each other to run and touch it, or to throw a stone through my window, or adults peering at me every time I went shopping. And how could I ever keep my garden in peace?†It was the longest speech any of them had ever heard her make. It took them so by surprise that it was a moment before Elena said, â€Å"I don't see how you can keep your garden in peace outhere . What with all the deer and rabbits and other animals.†â€Å"Well, most of it isfor the animals, you see.†Mrs. Flowers smiled beatifically and her face seemed to light up from within. â€Å"They surely enjoy it. But they don't enjoy the herbs I grow for putting on scrapes and cuts and sprains and such. And perhaps they know I'm a witch, too, since they always leave me a bit of the garden for myself and maybe a guest or two.†â€Å"Why are you telling me all of this now?†Elena demanded. â€Å"Why, there've been times when I was looking for you, or for Stefan, when I thought – well, never mind what I thought. But I wasn't always sure you were our friend.†â€Å"The truth is that I've gotten solitary and unsociable in my old age. But now you've lost your young man, haven't you? I wish I had gotten up a little earlier this morning. Then I might have been able to speak to him. He left the money for a year's rental of the room on the kitchen table. I've always had a soft spot for him, and that's the truth.†Elena's lips were trembling. Matt hastily and heroically lifted his wounded arm. â€Å"Can you help at all with this?†he asked, peeling the Ace bandage away again. â€Å"Oh, my, my. And what sort of critter gave you these?†Mrs. Flowers said, examining the scratches while the three girls winced. â€Å"We think it was a malach,†Elena said quietly. â€Å"Do you know anything about those?†â€Å"I've heard the word, yes, but I don't know anything specific. How long ago did you get them?†she asked Matt. â€Å"They look more like tooth marks than claw marks.†â€Å"They are,†Matt said grimly, and he described the malach to her as best he could. It was partly to keep himself distracted, because Mrs. Flowers had picked up one of the gleaming instruments from the cookie tray and was starting to do things to his red and swollen arm. â€Å"Hold as still as you can on this towel,†she said. â€Å"These have already scabbed over, but they need to be opened and drained and cleaned out properly. It's going to hurt. Why don't one of you young women hold his hand to help keep his arm steady?†Elena started to stand but Bonnie beat her to it, almost leaping over Meredith to take Matt's hand in both of her own. The draining and cleaning were painful, but Matt managed to bear it without making a sound, even giving Bonnie a sort of sickly grin as blood and pus trickled out of his arm. The lancing hurt at first, but the release of pressure felt good, and when the wounds were drained and clean and then packed with a cold herbal compress, they felt blessedly cool and ready to heal properly. It was while he was trying to thank the old woman that he noticed Bonnie staring at him. In particular, at his neck. Suddenly she giggled. â€Å"What? What's funny?†â€Å"The bug,†she said. â€Å"It gave you a hickey. Unless you did something else last night that you didn't tell us about.†Matt could feel himself flush as he pulled his collar up higher. â€Å"I did tell you about it, and it was the malach. It had a sort of tentacle with suckers around my neck. It was trying to strangle me!†â€Å"I remember now,†Bonnie said meekly. â€Å"I'm sorry.†Mrs. Flowers even had an herbal ointment for the mark the sucker tentacle had left – and one for Matt's scraped knuckles. After she'd applied them, Matt felt so good that he was able to look sheepishly at Bonnie, who was watching him with big brown eyes. â€Å"I know, it does look like a hickey,†he said. â€Å"I saw it this morning in the mirror. And I've got another one lower down, but at least my collar covers that one.†He snorted and reached into his shirt to apply more ointment. The girls laughed – a release of the tension that they'd all been feeling. Meredith had started back up the narrow stairway to what everyone still thought of as Stefan's room, and Matt automatically followed her. He didn't realize that Elena and Bonnie were hanging back until he was halfway up the stairs, and then Meredith motioned him onward. â€Å"They're just conferring,†Meredith said, in her quiet, no-nonsense voice. â€Å"Aboutme ?†Matt swallowed. â€Å"It's about that thing Elena saw inside Damon, right? The invisible malach. And whether or not I've got one – inside me – right now.