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Life's Illusions - Book Five - Chapter 22
They were all in shock, terrified.
Baz was leaning against the balcony wall, he'd just asked.
"Twenty floors up, you reckon that's enough time to decide if you love me Poppas, before I hit the ground?".
Piers took a step toward him, then stopped.
"If you think we need more than a split second to answer that question then your Poppa and I might as well jump too, because it means we failed you, we've loved you, and your brothers and sister, since the very first time we laid eyes on you, we don't love anyone more than you Baz, we love you all equally, including the people you brought into our lives to swell our family, Annie, DJ, Ferdie, all equally".
Baz was crying as he replied.
"You lied to me, you came here to see Annie, to stop me from winning her back".
He was visibly shocked to hear Annie's voice as she came out onto the balcony.
"How can you win me back when I never left you Baz?".
He just stared.
"Annie".
She spoke softly.
"Yes Baz, it's me, but you didn't answer my question, or perhaps you can't, because this story you've been spinning all these years, about me leaving you, it's not true is it?".
Again he just repeated her name.
"Annie".
"I didn't leave you, I've always been there, you just need to admit it".
Clara took a couple of steps nearer to him.
"Baz lets go back inside, we can talk through this, I can help you find a way forward".
But he caused them all to gasp, as he edged himself up to sit on the wall.
He was looking directly at Annie as he said.
"There is no way forward, I've always known that, without you I don't have a future, just a life of constant pain".
Annie walked to a section of the wall several feet away from him, turning her back to the wall she hitched herself up to sit on it, then looked directly into his eyes as she said.
"On that we're agreed, I've endured four years of it too Baz, like a bereavement, a loss I struggled to put behind me, but I've never managed it, there was always that faint hope that one day you'd walk back into my life, that's all that kept me going, so if you're going to kill yourself, you're sentencing me to the same fate, because that faint hope will be gone, so go ahead, stop blathering, stop blaming everyone but Baz, because Baz isn't the bloody Saint he'd have everyone believe, he just doesn't have the balls to admit it, or would you rather I went first, I can do that, I'm tired Baz, let's get it over with".
She swung her body around so that her legs were now dangling outward.
Baz let out a loud plea.
"Noooooo, don't, please, it's true, I left you, I ran away, I was frightened we wouldn't make it work".
She answered him really quietly.
"I was frightened too Baz, terrified I'd lose the only man I'll ever love, but I was prepared to try, we had love, the best foundation possible, for me that was enough for us to build again, but in the end all I had left was my love for you, it's all I've had to cling to these last four years, you took your love away, left me alone again, if that's really all there is then I don't have any reason to go on".
He startled them all by jumping back down onto the balcony floor, then walking towards her.
"I walked away, it was me, I took myself and my love away from you, is it too late for me to give my love back?".
She swung around to face him.
"Not if you're serious, if you'll hold me, love me, the way I've been praying for you to do all these years, if you can do that, then we can start to build everything back".
He held out his arms.
"I can do it with you by my side".
She pushed forward and dropped down into his arms, as everyone around them cried shamelessly with joy.
Just at that moment Jez's cell phone rang and he inadvertently accepted the call on speaker, it was an obviously irritated Gracie.
"What the hell's going on, I've just turned up to your house bloody starving and Ferdie's acting like it's the end of the world, he's a complete wreck, all I got out of him is that you drove to Coolangatta, who the fuck in their right mind would drive to Coolangatta, it's eight hundred and fifty miles Jez you fucking idiot, explain to me what's going on while I'm driving".
He tried to make up an excuse
"I came out with Baz, we were going to spend a day or two with the Poppas, so where are you driving too?".
She was clearly irritated now.
"As if that matters I'm going to the Poppas house, I know Mrs Ferguson won't see me starving, so you and Baz shared a car to drive out?".
He was looking at his Poppas, pleading for help, they were looking horrified, they all knew what she would find in the driveway.
He'd started to answer.
"Well no, we were in our own cars".
She fired back.
"So you took two cars to drive eight hundred and fifty miles together, tell me Jez, how the fuck does that work?".
He'd started to reply, but didn't get very far.
"Gracie .....................".
Sweet Jesus, what the fuck, Jez there are two smashed cars in the driveway".
He tried again with the same result.
"Gracie.................".
"They're yours and Baz's cars, now what the fuck has been going on, how did this happen, are you both okay?".
Jez looked at his Poppas and smirked.
"It was Vinny, he got upset with us when we wouldn't stop so he sent a helicopter after us and told them to crush our cars".
