A Toy for Christmas

by Mary Jane Forbes

  “What business plan is that, Frank?” GK said opening the Purchasing folder, breathing in short breaths from his encounter with Michael. “You never showed me a business plan.”

  “Me either. As for your sister, we’ve spent time together,” Michael said shuffling the candidates in the Marketing folder.

  “A video. Two hours tops, doesn’t make for a romantic interlude,” GK snapped back, tossing his folder to the center of the island.

  “OK, guys, calm down. You just wait and see tomorrow morning. I’ll have good old Dad eating out of my hand. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment to set up in Vegas. Keep your schedules open, no gawking at showgirls wearing feathers. If you want to meet Janet for drinks at six o’clock, get cleaned up. We’ll take an Uber to the airport, pick her up. She’s staying at the Hilton, beachside.”

  Frank smiled at his partners then went to take a shower. He kept his demeanor positive but he was shaken by their response to his ideas—Pigeon, business plan, renting space. He thought for sure they would be excited about moving forward at last. He was glad he didn’t tell his partners that he had described the space he found to Janet Scott over the phone. She thought it adequate for a startup. He also didn’t tell the guys he signed a lease for the building with a large area to set up manufacturing and engineering, as well as office cubicles. He was meeting Janet Scott’s plane at Daytona Beach International Airport with or without the partners.

  Chapter 15

  ────

  IT WAS A LOVELY late afternoon. Charley was still basking in the success of her sale of the spooky house slash stately manor and excited at the prospect of training to be a drone pilot. She was more determined than ever to reach her goal—create her own videos for high-end properties. A buyer for those properties might even buy the video for insurance purposes, show their family and friends.

  It was a little before five when she called her mom to see if it was okay to come home for dinner. Of course, it was OK. She put the top down on her Mustang, and pulled out of the agency. The breeze fluffed her hair as she sped to the beach house.

  Turning into the driveway, Charley noticed several packages stacked at the front door. Parking by the garage door, her mother’s side to avoid the ire of her father, she grabbed her shoulder bag, and tapped her cell.

  “Mom, there are some boxes at the front porch. I’ll bring them in if you open the door for me.”

  Charley picked up the largest box, balanced a small one on top and held the screen door with her shoulder as Dottie appeared.

  “Oh, my, yes, there are a lot,” Dottie giggled. “Good thing you saw them before your father came home. He’s due any minute.”

  “What is all this stuff?”

  “Here, let me have one—we’ll take them to my sewing room. On the other hand, put those two down and bring the rest inside, will you, dear?”

  After two trips, the front entrance was clear of all the boxes. Charley put the last one in the closet in front of shelves stacked with various pieces of fabric. Dottie set a new lamp on the end table by her rocker. She cocked her head, adjusted the cream pleated shade, and smiled.

  “Thank you, Charley. I’m redecorating some of the rooms in the house and your father is getting annoyed with all the deliverymen. Yesterday I even had a drone deliver some fabric—new curtains I’m making for one of the guest bedrooms.”

  “Wow! Did Dad see the drone?”

  “No he didn’t.”

  “That’s a very pretty lamp, Mom. Looks expensive. Japanese? Hand painted?”

  “Yes, it is lovely isn’t it? So much is going on. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have Hildy. Frankie said he and his partners are coming in the morning. Another performance of his drone for your father. I hope it goes well.”

  “I’m sure it will, Mom. I know they’ve all been working hard. I think they leave for Vegas soon. A couple of days.”

  “I don’t know. All he said was that the three of them were coming and they were bringing a guest.”

  “Did he say who?” Charley said, following her mother down the staircase to the foyer.

  “No, and I didn’t ask. Come along, we’ll have a cocktail with your grandpa before dinner.”

  Chapter 16

  ────

  LATE AFTERNOON SHOWERS DEVELOPED along with lightning and thunder booming over Volusia County providing much needed rain. With the storm came stifling humidity. Janet’s plane landed without a hitch and three young men stood at the bottom of the escalator with a sign—Mercury.

