by Bob Blanton
“But I already got my fun gift,” Catie said.
“You’re a woman now, and jewelry is part of a woman’s clothing,” her great grandmother sniffed, obviously put out that she hadn’t been selected to give Catie the fun gift. “Besides, we gave you an heirloom for your birthday, this way, we got to shop for you.”
Catie untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a necklace with matching earrings. It was a gold chain with a fan-shaped gold pendant with turquoise inlay.
“Oh, my, these are beautiful.”
“Well, put them on, we want to see whether we got our money’s worth.”
◆ ◆ ◆
The day after Christmas, Catie, her mother, and her grandmother were walking down the street when a moving van pulled up in front of the house across from her grandmother’s. “Oh, I guess our new neighbors are finally moving in. I’m still not sure about their kind moving in here.”
“What kind?” Linda asked. Just then, a blue Ferrari pulled into the driveway, and a large, black man got out of it.
“Oh, mother, you don’t mean because they’re black?”
“No dear, because they’re rich. He drives a Ferrari, and his wife drives a Bentley. They’ve spent a couple of million fixing that house up. If people like that keep buying around here, they’re going to drive up the property taxes.”
“That will take a while, and you really don’t have anything to worry about.”
“I know that, but some of our neighbors aren’t as fortunate as we are.”
“Well, you’ll have to lobby the city council to protect them.”
“It is on my list. We need to head back home now, Catie and I have some cooking to do.”
◆ ◆ ◆
The next day, Catie was knocking on the neighbor’s door while balancing a dish of lasagna in her other hand.
“I think it’s another casserole,” a man’s voice said with a groan.
“Shhh,” a woman’s voice scolded, “they’ll hear you. Come on, answer the door.”
The door opened, and the man she’d seen get out of the Ferrari looked out at Catie. “Can I help you?”
“My grandmother and I made this for you. We know how hard it is to move, and wanted to give you guys a night off from cooking.”
“Invite the young lady in.”
“Please come on in. By the way, my name is Malik,” he said as he opened the door wide so Catie could enter the house.
“I’m Catie. My grandmother, Betty, lives in the house across the street from you.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Malik said as he relieved Catie of the dish.
“I’m Jasmine,” the woman said as she walked over and extended her hand to Catie. “Alyssa, come down and meet the neighbor,” she called out.
Catie shook hands with Jasmine as a young girl about her age came bouncing down the stairs.
“Hi, I’m Alyssa, but you already heard that,” she said.
“Hi, I’m Catie. My grandmother lives across the street.”
“Oh, so you don’t live around here?” Alyssa’s face fell a little.
“No, just visiting, but my grandmother says the family at the end of the block has children and the family around the corner from them does too. Then you’re just five blocks from the school, and lots of families around there have kids.”
“Malik, put that casserole in the kitchen,” Jasmine said.
“It’s lasagna,” Malik said as he replaced the cover after sneaking a peek.
“Well, that will be a nice dinner,” Jasmine said. “Alyssa, why don’t you put on a coat and walk outside with Catie. It’s nice outside, and some fresh air will do you good.”
Alyssa grabbed a jacket and led Catie outside. “Did you have a good Christmas?” she asked. “I guess I should have asked if you celebrate Christmas, first.”
“Yes, we celebrate Christmas,” Catie said. “It was fun. I haven’t seen my grandparents for about a year. And my great grandparents came over too. They’re always fun. How about you?”
“We spent Christmas at my grandparents’ house in Pittsburgh. I got a new bike and some jewelry. And of course, lots of clothes.”
“I got lots of clothes too. My gran, that’s what we call my great grandmother, thinks I need to wear more dresses, so I’ve got enough of them for the rest of my life. My grandmother gave me a nice jewelry box, and I got jewelry from my gran, my grandfather, and my father and his parents.”
“Where’s your dad?”
Catie laughed. “Actually, he’s across town staying with his parents. We arrived on Sunday, and I stayed with them until Tuesday; then, I came here.”