†Meredith, never one to soft-pedal anything, simply nodded. But she put a hand briefly on his shoulder as they entered the dim, high-ceilinged bedroom. Shortly after, Elena and Bonnie came up, and Matt could tell at once by their faces that the worst-case scenario wasn't true. Elena saw his expression and immediately went to him and hugged him. Bonnie followed, more shyly. â€Å"Feel okay?†Elena said, and Matt nodded. â€Å"I feel fine,†he said. Like wrestling alligators, he thought. Nothing was nicer than hugging soft, soft girls. â€Å"Well, the consensus is that you don't have anything inside you that doesn't belong there. Your aura seems clear and strong now that you're not in pain.†â€Å"Thank God,†Matt said, and he meant it. It was at that moment that his mobile phone rang. He frowned, puzzled at the number displayed, but he answered it. â€Å"Matthew Honeycutt?†â€Å"Yes.†â€Å"Hold, please.†A new voice came on: â€Å"Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"Uh, yeah, but – â€Å" â€Å"This is Rich Mossberg of the Fell's Church Sheriff's Department. You called this morning to report a fallen tree midway down Old Wood Road?†â€Å"Yes, I – â€Å" â€Å"Mr. Honeycutt, we don't like prank calls of this sort. We frown upon them, in fact. It takes up the valuable time of our officers, and besides, it happens to be a crime to make a false report to the police. If I wanted to, Mr. Honeycutt, I could charge you with this crime and make you answer to a judge. I don't see just what you find so amusing about it.†â€Å"I wasn't – I don't findanything amusing about it! Look, last night – †Matt's voice trailed off. What was he going to say?Last night I was waylaid by a tree and a monster bug? A small voice inside him added that the Fell's Church Sheriff's officers seemed to spend most of their valuable time hanging around the Dunkin' Donuts in the city square, but the next words he heard shut it up. â€Å"In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, under the authority of Virginia State Code, Section 18.2-461, making a false police report is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. You could be looking at a year in jail or a twenty-five-thousand-dollar fine. Do you findthat amusing, Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"Look, I – â€Å" â€Å"Do you, in fact,have twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"No, I – I – †Matt waited to be cut off and then he realized that he wasn't going to be. He was sailing off the edge of the map into some unknown region. What to say?The malach took the tree away – or maybe it moved by itself ? Ludicrous. Finally, in a creaky voice he managed, â€Å"I'm sorry they didn't find the tree. Maybe†¦somehow it got moved.†â€Å"Maybe somehow it got moved,†the sheriff repeated expressionlessly. â€Å"In fact maybe somehow it moved itself the way that all those stop signs and yield signs keep moving themselves away from intersections. Does that ring a bell, Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"No!†Matt felt himself flush deeply. â€Å"I would never move any kind of street sign.†By now the girls were clustered around him, as if they could somehow help by appearing as a group. Bonnie was gesturing vigorously, and her indignant expression made it clear that she wanted to tell the sheriff off personally. â€Å"In fact, Mr. Honeycutt,†Sheriff Mossberg cut in, â€Å"we called your home number first, since that's the phone you used to place the report. And your mother said that she hadn't seen you at all last night.†Matt ignored the little voice that wanted to snap,Is that a crime? â€Å"That was because I got held up – â€Å" â€Å"By a self-propelled tree, Mr. Honeycutt? In fact we had already had another call about your house last night. A member of Neighborhood Watch reported a suspicious car roughly in front of your house. According to your mother, you recently totaled your own car, isn't that right, Mr. Honeycutt?†Matt could see where this was going and he didn't like it. â€Å"Yes,†he heard himself say, while his mind worked desperately for a plausible explanation. â€Å"I was trying to avoid running over a fox. And – â€Å" â€Å"Yet there was a report of a brand new Jaguar lingering in front of your house, just far enough away from the streetlight to be – inconspicuous. A car so new that it had no license plates. Was that, in fact, your car, Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"Mr. Honeycutt's my father!