That brought a whole burst of expletives that some of them would probably have to look up to find the meaning of.
Of course, Jez wasn't aware, Vinny had ears on the apartment, and everything that was being said, until Vinny's voice boomed out.
"I think you and I need to have a little chat Jez".
That brought a sigh from Jezz.
"Oh shit, I didn't know he was listening".
To which Vinny responded.
"No shit Sherlock, who'd have guessed".
Clara spent over two hours talking with Baz and Annie together, she noted, they never broke their handholding the whole time, but they formed a plan, Baz would return to Sydney the following day, he would continue with his twice weekly sessions for the forceable future, and each Friday afternoon he'd fly to Coolangatta to spend the weekend with Annie.
Jez agreed to stay over and fly back the following day, mainly because his Poppas pointed out, the alternative was to walk, or take the bus, since he now had no car.
Once assured everything was under control Vinny signed of, but not before he had words with Jez.
"I know you're angry with me because of your car, but just for a moment set that aside and try walking just a little way in my shoes, if you'd been in my position today and it were Gracie doing one hundred and twenty mph, with the danger of either a blow out, or a Joey running out, or just a simple mistake causing her to lose control, knowing without a doubt, at that speed the chance of survival would be nil, answer me in all honesty, what would you have done?".
It didn't take Jez long to sigh, and answer.
"Exactly what you did".
Vinny didn't crow.
"I love you Jez, the same as I love Baz, and Gracie, and Pil, that pledge you guys go on about was made with my hand on my heart, part of it was, 'I will solve and make right any problem that befalls you', we were seeing it differently, from your point of view it was a means to get to Baz, I was seeing it as a problem, you traveling at one hundred and twenty mph was as good as a death wish, I had to save you from yourself, I did what I did out of a sense of love, not malice".
Josef called Vinny to one side before dinner that evening.
"The Controler you chewed out has tended his resignation, I only wanted you to have a heads up, I agree, the Controller can't challenge".
For Vinny the situation presented something of a quandary, he'd felt justified in chewing out the Controller at the time, but since then, with time to reflect, he'd questioned his actions, specifically asking himself, 'if he'd been the Controller, and Josef were in his place, would he have raised an objection?', and he'd come to the conclusion, yes he would have.
He'd checked the staff roster for Torremolinas Control, then called Junior in London.
"Hi Pal, good to know you're back, I would have called sooner but I've had some personal business to deal with".
Junior burst out laughing.
"Fuck me Vinny, you've gained the nickname 'The Crusher', and you call it some personal business, just you stay away from my bloody car".
Vinny laughed with him.
"I suppose it was too much to hope you wouldn't hear about it".
Junior was still laughing but asked.
"Was it purely a social call, or is there something I can do for you?".
Vinny got down to business.
"Yes actually, could you overstaff your Control tomorrow afternoon, between five and six o'clock?, there's a conundrum I want all of my guys to be involved in, and it's easier if there are no distractions".
Junior didn't even need to think about it, it just meant asking the changeover shift to stay on for an extra hour, he knew most would agree without question.
"No problem Vinny, if we have anyone short I'll be there so I can drop in, give us a bell when you're ready to take back Control".
Vinny thanked him.
"Cheers Junior, oh and, if it takes less than the hour to take Control back, still pay everyone who worked over the full hour, I'll call personally to hand over, and to regain Control".
Next afternoon, a few minutes before the new shift took over Vinny walked into Torremolinas Control, announcing.
"I need to have a chat with the late evening shift team, so Controller, would you raise London Control for me please".
London Control acknowledged.
"Good evening London this is Vinny, I believe you are expecting to take our traffic until I return to you?".
The London Controller acknowledged his request.
Vinny handed off.
"Take the traffic now, speak later, and thanks for helping fellas".
He then turned to the late evening team, the exact same people who'd been on duty when he chewed out their Controller.
"Don't look so terrified, I might bark, but I don't bite, and the bark is what I want to debate with you, so, everybody get a drink, this is going to be an open discussion, no holds barred".
When they'd all settled with a drink, he kicked off.
"Pedro, it's no secret I slapped you down a couple of days ago, and first off I apologise for the manner in which I did it, I was rude, despite the fact that I was dealing with my own family's safety, it was inexcusable, but it's given me concern since, so would you tell me why you challenged me?, straight up, that's all I want".
Pedro looked a little nervous, but he replied.