“That’s nice, both sets of grandparents being in the same city. So, your mom grew up here?”
“Yes, right in that house,” Catie said. “She even went to Harvard Medical School and lived at home the whole time.”
“That must have helped. I hear medical school is tough.”
“That’s what my mother tells me,” Catie said. “Where did you move from?”
“Oh, we lived in Newton, but Mom and Dad both work in downtown Boston and wanted to skip the commute. Besides, they really wanted to live in a Victorian house,” Alyssa said.
“That’s cool. It is a nice house,” Catie said. “Sounds like you’ll be changing schools.”
“Yeah, I’m going to be attending Buckingham Browne & Nichols School.”
“That’s supposed to be a really good school.”
“That’s what they say.”
“But no fun leaving your friends back in Newton.”
“No, it’s not, and my parents work all the time.”
“Mine do too. Since I moved in with my dad, I get to spend time with him at work.”
“How do you do that?”
“I homeschool. So, I can do that anywhere. Right now, we’re living in a house, and we mostly work from there. There are six of us, and we all work for the company.”
“You work for your dad’s company?”
“Yes, I do small projects and coordinate things. We’re just getting started, so it’s small. My Uncle Blake works there as well.”
“What kind of company is it?”
“We’re trying to commercialize some new technology we have,” Catie explained. “So, we develop the technology and figure out how to manufacture products that use it. We’re working on a new battery right now, so it’s really all about manufacturing. But we’ll have other things soon.”
“My dad has an IT company,” Alyssa said. “It’s one of the bigger ones here in Boston. My mom is an advertising exec. She’s really terrific at it, but she works all the time.”
“Maybe you should go to their office to do your homework. Then you’d be hanging out with them. I like doing that with my dad; sometimes we work at the same desk.”
“That might be fun. I could definitely do that at my dad’s office, and maybe my mom’s on Saturdays. It’s not that busy then, so it might be okay.”
“Sure, then you’re just like a coworker, you take breaks with them, make a few comments or jokes here and there. I like it.”
“How long are you staying?”
“We leave tomorrow. We’re flying to San Diego to drop off my mom, then we’re off for the Cook Islands.”
“Drop off your mom, can’t she fly by herself?”
“Oh sure, but we’ve got a private jet, so it’s nicer and lots faster.”
“You have a private jet?”
“Yes, my dad leases it so he can visit clients and people real easy. And we live in the Cook Islands. That means you have to fly to get anywhere.”
“Why do you live in the Cook Islands, you don’t look like you’re from there?”
“No, I don’t; people from there all have natural tans,” Catie said. “And gorgeous, long, black hair. We live there because my dad wanted a place where we could set up our company that was a little isolated. That way we won’t have to worry about industrial espionage.”
“My dad worries a
bout that too.”
“We’re putting the company on Manuae, and it will be the only business on the island. In fact, everybody on the island will be working for the company.”
“That sounds crazy; your dad must really be worried about espionage.”
“That and the tax rate is really good,” Catie said. “Hey, why don’t you give me your contact info, and we’ll keep in touch.”
“Sure, my number is,” Alyssa rattled off her phone number, “What’s yours?”
“Just texted it to you,” Catie said just as Alyssa’s phone buzzed.
“How did you do that?”
Catie pointed to her specs, “They’re like Google Glasses, only better,” Catie said.
“Oh, I wish I could have some.”
“If we’re selling them next Christmas, I’ll send you a pair,” Catie said. “But it might be longer, so I’ll keep you on the list.”
“That would be so cool. It’ll drive my father nuts. He’s always the first to get any new technology. I usually get his old stuff, if you can call something a year old, old.”
“Cool, we can video chat, and you can tell me how my grandparents are doing.”
“Oh, you want me to spy for you.”
“Uh, I guess I do. They don’t always tell us what’s really going on.”
