Question

Matthew's Confidence

by Tirzah Tyler

Matthew sat inside his car in the parking lot of Arnold's Chicken Palace. He arrived early for his job interview, and he wanted to make sure his attitude was stellar before going inside the restaurant. Unfortunately, he felt petrified. "I can't do this," he told his mother over the phone.
"Yes, you can, Matty," his mother said.
Matthew's hand shook while he pressed his cell phone more tightly against his ear. "All my potential employers have rejected me," he said. "What if nobody hires me?"
"Matthew, you can't think small. Remember who you are, remember your abilities, think about what you want, and then go after it. Shout at it if you have to."
"Shout at my potential job?"
"Sure, why not?" his mother replied. "I believe in you, and you can believe in yourself too."
After Matthew ended his phone call with his mother, he spent a few moments calming himself down. Come on, Matt, you can do this, he thought to himself. You'll be the best manager Arnold's Chicken Palace ever had. While taking deep breaths, he clenched his fists and felt strength surge through his muscular arms.
He closed his eyes and thought about all the other jobs he had interviewed for but did not get. He thought about his bills piling up. He knew this interview would be a very important one. Then he shouted as loudly as he could, "This job is mine!"
Matthew opened his eyes and saw a woman and a little girl walking past his car. They both scurried away quickly.
Embarrassed, Matthew waved at them and cleared his throat.
The day after his interview, Matthew received a phone call from the owner of Arnold's Chicken Palace. "I am very pleased to offer you the position of manager at my restaurant," the owner said. "You were a very impressive candidate for the job," he added. "How did you become such a confident person?"
Matthew clenched his fist and tried to not shout with excitement. With a smile, he replied, "I guess I just believe in myself."
4
What happens in the main plot of the story?

Answer 1

Matthew battles self-doubt before a job interview, but with his mother's encouragement, he builds up his confidence. He secures the job at Arnold's Chicken Palace, demonstrating the power of self-belief and presenting a strong, confident image to his potential employer.

The main plot of the story "Matthew's Confidence" revolves around a young man named Matthew who is preparing for a job interview at Arnold's Chicken Palace. Before the interview, Matthew is overwhelmed with doubts and fears about his ability to secure the job, considering his history of rejections from potential employers.

He calls his mother for reassurance, and with her encouragement, he tries to summon confidence and self-belief. To pump himself up, Matthew shouts, "This job is mine!" which startles a passerby but ultimately helps him to rein in his doubt and nervousness. The story culminates the next day with a call from the owner of Arnold's Chicken Palace offering Matthew the job, impressed by the confidence he displayed during the interview.