"I was concerned, I wasn't being disrespectful, but your brothers had shown they were not exactly in control, the very manner in which you stopped them holds to that, my concern was that there would be no strength available to restrain them if the unthinkable happened".
Vinny nodded.
"Thank you, well put, so, anyone else, what Pedro did, and understanding why from what he's just said, does anyone have an opinion".
That opened up a whole, and very interesting discussion.
"He was right to voice a concern, he'd have been wrong to see a potential problem and let it proceed without challenging".
"Either he's Controller or he's not, you can't have it both ways".
"It's right for the Controller to raise a concern but you couldn't have everyone doing it".
They'd debated back and forth for some twenty minutes, until Vinny said.
"Okay, you've given me a lot to think about, but I'm inclined to agree with the line that the Controller actually has a duty to raise objection when necessary, I'll bring it up with Joe, and get back to you".
Pedro asked.
"Why did you do this in public, you could have done it privately, individually?".
He smiled.
"I didn't chew you out in private, every one of the people in this room heard it, so it's only fitting I apologise to you in public, and because you were all privy to the circumstances, that's why I wanted to hear all of your thoughts, but seriously Pedro, I really am sorry, and I'd be over the moon if you decided not to leave us, but if you feel you have to, I'll shake your hand, wish you well, and know it was my fault we lost a damn good Controller".
He then requested connection to London.
"London Control, thanks for your help this evening, it's much appreciated, Torremolinas HQ will take back control in one minute from now".
Josef hitched a ride to the office with Vinny next morning.
"That Controller, Pedro, he withdrew his notice, and a little birdie tells me that Torremolinas handed off all traffic to London for around thirty nine minutes yesterday evening, care to comment?".
Vinny felt in a devilish mood.
"Nah".
Josef nearly bust a gut.
"Fuck me Vinny, you and your one word answers".
Vinny was laughing uproariously, it took him a minute or so to calm down.
"I got to thinking about whether I was right to chew that Controller out, in fact I changed the scenario, put you in charge and me as the Controller, now here's a question for you, in that situation would I have challenged you?".
Josef now laughed.
"Fuck yes, you'd challenge the devil himself if you felt there was a need".
Vinny had it.
"And there you have it Joe, because I also tried it with our rolls reversed, me in charge and you as Controller, and the result was the same, you would have had your say if it killed you, so long as there was what you or I perceived to be a need, now I'm thinking, is that not exactly what we want, what we need, Controllers who are strong enough to raise a challenge when they recognise a need?".
Josef could appreciate the argument, he thought about it and had to agree.
"I have to agree, but where are we saying these challenges can come from, you could end up turning Control into a battle ground".
Vinny nodded.
"If you and I agree it's something to look at, I suggest we debate it with the board at next meeting, I'll put together a paper to brief everyone, I just don't feel comfortable about changing a process that is probably older than me, without its picked over by the people who were running this business while I was still in short trousers".
Josef agreed.
"Do that, I'll have it added as an item for discussion, and well put Vinny, it's not always the answer, but drawing on collective experience is not to be sniffed at".
Vinny sent an email to Pedro, and to all who were in the Control room for their debate on the previous day.
'I promised I would keep you updated on the matter we discussed yesterday. I've spoken with Our Chairman, who agrees that the matter has sufficient merit to be debated by the full Board, it has been tabled for discussion at the next Board Meeting in a few weeks time, I will update you further after that. In Particular I'm over the moon that Pedro has retracted his notice, thank you Pedro, it's Guardian's gain I can assure you. Kind regards Vinny '.
Vinny had been in contact with his Poppas every day since the incident with Baz, usually with his Poppa Piers, who continually assured him that Baz was seemingly doing okay, talking daily with Annie, who had offered to attend Therapy with him if Clara deemed it beneficial, which looked likely, he was keeping his Therapist appointments, and apologising at every opportunity to his Poppas.
Jez was travelling back and forth to the city each day with Ferdie until his new car was ready, something Baz was also having to do with Milo until his new car was delivered.
Vinny had been adamant, he wouldn't buy either of his brothers a new car despite being the one who'd ordered the destruction of their vehicles, and he'd given his Poppas strict instructions to not do it either.
Josef had asked Vinny one morning when they were car sharing.
"That attack on Sydney's I.T. I led for you, how did it pan out?".
Vinny got quite serious.
"An absolute disaster would be the only way to describe it".
Josef was concerned, mostly that he'd mucked up, but Vinny was quick to put him right.