  She had included a picture with her resume so Frank knew what she looked like but he was not prepared for the statuesque brunette who glided down the escalator and into their lives.

  “There she is,” Frank said.

  “Which one?” Michael said. He didn’t see a woman who fit the description Frank had given them of a retired officer in the US Army Ordnance Corps in Iraq.

  “The one with a half smile walking toward your sign,” Frank said stepping from their ranks, his hand extended. “Janet Scott?”

  “Yes, sir,” she said with a bright smile and a firm handshake, one pump.

  “I’m Frank Kingman, and this is Michael Rich and Gideon Knight. We call him GK. Do you have a suitcase?”

  “No. I travel light. Just my faithful roll-along.”

  “Good. We have an Uber car waiting out front. I thought we’d take you to your hotel. You can register, put old faithful in your room, and join us in the dining room for dinner. How does that sound?”

  “Perfect. I’m starved.”

  ────

  Janet wasted no time. She joined the partners in the dining room fifteen minutes later. She left her suit jacket in the room revealing a very toned, shapely body. Michael and GK jumped to their feet but Frank already held a chair for her on his right at the square table. They exchanged a nod, a smile, and eye contact that lingered.

  “Something to drink?” Frank asked.

  “Yes, please. A martini with two olives will take the edge off the day and the flight.”

  Frank ordered two martinis, the boys two beers, and menus. Michael liked the smooth way Frank was performing. Definitely a performance because this was not the frat brother they knew. The guys took a note from his playbook and asked Janet about her time in Iraq, what was she doing now, and did she have any experience with drones. All questions Frank had asked in the telephone interview. But that was before Michael and GK knew there was a Janet Scott.

  Her time in Iraq was difficult. After fulfilling her four years in return for a full scholarship at the University of Utah, she retired and was looking for something challenging and please call her Janet. Dinner was pleasant as they went around the table giving her a snapshot of their background, emphasis on snapshot.

  Janet looked around the table. “You men believe the show in Vegas, introducing Mercury along with a toy model will get massive attention. The mission is to leave with orders in your pocket. Is that right?” She didn’t look at Frank, but bounced eye contact between the other two.

  “That’s right, Janet. We’re stoked, ready to take the conference by storm,” GK said with a chuckle.

  “Not an itty bitty shower…a full blown hurricane,” Michael said.

  Frank watched the byplay, but mostly watched how Janet conducted herself. A retired officer, she knew how to take command. She had his partners eating out of her hand. Her profile was that of a Greek Goddess—strong bones, walked with grace, and he didn’t doubt she could shoot a man in cold blood. She was just what his startup company needed—a head of Administration to take them to a profitable enterprise.

  After espressos all around, Frank gave the waitress the company credit card and the guys left. Michael had parked his car across the street from the Hilton per Frank’s orders so they didn’t require an Uber. Frank told her he’d pick her up at seven tomorrow morning to meet Geoffrey Kingman, their investor, and to witness Mercury in action. He did not mention Pigeon. They all shoo
k Janet’s hand and said goodnight.

  Chapter 17

  ────

  A SOFT BREEZE KISSED the shores of the Kingman beach house. Frank was once again Mercury’s pilot—in control, in his element, blocking out everything around him. Blood coursed through his veins, but he kept a clear head. Mercury was ready. His partners were on their best behavior. Maybe it was tension, maybe it was the presence of the newcomer Janet Scott. Or maybe it was the number of well-wishers—Liz, her husband Manny and Aunt Jane, as well as Geoff and Dottie and Grandpa Bernie. Charley came, a picture of a composed savvy business lady. She and Frank were equally driven to succeed in the eyes of their father—Charley to gain his favor and Frank to beat his father’s business success.

