The Peter Charles - 56. Chapter 56

School started, everyone was promoted to their next level and we had a small party, there was pizza and ice cream in the rec room. I was especially pleased with Scott. He’ll be a sophomore when the term begins in the fall, which is only a few weeks away.

With the new term, some changes were made. Charles was old enough to start taking driver training at school, I also got him enrolled with the driving school I used for the other boys. Sammy started at the University and he moved to one of the apartments. He also had a Smart car, the same color as Nicky’s. Steve took driving lessons and enrolled in a culinary curriculum at the university, he moved to the apartments. He and Sammy shared an apartment on the second floor. Shawn was now a senior and so I began to plan his graduation gift.

Shawn and I had a serious talk, he wanted to go to University of Glasgow in Scotland. It was his father’s school and he said tradition meant he should go there. I didn’t want to see him go but I couldn’t refuse. I told him it was okay and I’d cover the cost as I have with my other sons. Glen knew I didn’t like it, I have grown close to Shawn as he and I share a common interest. “Kev, there’s only one solution. How often do you see Nicky and Scott?”

“I see them once a week, why.”

“Then you’ll need to see Shawn once a week as well.”

I looked at him and smiled. I went to my office and did some research. I had found my answer. I called Stewart, “Stewart, I want to start a new company, the Peter Charles airline. A private service offered to the public but reserved for Glen and I.”

“Are you okay? You have a boat that takes you any where in the world and now you want a plane?” “

Yes, the possibilities of my kids attending any school in the world and Glen and I could still fly to see them. Fantastic right?”

“You do know that you will have to account for all of your expenses, this will be a nightmare for your accountant.”

“Stewart, I am my own accountant. That’s why I want to set up a corporation. I’ll advertise charter flights, these will pay for the corporate taxes and the profits will be paid to Glen and I which we’ll pay taxes except for any tax deferred accounts that I set up.”

“You have given this some thought, what about the staff?”

“I don’t think that will be hard, There are a lot of pilots in the commercial airlines who would like a job like this.”

“All right I’ll set up the corporation but I suggest you come up with a new name.”

“Okay, you get the paper work underway and I’ll call tomorrow with a name.”

Now to pick a name, maybe I’ll use a combination of my name and Glen’s name. The rest of the day, I wrote various combination of our names. I ended up with Shuson Airlines. I phone Stewart with the name and now I needed to find a plane that could hold at least sixteen people. I made a list of companies that sold private aircraft. I was surprised that subsidiaries of major airline companies built and sold private planes.

The size of my plane was unusual in that I had to include all of the boys. Including Glen and myself we needed to seat at least fourteen people. I called three companies before I found a company that had a plane for resale that would do. The corporation that owned the plane had decided it was too expensive. They obviously expected to use it more than they did. So they were selling it.

I made arrangements to see the plane and to talk a cash only deal. Money talks where promises don’t. The asking price was two and a half million dollars, which the seller was discounted from three million. I wasn't fine with the price, I wanted a lower price, two million was my top figure. I notified my bank that I would be making a large withdrawal for an investment in Shuson Airlines. Stewart called and said the papers had been filed and I can legitimately sign as owner or president, how ever I wanted.

Two weeks later Glen and I drove to the airport, I didn’t tell him anything. We went to the private airline section, I parked in front of the building. Glen kept looking at me and all I did was smile.

Walking into the building I was met by a Mr. Bobson, he was the Vice President of the company that owned the plane. I introduced myself and Glen. Glen still looked confused. I asked to see the interior of the plane, I was surprised they had five rows of two seats on one side and one seat on the opposite side. After looking the plane over, I was satisfied. “Mr.,Bobson, I’ll pay you two million right now, cash.”

“I need to get the approval of our Board.”

“Call them and get your bank information, we can make a bank to bank transfer as soon as they say okay. If they agree, I’ll need the papers so I can register the plane in my business.”

We waited while he called, He came back with a ‘no’ answer, the president said the plane was already discounted and he couldn’t lower it any more. I thanked him for his time, Glen and I left. I don’t negotiate, I think my price was fair for a used plane. I had checked out a plane built to specification and the best price was five million. I could handle that but it would be a significant draw on our bank account.

“Are you disappointed?”

“No, they will comeback and make an offer, I’ll stand firm and then they’ll accept. I need to do a background check on the company, maybe buy a few shares and get our money back.” He chuckled.

Two weeks passed, we looked at a few other planes, one would do, the boys would be crowded but I could get it retrofitted to include all of the boys. With the cost and the retrofit the total bill would come to two million.The company said it would be like a new plane after the retrofit.

I called Mr. Bobson and told him I was negotiating another purchase and I am withdrawing my offer. I wished him good luck on selling the plane. Two hours later, Mr. Bobson called and wanted more information on who I was negotiating with. I told him.