“Anything else I should spy on for you?”
“Not that I know of, but I’ll let you know if I think of something.”
Both girls laughed as they continued down the street.
Chapter 17
Nightmares
“Hi, Kal, did you miss me?” Catie asked as she ran into the mansion at the compound. They had just gotten back from their Christmas vacation. Catie was looking forward to a normal routine, without one of her grandparents trying to help her grow into ‘a properly dignified young lady.’
“Miss you, have you been gone?” Kal asked.
Catie picked up a throw pillow off the couch and threw it at Kal. “You’re mean.”
“No, I’m not, but I have been enjoying having all this space to myself.”
“Where’s Sam been?”
“She’s been in Wellington for the last four days,” Kal said. “Something about networking with the muckety mucks there. Fred and I have been throwing wild parties every night.”
“Are we having one tonight?” Blake asked as he came through the door.
“Nope, apparently you can’t scare up a wild party on a Sunday to save your life. These Cook Islanders really believe in that day of rest thing.”
“Maybe you can have one next week, Uncle Blake,” Catie said.
“Like we could get away with that!” Blake said. He grabbed Catie’s suitcase and carried it and his up the stairs.
Catie followed him with her backpack and the small duffle she had bought to hold all the clothes she had acquired. Her new jewelry box was safely wrapped inside it as well. “Home sweet home,” she said as she dropped the bag and flopped onto her bed.
“Were you missing it?” Liz asked as she came in, dragging her own suitcase.
“Yes, weren’t you? I like visiting, but I have a hard time when I don’t have my own space.”
“Just remember your own space ends right here,” Liz said, pointing to the space between their two beds.
“Don’t worry, I won’t invade your space,” Catie said. “But, you have to admit, it’s going to be nice to sleep in our own beds tonight.”
“Yes, it is,” Liz said. “I’m glad your dad let everyone buy a new bed. The ones they had in this place were okay, but nothing like these.”
“Daddy always says, take care of how you sleep, and then you’ll have the energy to take care of everything else.”
“Smart man.”
Catie set her new jewelry box on the dresser on her side of the room. She stood back and admired it.
“Looks nice,” Liz said. “Are you going to finish unpacking?”
“I’m going to do that tomorrow,” Catie said. “Can we go for a run now?”
“What a perfect idea,” Liz said.
◆ ◆ ◆
“No! Get off of me!”
Catie woke up with a start. She looked at the clock, it read 3:00 a.m.
“No!”
The sound was coming from Liz. Catie got up and went to her. Liz was wrapped up in her sheet, crying.
“No! Leave me alone!”
Catie rubbed Liz’s shoulder, “It’s okay, Liz, it’s okay.” She sat on the bed and pulled Liz’s head onto her lap. She continued to rub her shoulder. “It’s okay.”
Liz settled down and quit moving around. Catie just sat there and stroked her back. Then she started singing a lullaby. She remembered her mother used to sing it to her whenever she had a bad dream. Catie sat with Liz until 5:00 a.m. when Liz woke up.
“What are you doing over here?” Liz asked as she blinked herself awake.
“You were having a bad dream,” Catie said.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Catie. I almost never have them anymore.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
“You shouldn’t have to deal with my problems,” Liz said.
“We’re friends, you help me with my problems, why shouldn’t I help you with yours?”
“Because I’m the adult.”
“That doesn’t mean anything; we’re two friends being here for each other.”
“Thanks, Catie,” Liz said. She was terribly embarrassed that Catie had to comfort her. She liked being the tough one, and showing vulnerability was something she just didn’t do.
Chapter 18
Production Starts Up
“Hello, Dr. Zelbar, Dr. Nikola,” Marc greeted the Doctors Zelbar. “I understand we’re ready to start talking about production issues.”
“We think that’s the next step,” Nikola said.
