Adam Blake - 70. Chapter 70

Sunday’s dinner was the fresh fish we caught, Monday morning I wasn’t ready to go back to school but once I was on the road, I was anxious.

“James, who is this young man?”

“Doc, this is Seth.”

“Hello Seth, as soon as I get my coffee we can talk. Come on.”

“James, have we received any responses to our auction?”

“Yes, you’ll see. It’s all on your desk.”

“So Seth, you are the renaissance man.”

Walking back to my office with our coffees, had to stop and speak to the boys, found out several had made a trek to the basement. There was a gleam in their eyes. I felt good about that space being opened. “James, I need to speak to Coach Jasper today, see if he is available right after dinner.”

“James, what is all of this. This can’t be all of the responses to our auction.”

“It isn’t, there are several letters from families, a letter from the trustees, and a special letter from the Ambassador.”

“While I talk to Seth about the fair, please separate these. Take the auctions responses to the test center. You and Jane handle that. I’ll deal with the families and other correspondence. Seth, pull up a chair, we can talk while James does his magic.”

I listened while Seth detailed his standard fair. “What about booths?”

He talked about booths and vendors. I listened carefully, I didn’t want vendors, I wanted craft booths, I want booths to show off the students and I wanted games.

“Seth, in general, I like what you proposed with slight modifications.” James coughs “I do not want vendors, we will cover your costs. I want artisans, who can spend time explaining any question my boys have, that shouldn’t be a problem. I want games, carnival games, free. I’ll cover costs again. I also want a joust.”

“A joust? With real horses?”

James looked at me like I had just lost it, “No, merry-go-round horses. We take a horse, attach wheels, then develop a track, the idea is that the boys dressed in that gear they use for paintball, and lances made out of some sort of foam with a ball on the tip dipped in that paintball ink or whatever they use. What I haven’t figured out is how to propel the horses toward each other.”

I saw the smile on Seth’s face. He saw an advantage for his business. “I’ll work on that bit if you’ll let me include that in my fair package.”

“It’s a deal. How soon can I expect a proposal?”

“Without the joust, tomorrow, I need time to work out the motion for the joust.”

“Excellent.”

I looked at James as he handed me a bunch of letters. I felt good about that. I started to go through my mail. I opened a letter from Ralph’s parents. It started in pleasantries and then an apology. I read that section twice, I didn’t understand it. She apologizes for me leaving my position as President of the school.

James said there was a letter from the Ambassador, I hoped that would explain everything. I held me breathe as I opened it. It started the usual way, thanking me for taking the time, etc. Then “Dr. Blake, upon our return a decision was made to terminate the trustee’s responsibility to oversee the Academy. The individuals who serve as trustees were believed to be extremely knowledgeable about the education of our children. We now find that wasn’t the case. The trustees will still be responsible for overlooking the physical aspects of the property but no longer have responsibility for the other activities. As you can expect, there wasn’t agreement among the trustees. Currently, there are meetings between the key investors and the trustees, there are some legal issues that must be attended to, however, there is a feeling that your methods may have a further benefit on the general education standards of several of our friends. The current thinking is to provide you a school to teach your methods, of course, this will release you from your responsibilities at the Academy. After you have read this letter, may I have your reply and position on the chance that you are offered this opportunity?”

I read that letter over 5 times, I think. The opportunity to change the method of teaching at schools, a few years ago I would jump at the chance, but not be at the Academy, I would miss that. I can have more of an impact by teaching these boys, than teaching teachers.

“What’s wrong?”

“I received a letter from Ralph’s parents offering condolences for me losing my job here at the Academy. I was confused so I looked for the Ambassador’s letter. They want me to teach teachers, at certain schools my method. I can’t do that, I can’t leave my army. When I was fighting to teach this method at my university I’d jump at this opportunity, not now.”

“So why can’t you do both?”

“How, I can’t be in England teaching a course and still be here helping to run this school.”

“There was a man who had 12 friends, he didn’t travel far, maybe a mile or so, but he got his message out to the world.”

I knew who he was talking about. That was my answer, I smiled “James, you are brilliant.”

I sat and wrote a letter to the Ambassador. I explained I was growing a garden of a special plant that the seeds would change the world. However, I do have some time in my garden, between watering to start a garden of trees. I sent it. James read it, “Will he understand it?”

“I don’t know, I guess we will see.”

“Hey coach, have you seen it?”

I laughed he gave me a funny look, “Come with me.”

I walked him to the door of the new space, flipped the light switch, and watched as he looked at the area. He looked at me, then the area. I could see the questions coming. “Where did this come from?”

“Coach, it has always been here. Someone in the past decided to board this area off.”

“Are you planning on using it?”

“Yes”

“So we will have gym as a class”

“Yes”

“Fantastic, need to have some help”

“Yes, two students from my old school are coming. You can interview them and we can make an offer, if you choose.”

“Probably only need one, full-time here.”

“Might think about two, one teaching basketball and one teaching swimming. We can expand outdoors as well. Think about it we can talk later.”

“You have a phone call from someone called Billy”

“Hello young man, how may I help you?" He laughed.

“May I come and see you at school?”

“Sure, anytime, is there a problem?”

“No, just something I need to discuss with you and I can’t with Dad.”

“I think you can discuss anything with your dad but you are always welcome here or the cabin.”

“Thanks, Adam, see you soon.”

I wonder what that is all about.