QWERTYUIOP By Vivien Alcock

QWERTYUIOP By Vivian Alcock 

Synopsis

QWERTYUIOP  BY VIVIAN ALCOCK

Synopsis

 This story is about a seventeen - year - old girl called Lucy Beck,who had just received a diploma from a secretarial college. With the diploma, she hoped to secure a job as a secretary. Her principal, Mrs Price however did not have much confidence in her because she was small, she looked timid and could only type at a slow speed.

 Lucy too was not very confident in her own self. She feared that she would not get a job. So, getting a job at the first interview she went was really a blessing. On her first day, she was surprised by a spirit of the former secretary, Miss Broome. The spirit communicated with her using the electronic typewriter. At first, she was horrified and frightened. Yet when she thought about the many luxurious things she could buy with her salary as a secretary, she became determine to fight the spirit.

 She discovered from Harry Darke, an old man who worked at the firm that Miss Broome was a lonely woman who dedicated her life to her job as secretary. She was asked to leave by the late Mr Bannister after working for 43 years. She was reluctant as the office was like her home and she had no family. Even in her death, she was adamant to keep her job and frightened off many young girls who wanted to take her job.

 Finally, Lucy was able to persuade the spirit of Miss Broome to leave the job to her. She told her that Mr Bannister had passed away and he desperately needed her to take care of him in the new world. Lucy related to Miss Broome that she was told to leave because Mr Bannister was worried about her health.

Character

Lucy Beck	Young, small, easily overlooked, with one ‘O’ level pass and poor typing skill; shows a determination and willingness to learn and is smart enough to win over Miss Broome. Shows courage and does not run away from problems.
Mrs. Price	The kindly principal of Belmont Secretarial College.
Mrs. Beck	Lucy’s mother; amiable, pleasant-natured woman who would never lose her temper; kind-hearted towards others.
Uncle Bert	Drinks too much; used to fly kites with Lucy when she was small; kind enough to prepare a meal for Lucy when she returns home; feels hurt of her careless treatment of him and is happy when they both reach a level of understanding.
Harry Darke	The all-purpose man who has served 30 years at Ross and Bannister’s; helpful to Lucy and sharp about what is happening around him.
Miss Broome	The late and very loyal secretary of Ross and Bannister’s; had served 43 years with the company and cannot bear to stay away; haunts the typewriter and detests the young girls who try to take her place there. The job was all she had lived for.

Setting

1 Ross and Bannister’s firm

2 Belmont Secretarial College

3 Lucy’s home – lived with her mother and Uncle Bert

Theme

·         Compassion and perseverance are very important at home and at the workplace.

·         The easy solution is not always the best; look for a workable compromise always.

·         It is important for people to have a job and be independent for their self-respect.

·         Loyalty has a place in this world.

Moral values/Lessons

 One should not be prejudiced towards others.

 Example 1:The Spirit of Miss Broome, for example was looked down by others before Lucy. She may be a spirit but she was a lonely spirit .By understanding her loneliness, Lucy succeeded to tell her to serve Mr Bannister who had also passed away and needed her.

 Example 2: Lucy was also a victim of prejudice. Being young, small and shy, her principal and even Harry Darke thought that she was a coward. Yet she proved to herself and others that she was a brave person who would not submit to the wish of a lonely spirit.

some improvement & courtesy from: http://spmenglish.blogspot.com/2010/06/qwertyuiop-by-vivien-alcock.html