Taking Texas By Storm
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 30 

Help On the Way

When I arrived in the foyer, I realized why some of my people had been noticeably absent.  There was not only a punch table, but a table with snacks.  I looked around and there was a platform with a piano, which I thought was odd.  I went to stand next to Allie and Dieter.

Allie looked at me. “Dad, why do we need to be here?”

“Guys, I have had nothing to do with making the arrangements for what’s happening.  I’m with you.  I would rather be taking care of business.”

Brahim came and stood beside me. “Ed, why are we here?”

Our conversation was interrupted by President Odom going to the microphone at the podium, “Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention, please.  We need to get started with this afternoon’s program honoring Vice-president Roger Reed for his thirty-five years of service to the Shell Oil Company.  But first, we have some very distinguished guests that I would like to recognize.  First, we have Governor and Mrs. Perry.  Seated next to them is the Mayor of Houston, Ms Parker.  We want to thank all of you visitors for taking the time to come to this momentous day for us, here at Shell Oil.”

“Roger, would you please join me here at the podium?”  Vice-president Reed went to join Mr. Odom at the podium.  “Roger, we here a Gold Shell Credit Card that will enable you or your family to obtain free gas at any Shell Oil station for the next twenty five years.  Mr. Reed has not only served Shell Oil for 35 years, he will be leaving a legacy behind him as he retires.  He donated to the funds to make The Fish Tank possible, and asked that it be named for him.  Mr. Thompson, would you unveil the Roger Reed Fish Tank for our visitors.”

After the applause, Mr. Odom turned to Vice-president Reed, “Roger, you had some special requests, so I’ll turn the program over to you, for the time being.”

Mr. Reed started, “I have heard how talented some of our visitors who are in attendance today, are, but have not had the opportunity to hear them perform.  I would like the Safi brothers to join me here on the platform.”

Both guys turned to me with a funny look, but I shook my hands and head, to let them know that I didn’t know what was happening.

When Allie and Bra were standing next to Mr. Reed, Mr. Reed laughed, “I’ll be accompanying the young men as they perform today, even though there are at least two professional keyboardists in attendance today.  Brahim will start the program by singing The Impossible Dream.”

It soon became apparent that Mr. Reed was not a novice on the piano.  He and Brahim were in synch with each other.  When Bra finished singing, the people were standing and applauding.  It was obvious it was genuine applause.

Mr. Reed took the microphone, “I need to tell you that Brahim will be singing the lead role of the Houston Opera upcoming production of Rigoletto.  I have also heard, via the grapevine, that his brother Allie is just as talented and is slated to appear later in the season with his brother and will be singing the title role in the production of Oliver.  Today, he’s going to be singing about falling stars and wishing on a star.”

Allie started to laugh, “If you say so, maestro.”

After Allie’s performance, there was another standing ovation.  Dad came over to where I was standing, “Ed, did you know this was going to happen?  The guys are going to eat you alive.”

“Dad, I knew nothing about what was planned for this afternoon.  I have work to do.  I don’t have time to be here.”

Mr. Reed went to the microphone again, “I’ve been told that these two talented young people make beautiful music together.”

Allie sat down on the platform, “Mr. Reed, me and Bra shouldn’t have to do all this work by ourselves.  We demand that Dieter Randolph be made to perform with us, as well.”
 

Mr. Reed started to laugh, “I’m sorry if you think I’m working you too hard.”

Allie giggled, “You old men forget that we need some time to be young.  Dieter, get up here.”

Allie whispered something to Mr. Reed while I was practically pushing Dieter to the platform.  “Mr. Waller, please don’t make me do this.”

“Dieter, trust me.  Brahim and Allie will make everything okay.  I never know what lurks in the evil mind of Allie.”

The three guys did a medley from West Side Story, but the kicker was totally unexpected.  Allie had the people in attendance on their feet singing God Bless America.  Mr. Reed went to the microphone, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ve lost control.  I want to thank you for taking time to attend my last hurrah, today.  Mr. Odom has the most important announcement of the day, to make, now.”

