As The Mill Grinds

TOO CLOSE TO BE TRUE CHAPTER 12

"Sir, I still don't get it." Mr. Mullins was becoming more curious about his boss's decisions lately. He couldn't understand his interest in Mrs. Henderson. "I mean she seems like a nice lady with some good ideas, but we had a room full of persons with just as great ideas today." He turned to his boss awaiting a reprimand, but Mr. Vermont remained silent and turned his ring on his finger. "Sir, with all due respect, it would be best if we choose from the other persons that turned out today."

Silence fell as Mr. Mullins waited for a response, however Mr. Vermont just leaned forward and spoke calmly. "It is not every decision I make you will appreciate nor agree to, but should follow." Then he stood up and walked from behind his desk. He came in front of Mr. Mullins and placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a tiresome smile. "When you have reached my age and level in business, you tend to want to fix the wrongs in your life. He turned and looked out the window at a still busy street despite it being late in the night. "Haven't you ever wonder how vain this life is? Why do we make the decisions that we do, without regards to who we hurt?"

Mr. Mullins stood shocked at the change in conversation. "We Sir? I'm not following"

Mr. Vermont walked to the window for a closer look out. He turned and signalled Mr. Mullins to join him. "Look. What do you see?"

"I ... I see, uh....cars busy on the street and what looks like people trying to get home, Sir."

"Hmm... I see." Mr. Vermont turned to him and pointed to outside. "What I see is tired people, hurt people, disappointed people." Mullins looks lost and surprised at the same time. "What? You still don't see it? Look closely in about 5 minutes you'll see a red BMW speeding pass here going north at the next junction."

The two waited staring out the window, and just as Mr. Vermont said, a red BMW sped passed heading in the same direction as he mentioned.

"Ho...How did you know Sir?" Mullins asked surprised and gripped the window as he peered out down the street.

"That same car passes me at that same junction every morning for a year now at 7:30 am, when I am coming to work. And that same car passes here at minutes to 10 every night going at the same speed it does on mornings. He almost hit me last Tuesday and I had Amanda look into him since I was curious. How can a man look so disturbed and tired so early in the morning?"

"Sir, I wasn't aware," Mullins felt bereaved. Mr. Vermont raised it hand and waved it off.

"I found out that he's a lawyer and has a young wife and three children, one 8 and 6 years old, and the other 9 months old. It looks like he leaves home early and return home late everyday. " Mr Vermont shook his head and gave a blunt chuckle. "He doesn't have time for a family, but has one, which means his household is disappointed. His kids are disappointed daddy is hardly there and so is his young wife. What ever the decisions, we have or the power to make others happy or unhappy. It's all the same for me when I was a bit younger. If we don't exercise power correctly we can hurt those around us and some of that hurt cannot be undone," he paused and stared out blankly. " but it can be forgiven. "

Mr. Mullins looked at him soberly and still with a hint of confusion.

"Is ok if you don't follow." He patted Mr. Mullins' shoulder. "It was a long day and it's time you head home. Say hello to Cheryl and Lucas for me. Take the next two days off and spend quality time with them. You'll need those memories when you get to my age.

"But what about you sir? Aren't you going home? The car has been waiting almost an hour now. "

"Hmm, who shall I rush home to? Gilbert my doorman or Beverley my housekeeper? I no longer have a family since Claire died. My son moved out living with his fiancee and as you know we don't really get on well with each other and for many years now even before migrating to Canada. There's no one else. "