“Great, it’s a nice way to start off the new year,” Marc said. “Please come in. Let me introduce some new members of our team: Dr. Jonas Scheele and Dr. Patrick McGenty, and his assistant Tomi Nakahara. Gentlemen, Dr. Nikola Zelbar and Dr. Leo Zelbar.”
“I know your work,” Nikola said as she shook hands with Dr. Scheele. “I think you’ll be just what we need.”
“I hope so,” Dr. Scheele said. Dr. Scheele was one of the leading scientists in the field of plasma engineering and manufacturing processes.
“Let’s get down to business, coffee, tea, and pastries will be here shortly,” Marc said. “I just wanted to have a short pre-meeting to set expectations, then I’ll leave you alone.”
“A good idea,” Dr. Zelbar said with a slight huff.
Nikola patted his hand and whispered, “Now, Leo.”
“We have a team of support engineers and technicians joining us in two weeks,” Marc said. “You four are the team leads for the development; the lead for the actual installation of the manufacturing process will be coming with the others.”
Everyone nodded their heads waiting for Marc to get to the point of the meeting.
“We have three main manufacturing processes to set up,” Marc said. “One for the battery production for which we already have prototype production going, one for the fuel cell elements and then, of course, the most complex one for the polysteel.”
“Yes, Yes,” Dr. Zelbar said.
“Our agreement with the Cook Islands is that we will be environmentally neutral,” Marc continued. “That’s why we have Dr. McGenty. He’s a leading scientist in the field of environmentally neutral manufacturing. His job will be to make sure we have a full appraisal of the impact we have and how to mitigate it. Now we also have access to an extensive design team that will be offsite. They should be able to provide recommendations and designs as you define the specs. Our goal is to utilize everything that comes into the various plants in such a way that it leaves as a saleable product, or as environmentally safe emissions.”
“Does that mean we need a zero-carbon footprint?” Dr. Scheele asked.
“That is the goal,” Marc said. “A
lthough it is acceptable to have a negative carbon footprint.”
“How are you going to measure this carbon footprint?” Dr. Zelbar asked. “We are going to be using a lot of crude oil.”
“That’s a good question. One that I hope you all will help me answer,” Marc said. “But for now, let’s assume that it is a measure of CO2 emissions. I’m assuming the carbon in the polysteel is bound so it shouldn’t count.”
“That is correct,” Dr. McGenty said. “We will also need to make sure that there is no residual carbon dust or particulate matter leaving the factory.”
“What else?” Dr. Scheele asked.
“Any water discharged needs to be pure, any minerals extracted and sequestered,” Dr. McGenty continued. “How will you handle the waste associated with so many people working in one place?”
“We have a septic system design, that Tomi just finished. It takes everything and converts it to fertile soil, water, carbon disks, which we can feed back into the process and a little nitrogen gas and some oxygen,” Marc said. “They’re being installed in the remote villages around the Cook Islands, and we’ll be installing one on Manuae as soon as possible.”
“What about refining the materials?” Dr. McGenty asked. “Are you bringing in pure material, leaving the pollutants in someone else’s back yard, or will you be refining them here?”
“It depends,” Marc said, giving Dr. McGenty a hard look after the insult. “We will be bringing in ores to process where it makes sense. We’ll bring in pig iron to make the polysteel, also recycled steel when it’s available. We’re going to bring in crude oil to feed the carbon into the system.”
“What are you going to do with all the sulfur and nitrogen?” Dr. McGenty asked.
“You know, I hired you not only to identify the issues but to help find solutions,” Marc said.
“I understand, but you’ve been thinking about this longer than I have.”
“We think we can extract sulfuric acid from the process,” Nikola said. “It should come out of the plasma field as a gas along with the nitrogen, water, and some CO2. We can sell the sulfuric acid.”
“The CO2 can be pushed back into the plasma field; at those temperatures, the carbon will separate and then bond, releasing the oxygen,” Dr. Zelbar said. “Some of the oxygen will combine with the hydrogen released from the hydrocarbons, and give you water.”