Mr. Odom went to the podium, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have resigned as President of Shell Oil.  I will retain the position of CEO for the time being.  The Board of Directors filled the position of president today by a unanimous vote.  They have elected Mr. Edward Waller as the next president of Shell Oil.  Ed, please greet the public.”

I tried to relax as I walked to the podium, “Thank you, Mr. Odom.  I am humbled that I was chosen to be the next President of Shell Oil, here in Texas.  I want to make something perfectly clear, so there aren’t any surprises later on.  Mr. Brahim Safi and I are more than friends.  What we do at home is none of anyone’s business.  Yes the Board of Directors know that I’m gay as do my parents.”

A young man yelled, “Mr. Waller, why did you feel compelled to tell us that?”

“I know the media, and if they think they have dirt on someone, they make it even dirtier.  I figured that if I laid it on the line up front, you media people wouldn’t be able to do much with the information, other than report that Shell Oil has an openly gay president.” 

“I would like to make it abundantly clear, that there is to be no sex of any kind in the workplace, here at Shell.  Our employees are expected to work for the forty hours they are in the facility each week.  What they do in their off duty time is their business, as long as it doesn’t impact on the company.”

A young female reporter stood, “Mr. Waller, did the fact that you were wounded twice here at the company have anything to do with you being elected the president of Shell?”

“I would guess that it might have been reason for me to not have been elected.  Getting shot at doesn’t necessarily show good judgment.  I’d like to think that what caused the people to resort to violence was more a determining factor of my being elected, rather than being wounded.”

It was shortly after four when the visitors started to depart.  Mayor Parker came to where I was standing next to my parents,  “Mr. Waller, I laud you for the way that you laid it to the media people today.  Having been there and done that, I know that it is not always easy to be open about one’s sexuality, especially if it's not what certain other individuals would consider to be the norm.”

Governor Perry obviously knew Dad, because he called Dad, Big Al.  “Big Al, you must be very proud of your son now that he is the president of a major corporation, even if he is queer.”

“Governor, we’re extremely proud of all three of our guys.  At least we don’t have to worry about where their pricks are going to be tonight.”

I noticed that Mother hit Dad.  ‘I’ll have to ask what that comment was about, tonight.’

After the visitors and board members had finally departed, Steve’s people made short work of putting the lobby back in order with help from the rest of my people.   The only thing that remained was the piano.  I went to Oz, “What’s going to happen to the piano, and how did it get here?”

Oz laughed, “It rolled in the door and announced that it was looking for a home.  Mr. Odom made the arrangements for it to be delivered.  Ask him to see what’s going to happen to it.  No one ever tells me anything.”

Grant came to where I was talking to Oz, “President Waller, you really need to talk to the young man I was telling you about this morning.  Go to your office, and I’ll sneak him up the service elevator.  Oz, collect the rest of the forces.  I think there are going to be some fireworks, tonight.”

I got off the elevator on the forty ninth floor and went to where my office had been and the door was locked.  There was a sign that said Private Entrance.

I went across the hall to Mr. Odom’s office, “Marlene, I can’t get into my office.   Where’s Tammy?”

Marlene looked up, “I just talked to her, and she was in your office complaining that it was as if you had disappeared from the planet.  You’re just like all presidents, you need to be shown how to do everything.”

She took me to the area that had been Vice-president Reed’s office, “If you look at the plaque beside the door, it says President Edward Waller.  Do you think you can open the door or do I have to show you how to do that, too?  Congratulations on your promotion.  I’ll talk to you later.”

I walked into the office and Tammy was sitting with her back to the door. “Sir, I’m sorry I haven’t seen President Waller since this morning.  I guess when you get to be president, you can work any hours you want.  Okay sir, I’ll tell him you called.”

Tammy hung up and looked at me, “Sir, how can I help you?”

I shook my head, “Tammy, how did everything get changed without me knowing about it?”

“Probably because your people have been busting their butts ever since you up and disappeared this morning.  Grant is waiting in your office with a young man.  After you take care of that problem, we need to talk.”