"You led the team perfectly, between you, exactly what Poppa Milo ordered was delivered, it was a shame Sydney fell at almost every hurdle, a Head of Department who knew they were going to be tested somewhere in that seven day period, yet she didn't turn in on the day of the test and didn't have any annual leave booked, apparently it's been a common occurrence, an I.T. Team who, despite being put on probation for taking same breaks and leaving I.T. unmanned, did exactly that on the day in question, Control had to solve several of the problems you presented, suffice it to say my Poppa was left fuming, it's been a long time since I've seen him rip a whole department to shreds, this surpassed even that, he's fired the whole department, lock stock and barrel, but you know my Poppa, he was prepared".
Josef was totally unfazed.
"You're right, I do know your Poppa, and he could sack half of the entire world wide staff, even that wouldn't faze me, because he follows a pattern I've never been able to figure, but it's given me a solid confidence in him, he seems to know that there's a problem instinctively, so he builds a solution, but that's where he loses me completely, because even he will admit, at that point he has no idea what the problem is, he builds the solution as if the department he's aiming at didn't exist in the first place, as he explained it to me, it allows him to replace any or all individuals once he determines where the threat lies, it's fucking brilliant".
Vinny laughed.
"You don't have to sell him to me, he saved me, and my brothers and sister, and I know how his mind works, I know the compassionate, as well as the ruthless side of him, it's what I learnt from him growing up, I could have been so conflicted, I was a senior teenager, my Daddy had instilled values in me, he could have tried to change them, he didn't, he took them and explained why my Daddy felt they were important, helped me to grow, let me choose my own path, just nudging me gently if I strayed even slightly off course".
Josef asked.
"So what's he doing about replacing them?"
And he was surprised by Vinny's reply.
"He's not, all I.T. traffic is being routed to Melbourne, and he's looking to steadily merge several other operations, I'll let him explain, but it's a brilliant plan".
The next Board Meeting rolled around quickly, and true to his word Vinny had produced a paper outlining his proposal to allow Controllers to raise a challenge when a Management Individual took Charge.
Josef had asked him to explain.
"You all will be aware of the incident we, that's my closer family, suffered recently with Baz my younger brother, it was as that incident was playing out, I took Control, effectively downgrading the Controllers on duty in Torremolinas and Sydney, it's the way we've operated for as long as I've been here, and on the whole it's worked well, but something happened during the hours that episode was playing out which has caused me to question our policy".
He paused for them to catch up.
"The paper I had circulated yesterday gives what I've both said, and what I'm about to say, so I'll make it brief, the Controller on duty in Torremolinas challenged an order I gave, and I'm not proud of admitting, I saw red, chewed him out in front of the whole department, I actually said, I won't be challenged, but after that episode concluded, I couldn't get it out of my mind, I played it every which way, I put every person around this table in the position of Controller, and I'm certain, not a person here today, including myself, wouldn't have done what that Controller did, because he had a genuine concern, and if we're all honest, no one shuts us up when we're convinced we're right".
No one spoke so he went on.
"I'm proposing we amend Control Room protocol, my first proposal change is that no one from Senior Management can take over Control unless either The Chairman, or Vice Chairman is listening in, my second proposal change is that the Controller on duty, and only the Controller on duty, can raise a challenge to any operational instruction, if there is seen to be unresolved conflict between Senior Management Control and The Controller on duty, The Chair will rule".
Juan was the first to ask a question.
"Was any other Board Member listening in on this recent incident?".
Vinny answered.
"Technically no, though Poppa Milo was involved, but I had sole charge, and if it helps, I've researched back over the last ten years, every person in this room has been in the same position at some time over those years, and it has nearly always involved close family, which is in part what worries me, we might not be exactly on point because of our personal involvement, I'm advocating that we evaluate if a challenge is valid by bringing in a referee".
Rick now spoke up.
"I'm onboard with the overall proposals, both of them, because it's a subject I've also had concerns about, but I would suggest a minor amendment, the referee, for want of a better title, can be any unconnected Board Member, by that I mean, had it been my boys, not your brothers Vinny, you could call on Milo, in that scenario he's unconnected, you couldn't call on me, and in the situation which you found yourself, Milo would have been excluded, but anyone else around the table would have been fair game, does that make sense?".
Josef called them to order.
"So we've heard all I believe we need to hear, I agree with Rick, this is a subject that has niggled at me also, let's get to a vote, can we have the first proposal".
In fact both proposals sailed through as passed.
They'd run through a few minor items before Josef brought them all to attention.