†Matt said desperately. â€Å"I'm Matt. And it was my friend's car – â€Å" â€Å"And your friend's name is†¦?†Matt stared at Elena. She was making wait gestures, obviously trying to think. To sayElena Gilbert would be suicidal. The police, of all people, knew that Elena Gilbert was dead. Now Elena was pointing around the room and mouthing words at him. Matt shut his eyes and said the words, â€Å"Stefan Salvatore. But he gave the car to his girlfriend?†He knew he was ending his sentence so that it sounded like a question, but he could hardly believe Elena's coaching. Now the sheriff was beginning to sound tired and exasperated. â€Å"Areyou askingme , Matt? So you were driving the brand-new car of your friend's girlfriend. And her name is†¦?†There was a brief moment when the girls seemed to disagree and Matt hung in limbo. But then Bonnie threw her arms up and Meredith moved forward, pointing to herself. â€Å"Meredith Sulez,†Matt said weakly. He heard the hesitation in his own voice and he repeated, huskily but with more conviction, â€Å"Meredith Sulez.†Now Elena was whispering rapidly in Meredith's ear. â€Å"And the car was purchased where? Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"Yes,†Matt said. â€Å"Just a second – †He put the phone into Meredith's outstretched hand. â€Å"This is Meredith Sulez,†Meredith said smoothly, in the polished, relaxed tones of a classical music disk jockey. â€Å"Miss Sulez, you've heard the conversation so far?†â€Å"Ms.Sulez, please, Sergeant. I have.†â€Å"Did you, in fact, lend your car to Mr. Honeycutt?†â€Å"I did.†â€Å"And where is Mr.†– there was a shuffling of paper – â€Å"Stefan Salvatore, the original owner of the car?†He's not asking her where they bought it, Matt thought. He must know. â€Å"My boyfriend is away from town right now,†Meredith said, still in the same refined, unflappable voice. â€Å"I don't know when he'll be back. When he is, shall I have him call you?†â€Å"That might be wise,†Sheriff Mossberg said dryly. â€Å"These days very few cars are bought with cash on the line, especially brand-new Jaguars. I'd like your driver's license number, also. And, in fact, I'd very much like to speak to Mr. Salvatore when he returns.†â€Å"That may be very soon,†Meredith said, a bit slowly, but following Elena's coaching. Then she recited her driver's license number from memory. â€Å"Thank you,†Sheriff Mossberg said briefly. â€Å"That will be all for – â€Å" â€Å"May I just say one thing? Matt Honeycutt would never, ever remove stop signs or yield signs. He's a very conscientious driver and was a leader in his high school class. You can speak to any of Robert E. Lee High School's teachers or even the principal if she's not on vacation. Any one of them will tell you the same thing.†The sheriff didn't seem to be impressed. â€Å"You can tell him from me that I'll be keeping an eye on him in the future. In fact it might be a good idea if he stopped in the Sheriff's Department today or tomorrow,†he said, and then the phone went dead. Matt burst out, â€Å"Stefan's girlfriend? You, Meredith? What if the car dealer says the girl was a blond? How are we going to work that out?†â€Å"We aren't,†Elena said simply from behind Meredith. â€Å"Damon is. All we have to do is to find him. I'm sure he can take care of Sheriff Mossberg with a little mind control – if the price is right. And don't worry about me,†she added gently. â€Å"You're frowning, but everything is going to be fine.†â€Å"You believe that?†â€Å"I'm sure of it.†Elena gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek. â€Å"I'm supposed to stop by the Sheriff's Department today or tomorrow, though.†â€Å"But not alone!†Bonnie said, and her eyes were sparkling with indignation. â€Å"And when Damon goes with you, Sheriff Mooseburger will end up being your best friend.†â€Å"All right,†Meredith said. â€Å"So what are we doing today?†â€Å"The problem,†Elena returned, tapping an index finger against her upper lip, â€Å"is that we've got too many problems at once and I don't want anybody – and I mean anybody – going out alone. It's clear that there are malach in the Old Wood, and that they're trying to do unfriendly-type things to us. Kill us, for one.†Matt basked in the warm relief of being believed. The conversation with Sheriff Mossberg had shaken him more than he wanted to show. â€Å"So we make up task forces,†Meredith said, â€Å"and we split the jobs between them. What problems do we need to plan for?