  Frank introduced Janet as someone interested in drone technology. She wanted to see it in action. Nobody questioned that Frank invited her, taking Frank’s word for it. If the woman was interested in what made Mercury tick then it was fine with them. Inwardly, Frank hoped that Janet would get the bug, feel the excitement, the drone’s potential that he felt with every launch. The plan for this morning was to demonstrate to his dad that his investment was safe. After that was accomplished GK would have fun piloting Pigeon, a toy for comic relief. There was no animated conversation from the group today but rather a feeling of apprehension, hoping that the drone behaved responding to Frank’s signals.

  It was show time. The second show time.

  This round Mercury behaved spectacularly. Darting high into the air swooping over the ripples of the surf, up, up, swerving high over the terrace, then down, hovering in front of Frank after pressing the RETURN HOME button. Kissing the launch pad, the quadcopter made a perfect soft landing.

  Frank was the first pilot to launch the drone this morning. Michael then took the remote. He launched Mercury performing loops, then signaling the drone to investigate around the boardwalk from the house to the beach—the railing, the steps leading down to the sand, the tall grass either side. Michael tapped RETURN HOME. Mercury swerved, landing at his feet. It was then GK’s turn. Taking the remote he had everyone laughing as the drone chased the sandpipers, shot in the air after a pelican causing the spectators a moment of fear that the drone was going rogue, but GK brought him home, again landing at the pilot’s feet.

  There was a spontaneous eruption. The women clapped, the lads shook hands, and then turned to Geoffrey. It was hard to assess if he was pleased, but the event called for a brief shaking of hands with their investor.

  Frank had no doubt that Mercury would perform flawlessly, responding to the signals from the remote control he held. Of course, Frank knew his partners were edgy, wondering what Frank’s father was going to say later when he learned about his hastily developed business plan. The partners knew that Janet had shown interest at dinner, interest in joining the team.

  Shaking Mr. Kingman’s hand, Michael and GK added tidbits of information raising a frown from their leader as he then explained to Janet the nuts and bolts of Mercury’s prowess. The statuesque, ex-military officer, stood at attention.

  Geoff was happy with the demonstration. Maybe his investment was safe after all. He pulled Frank aside, tucked a debit card with a balance large enough to take care of the partners’ rooms and meals in Las Vegas. Frank stood dumbfounded at his father’s gesture, uttering a hushed, “Thanks.” Charley hugged her brother, congratulating him on the successful demonstration.

  “But wait,” Frank shouted with a broad smile. “You’ve seen Mercury, and now for a little fun with a baby drone, a toy to get kids interested in the technology. GK take Pigeon out of his case and please pilot the little fellow for the folks.”

  GK grinned at Geoff as he set the toy drone on the launch pad and pressed LAUNCH on Pigeon’s remote. a stripped down version of Mercury’s. Pigeon hovered briefly then shot into the air. GK expertly gave a brief demonstration bringing Pigeon back landing a few feet away on the sand. The toy was obviously not as precise as Mercury, the model to perform company duties.

  “Nice, GK,” Frank said taking Pigeon. “Grandpa Bernie, it’s your turn. Send him for a spin.”

  “Me? Oh, no, I’d break the little guy or send him for a swim in the Atlantic,” he said chuckling.

  “You’ll do fine. Here’s the remote. See the buttons? This fat one is a toggle. Press up for LAUNCH or down for LAND. See the button label?” Frank said. “If you feel you’re losing control press down and LAND. Pigeon’s remote is easier to use. But when you press LAND, it immediately drops to the ground. It doesn’t know about coming home. The two levers on either side—one to turn right or left, one to toggle up or down. Try it…get the feel. Here you go. Face Pigeon on the launch pad and press the tiny button in the center to turn the power on and calibrate Pigeon. This locks your signals on him. You pilot Pigeon with line of sight. A display is available for a price, or a cell phone can be attached to see where it’s flying. A pretty good camera is included. You, and kids playing with him, will get used to the buttons using your fingers. It will seem clumsy the first time because you’ll want to look at the buttons and not where he’s going. OK, press LAUNCH.”