"The next item will I believe take up mostly the rest of our meeting, I purposefully asked Milo not to make anyone aware of it in advance, because I want your crisp, instant reaction, I'm proposing we have a break before we start on it".
They'd stopped there, for tea, coffee, soft drinks, and sandwiches, with everyone pumping Milo for advance information, which he'd very courteously declined to comment on.
Returning to the meeting Josef had called them to order.
"Okay, our next item, the closure of the I.T. Department in Sydney, I'll hand you over to Milo to explain what he's done, and what he wants our backing to do going forward, Milo you have the floor".
Milo took a deep breath and went for it.
"Several months before the incident Vinny described earlier, I had cause to call I.T Sydney, I was on hold for an inordinate amount of time, and it raised my hackles, I won't deny that, but in questioning why it happened I uncovered a culture of bad practice that shocked and upset me, anyway it was something to deal with, so, in the normal way, after doing what I thought would correct practice within the department, I asked my PA to instruct Vinny".
He'd paused a moment
"As you all know, he's our 'go to guy' if you want to test a Department, I asked for a sustained attack on the Department in question over a fifteen hours period, several months hence, and to cut to the chase, it was run, because of events occurring at the time, by our esteemed Chairman, and it was an absolute catastrophic disaster, not I would add from the Chairmans efforts, they were, by all accounts exemplary".
He stopped for a drink but he could see he had them.
"The Head of Department had decided to take an unplanned day off, and predictably her staff were taking advantage, whilst the cat was away the mice were playing, taking breaks and lunches together, leaving the Department unmanned, which made my blood boil, but I started asking myself, if they were generally so crap, where were their enquiries going, because looking at their stats, they weren't getting the normal levels, and it didn't take long before I found a lot of our established Operation Commanders have been avoiding Sydney I.T. for quite some time, they use Melbourne, who by the way, have an excellent rating where it matters on the ground, in fact I was given an example of a particular operation where they needed urgent guidance and were sorted by Melbourne, the operation was at Sydney Opera House, a few blocks from the Sydney Office".
Now they were all looking astounded.
"I had the guys in Melbourne look at how much Sydney traffic they've been handling, then I did an exercise of what was needed for them to handle all of it, we would need another two operatives on each shift, so six more bodies, and I'll also be proposing a pay raise across the board for everyone in Melbourne I.T. they deserve it, anyway, to cut to the chase I've closed down Sydney I.T. It was ineffectual".
He could see the shock on most of their faces, Sydney was Australasia HQ, there was one face not registering shock, because Vinny was beaming, in a complete show of admiration.
"In closing Sydney I.T. down, it saves us ten operatives, three Controllers, and a Head of Department, who I would remind you were coasting along nicely, doing bugger all, allowing Melbourne to do their work".
Once again Juan was the first to jump in.
"Absolutely fantastic work Milo, well done, I don't know how you come up with these ideas".
But Milo wasn't about to grab the glory.
"This wasn't my idea Juan, I took my lead from Junior who did it with London and Manchester, he told me he couldn't get Manchester to operate efficiently, but London was on the ball, so he deliberately ran Manchester down, slowly routing traffic into London and saved the cost of a whole office, I believe that was over a year ago when you told me about it Junior, but it's been rolling around in my head ever since, I personally think Junior hit upon a really pertinent point, why do we need duplication of I.T. departments within a country, when remote access is mostly what they do anyway?, it doesn't matter where they're based".
Juan beamed at the mention of Junior being the instigator.
Milo continued.
"I'm looking at the operation in New Zealand next, we don't need Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, I just need to decide which is the most efficient, then the other two are on skid row, after that I'm moving on to Asia, I have an aim over twelve months to close around fifteen departments, loosing in the region of two hundred and fifty staff, whilst improving the service we offer to ground operations, the surviving offices will be left with no illusions, their existence will be based purely on their performance level, my only question is, are you with me?".
Standing with Juan and Junior later, Junior said to Milo.
"You didn't need to do that Uncle Milo, it was your decision which gave us the savings".
Milo replied as Juan beamed.
"You did it, pulled it off, and planted the seed Junior, because of what you accomplished I'm going to roll it out worldwide, don't be modest, sometimes the simplest things are actually real game changers, this is one of those times, and credit where credit is due".
Milo gave him a playful fist to the chest before walking away.
Juan still smiling said to Junior.
"Accept it son, your Uncle Milo would rather chew off his own arm than accept credit which is not his, stealing glory is as alien to him as accepting that it's cold in hell".
Josef would later say.
"That's about the fastest a vote has ever passed".
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.