†Elena ticked off the problems with her fingers. â€Å"One problem is Caroline. I really think someone should try to see her, at the very least to try and find out if she has one of thosethings inside her. Another problem is Tami – and who knows who else? If Caroline is†¦contagious somehow, she might have spread it to some other girl – or guy.†â€Å"Okay,†Meredith said, â€Å"and what else?†â€Å"Someone needs to contact Damon. Try to find out from him anything he knows about Stefan leaving, and also try to get him to go in to headquarters with us to influence Sheriff Mossberg.†â€Å"Well, you'd better be on that last team, since you're the only one Damon's likely to talk to,†said Meredith. â€Å"And Bonnie should be on it, so she can keep – â€Å" â€Å"No. No Calling today,†Bonnie pleaded. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Elena, but I just can't, not without a day of rest between. And besides, if Damon wants to talk to you, all you need to do is to walk – notinto the forest, butnear it – and call to him yourself. He knows everything that's going on. He'll know you're there.†â€Å"Then I should go with Elena,†Matt reasoned. â€Å"Since that sheriff is my problem. I'd like to go by the place where I saw the tree – â€Å" At once there was a protest from all three girls. â€Å"I said I'dlike to,†Matt said. â€Å"Not that we should plan for it. That's one spot we know is too dangerous.†â€Å"All right,†Elena said. â€Å"So Bonnie and Meredith will visit Caroline, and you and I will go Damon hunting, all right? I'd rather go Stefan hunting, but we just don't have enough information yet.†â€Å"Right, but before you go, maybe stop by Jim Bryce's house. Matt has an excuse to stop by anytime – he knows Jim. And you can check on Tami's progress as well,†Meredith suggested. â€Å"Sounds like plans A, B, and C,†Elena said, and then, spontaneously, they all laughed. It was a clear day, with a hot sun shining overhead. In the sunlight, despite the minor annoyance of Sheriff Mossberg's call, they all felt strong and capable. None of them had any idea that they were about to walk into the worst nightmare of their lives. Bonnie stood back as Meredith knocked at the front door of the Forbes home. After a while of no answer and silence inside, Meredith knocked again. This time Bonnie could hear whisperings and Mrs. Forbes hissing something, and Caroline's distant laughter. Finally, just as Meredith was about to ring the bell – the height of discourtesy between neighbor and neighbor in Fell's Church – the door opened. Bonnie neatly slipped a foot in, keeping it from being shut again. â€Å"Hi, Mrs. Forbes. We just†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Meredith faltered. â€Å"We just wanted to see if Caroline was any better,†she finished in a tinny-sounding voice. Mrs. Forbes looked as if she'd seen a ghost – and she'd spent all night running from it. â€Å"No, she's not. Not better. She's still – sick.†The woman's voice was hollow and distant and her eyes scanned the ground just over Bonnie's right shoulder. Bonnie felt fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. â€Å"Okay, Mrs. Forbes.†Even Meredith sounded false and hollow. Then someone said suddenly, â€Å"Areyou all right?†and Bonnie realized it was her own voice. â€Å"Caroline†¦isn't well. She's†¦not seeing anyone,†whispered the woman. An iceberg seemed to glide down Bonnie's spine. She wanted to turn and run from this house and its aura of malevolence. But at that moment Mrs. Forbes suddenly slumped. Meredith was barely able to break her fall. â€Å"She's fainted,†Meredith said tersely. Bonnie wanted to say,Well, put her on the rug inside and run! But they could hardly do that. â€Å"We've got to take her inside,†Meredith said flatly. â€Å"Bonnie, are you okay to go?†â€Å"No,†Bonnie said just as flatly, â€Å"but what choice do we have?†Mrs. Forbes, small as she was, was heavy. Bonnie held her feet and followed Meredith, step by reluctant step, into the house. â€Å"We'll just put her on her bed,†Meredith said. Her voice was shaky. There was something about the house that was terribly unsettling – as if waves of pressure kept bearing down on them. And then Bonnie saw it. Just a glimpse as they stepped into the living room. It was down the hallway, and it could have been the play of light and shadow there, but it looked for all the world like a person. A person scuttling like a lizard – but not on the floor. On the ceiling.
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