  Grandpa Bernie did as his grandson instructed. He pressed LAUNCH. Pigeon came to life. His four small propeller pods whirled so fast they were a blur sounding like a hive of bees. He lifted quickly off the pad, hovered for a couple of seconds then shot in the air. A breeze sent Pigeon toward the ocean. Bernie fumbled but managed to tap LAND. Pigeon dropped to the sand a few feet from the surf.

  “Oh my. Did I break him? Did I break him?” Bernie said hustling to the toy twinkling in the sunshine. Sucking in a breath, he picked up Pigeon.

  Laughing, Frank kept pace with his grandpa giving him a friendly whack on the shoulder. “You didn’t break him. You saved him from drowning, Grandpa. Good job,” Frank said as GK took Pigeon placing him back on the launch pad.

  “Try again and this time gently turn him in a circle with the levers and then LAND,” Frank said.

  “What do you say, Jane? Should I try again?”

  “Of course, Bernard. You can do it. Give it a go,” Jane said her lips in a pretty pink bow.

  “Alright. But Frank, I need to first calibrate to line him up?”

  “Wow, nothing the matter with your memory. Yes, you have to calibrate again. Before you launch move the levers to get the feel.”

  Bernie was ready. Taking a breath he pressed LAUNCH. Pigeon hovered then shot in the air but this time Bernie worked the levers as Frank instructed. Pigeon performed a lazy circle, swooping over Geoff’s head.

  “Hey, Dad, cut that out. What are you doing? Trying to use my bald head as a runway?” Geoff said his hand smoothing his pink scalp.

  Laughing, Bernie pressed LAND. Pigeon dropped to the sand about nine feet away. “Whew, that was fun but that’s enough for today,” he said returning the remote to Frank.

  Dottie announced that brunch was ready on the terrace. Now that Mercury had behaved and with the introduction of Pigeon, Grandpa Bernie as the pilot, everyone was talking at once as they made their way up the boardwalk to the terrace.

  Chapter 18

  ────

  WITH MERCURY’S SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT and the fact that her father-in-law played pilot with the toy drone, Dottie told Hildy it was time to serve the champagne, champagne that had been quickly withdrawn from sight after the failure of Mercury’s first demonstration.

  Frank performed the honor of popping the corks of two bottles. Champagne flutes in hand, Frank raised his in a toast to his dad thanking him for his investment in the startup.

  Manny then made a toast. “Here’s to a successful conference in Vegas.”

  “Here, here,” the group joined in.

  “Way to go, little brother,” Charley called out.

  Frank stood smiling. “This is just the beginning folks. At the conference I’ll explain that Mercury is on his first rung of development. This rung includes three commercial video applications—real estate, construction, and crime
fighting. That’s for Liz and Manny, our two PIs. Then there’s gaming. GK will preview The Flight of the Drone Warriors after brunch without bringing down the network.”

  Frank paused, sipped his champagne. He lived for these moments, talking about drones and what they can do.

  “Anyway, back to the conference. If GK’s game places first, second or even third, it could catapult our fledgling startup company into the big leagues. We partners are using today to show off the dexterity of Mercury—actions in real time we captured on video and Michael will duplicate to be previewed in Vegas. This will also demonstrate the depth of our company as engineers, programmers, and graphic designers.”

  Charley listened to her brother, taking it all in. The adrenalin started pumping. If she learned to be a pilot, she would be part of her brother’s dream.

  Charley sidled up to her father, both sipping their champagne. “You must be proud of Frankie, Dad. I mean, he’s showing his talent as an engineer…kinda like when you started?”

  “Maybe. We’ll see. But I fear he’s on a fool’s path. We’ll see how next week goes at the conference. I’m not a money pit, you know. Things can go downhill real fast, change in an instant. Something you should think about. Ask yourself if you have the grit to hang in between sales. You might be better off if you had a job with a big company. A stable future.”

  Charley tamped down a retort on the tip of her tongue.

  “Did Mom tell you I racked up my first sale a few days ago? I feel I’m on my way. I have plans, alright. I’m going to flight school, learn to be a drone pilot, shoot my own videos of houses. How about that?”