“Don’t you think he’ll check?”

“Yes, I know he’ll check and then he’ll call me back and accept the deal.”

“How do you know he’ll do that.”

“The broker said they were anxious to sell.”

“Maybe we should go with the retrofit.”

“No, it’s like buying a used car that just had an overhaul. The plane Mr. Bobson had was almost brand new, when I was in the cockpit, they had less than a thousand hours flying time. Will put more than that on it in one month.”

“No, we won’t. You exaggerate.”

“True, but we will in a year, flying to Scotland at least once per month will do that.”

“I know how we can help pay for the plane, I remember some freight companies fly products around the world, provided the customer pays. We could do that?”

“Maybe we can approach the US Postal Service as well.” I smiled Glen was getting into it,

Two days later, Mr.Bobson called, the Board of Directors agreed to sell the plane for two million cash, they would write off the difference against profits. I waited till Glen was sitting next to me reading the paper, “We own a plane.”

At first I thought he didn’t hear me. He quietly got up, went to Shawn’s room and then Shawn came running down and jumped on me. “Is what Pop said true?”

“I don’t know what did he say?”

“I can go to the University of Glasgow.”

“Why did he say that? You know I’ll miss you, we won’t have our investments chats. How can we meet at least once a month if you’re in Scotland?”

“You could fly over.”

“You know that’s a long flight. I’m getting too old for that.”

“Okay Dad, I’ll go here at the University.” He looked very sad but sincere.

“Shawn, you’ll go the University of Glasgow, Pop and I just bought a plane to fly us there, at least once a month.”

“You were fooling me, Dad I almost cried.”

“Shawn, I wouldn’t do anything to make you cry, you mean too much to me. But when you have finished your studies, I want you here. You’re my back up for when I retire.” I grabbed him and gave him a hug. I felt bad about what I did, it wasn’t fair.

He smiled at me, “Pop told me about the plane.”

He then ran out of the room. I heard him, “I did it Pop and you were right on.”

Glen walked into the room with a smile on his face. I was a little angry at him, I was mad at myself because I thought I had hurt Shawn and it was all a joke. He sat down beside me, I got up and went to my office. “Kev, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you would react like this.”

“Glen, you know how I feel about these boys and when I thought I hurt Shawn, I hurt. Now I find out it was all a joke. Just leave me alone for a while.”

I knew I couldn’t stay mad at Glen, but he should have known better.

When I got back to the house, it was very quiet. Everyone was in bed, except Glen. He was sitting on our bed waiting for me. I went over, sat down beside him, kissed him on his cheek. “Let’s get our shower” He smiled, taking my hand he led me to the bathroom and the shower.

By morning all was forgiven, routine has its pluses. You can follow it without thinking. We quickly fell into our routine, boys to school, Glen and I to work. As I thought about the boys leaving home and going to college, I had a feeling that big changes in Glen’s and my life was just around the corner.

For the next two years our life became settled, but in a new way, Nicky had a girl friend and was in his first year of his Master’s program, Scott was senior and becoming known among art critics, Travis was right up there with him, much to Diane’s delight. Never did find out what happened to Harry, didn’t care, so never asked.

As the kids got older, I felt more alone. I knew it would happen one day but after having the kids in the house every time I came home from work, fishing on week-ends and now it was just Glen and I most of the time.

We still fished on week-ends but not all of the boys could make it, school work, exhibitions, it seemed there was always something that the older boys needed to do. But Adam, Peter, Charles, David, Tommy, Johnathan and Joseph were always ready to go. Our guests usually made it, Paul, Gus as well as Robby.

Charles now was the Captain, so he said, but Glen and I could continue to use the Captain’s cabin. Peter handled the stern nets with Adam and the other boys handle the bow nets. Even without all of the boys, it was fun. The cooking was back to simple stuff, mostly thawing out frozen dinners.

“What should we do for our summer cruise?”

“We were studying Australia, why don’t we go there?”

“Or maybe Hawaii?”

“There are some Pacific Islands that might be nice to see. Or even Japan.”

They had ideas, “Okay, why don’t you see what’s possible remembering how far we can go on a tank of fuel. I think all of those ideas are good.”

“Dad, what about Thanksgiving, are we going to have it at Wharf again?”

“What do you think? Would you like to have it there?”

“Is Shawn going to be there?”

“Yes, I don’t see why not.”

“Then yes, we could dance.”

Thanksgiving was settled, we’d have it at the Wharf. I was waiting for it, “Dad what about Christmas, we normally go somewhere.”

“Maybe this year we should go skiing.”

“A winter vacation, that would be something different. What do you say boys?”

“That would be different but I don’t know how to ski.”

“They’ll teach you and you might like it. Think about it, we don’t have to decide right now.”

Sunday we went in again with a full load, Charles just smiled.