I walked into my new office and Grant was sitting there with a very nervous young man, “But Mr. Gump, what if they find out that I squealed on them.  I’ll be fired and I’ll never be able to finish college.  What’s your boss going to think of me after what they have made me do?”

“Carlos, believe me, my boss isn’t going to think anything less of you, and we’ll make every effort to insure that you suffer no consequences because of your talking to us.”

I made my presence known, “Gentlemen, I’m intrigued by what I’ve heard so far.  By the way, Carlos, his name is Grant.  His father no longer works here, and I’m Ed.  Grant, why don’t you explain to me what’s happening before Carlos tells me his story.”

I took off my jacket and tie and sat on the front edge of the desk facing Grant and this Carlos person.  Grant motioned to Carlos, “Sir, I think it would be better for Carlos to tell you what’s happening than me.  Carlos, please tell Mr. Waller what is going to be happening, tonight.  We’ll take care of the other problem later.  Tell Mr. Waller what you overheard.”

Carlos was wringing his hands,  “Mr. Waller, I work in the receiving area in the warehouse department.  Something was happening again today when I overheard Mr. Gilbert the head of the department talking.  “Guys, we need to get all of these things out of here now.  I hear that the new President is on a witch hunt.  Mort, you bring your truck tonight at seven, after the muckity mucks have gone home for the night.  We’ll take a stash and make a mint since we have a lot of things that have never been accounted as having been received.”

“I don’t know the Sampson fellow, but he had no idea what he was ordering.  I’ll make sure that I’m the last person to leave this evening, and I’ll leave the door to receiving bay number two unlocked, so we can get in and make a quick get away.  Shell Oil will never miss all of the things that we have pilfered over the years.”

I looked at Grant, “Get in touch with Myrabelle, if she’s still here, and ask her to come to the office.”

I went to the door, “Tammy, call my carpool guys to tell them that I’m going to be detained and I’ll catch a ride home later.”

I picked up the phone and made a call.  Allie answered, “Allie, go ahead and eat without me tonight.  I won’t be home until late.”

“Dad, is there a problem?”

“Allie, there is a big problem, but it isn’t life threatening. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

After I hung up from talking to Allie, Tammy, stuck her head in the door, “Juan is on the phone.”

“Hey Juan, what’s up?”

“Ed, I’ll have a driver standing by to take you home, tonight, whenever you’re ready to go.  I know you have a problem with that, but get over it.  For goodness sakes, you’re the President of the company, and you deserve a few perks.”

Myrabelle arrived and I explained as succinctly as I could what was happening, “After what I think is going to happen tonight, the people of the receiving department  will be on an indefinite furlough until we get matters resolved.  Your people will be instrumental in making this plan work.”

Rob Sheraton arrived and walked into the office with a young boy, “Ed, you’re not going to believe what happened today.  Doctor Cochran performed the first surgery on Mikey.  It appears that he’s going to need two more.  My wife is spending the night with Mikey.  This is our younger son, Mitchell.  I need to find someone to watch him tomorrow, so I can come to work tomorrow.”

“Rob, something big is happening in the warehouse area, tonight, that directly impacts on the your division.  Is there any way that you could find someone to take care of him for a couple of hours, tonight.  If we were closer to the house, Allie would be glad to watch him.  I think I can find someone who would be willing to watch him, tomorrow.”

Tammy sighed, “I suppose I could take Mitchell home with me and his Daddy could get him after the fireworks are over.  Come on, Mitchell, let’s bust out of this place.  It’s quitting time.”

As Tammy and Mitchell were leaving, Tammy commented, “President Waller, you and I need to talk, first thing in the morning.  I’m tired of you putting a lowly secretary on the back burner.”

Grant started to laugh, “Mrs. Grimes, you haven’t been on the back burner in your life.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: As always, this was a very interesting chapter.

Of course, I am not in the least surprised that there is yet more corruption going on at the headquarters.  I am glad they got the surgery for Mikey, and it seemed to be successful, but there is still more to do to help Mikey to see properly.

I suppose that the next chapter will give us more insight into what is going to happen at the plant, and what will happen to Mitchell and Mikey.  I can hardly wait.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher 

Posted: 06/04/10