David C. McLavic - 46. Chapter 46

Spring came and I made a final check of the layout for Bobby’s brother’s cabin. Two days later, we heard the helicopters. By the time I reached the jeep at the Lodge, someone else was sitting in the jeep, all smiles.

The ride to Crystal Lake took less than 5 minutes. I parked behind the helicopter that had the men who were going to help guide the cabin down. Bobby and I weren’t the only on lookers, there were several owners of the other cabins. When they saw me, they waved and I waved back. Big mistake, now they were standing with me and the questions started to come. The one question I refused to answer, ‘How much did it cost?’ I felt that wasn’t anyone’s business and I didn’t know what the company was going to charge.

Then I felt a slap on my back. It was Bobby’s brother. He was all smiles. “I can’t wait to move in.” “You could go and help them. You might be able to help the others when their cabins arrive.” “You have sold other cabins?
“Not yet, Bobby is working on that, He gets a commission on everyone he sells.”

The commission comes from me. I didn’t tell Bobby’s brother that but I was assured the message was received. The smile said it all.

It took two days to have the cabin settled, and what I termed ‘tied down’. When the men were finished, they gave me a letter. I was to attend a meeting at corporate offices next week. They would send a helicopter for me. Now I wondered what that was all about. I called Dad and told him about the invitation. His advice, go and listen.

I told Bobby he would have to take care of Wolf while I was gone, he smiled. I knew he would pretend the cabin was his. And maybe sometime in the future it might just be so. Then I thought about Carl. After all of this time, his loss is still felt. That evening a wrote a letter to Jim and Marie.

I dusted off my old suit, Dad and Uncle Joe arrived thinking of staying while I was gone. Bobby was a little disappointed but Dad took care of that. They treated Bobby as if he was their son and this was his home. Dad is smart and sensitive and Uncle Joe, everyone was his friend. I remember one time when I was angry at one of my school mates, he said anger takes too much energy. Smile and they will wonder what do you know that they don’t. They will try and learn but they will become a friend in trying.

I had never flown in a helicopter before. Watching the pilot, I thought I could do this. Now I wonder what a helicopter cost and what do I needed to do to get a license to fly one. It didn’t appear to be difficult. But I have learned that just because something looks simple doesn’t mean it is simple. I learn that learning how to ride Sir Gallagher. And now Carl is back in my memory. Dad was right, he lives in my memories.

Arriving at the company’s place of business I was surprised. It looked like a big warehouse. Entering a side door, a few steps in an entrance hall, check in at a desk where a nice looking young lady was sitting. I introduced my self, she picked up a phone and called someone.

Smiling, she offered me a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies. An older gentleman approached me and introduced himself as the sales manage, Mr. Dewing.

“I have been wanting to meet you for a time now. I evaluated your first design which If I remember was a three room cabin for a friend.”

You know that something is not quite right when someone mentions your first cabin design that now was several years old. I was in high school when I designed that cabin. If he had mentioned the design of the cabin I now lived in, that wouldn’t have caused me to think what this guys was trying to do. Trust wasn’t there yet.

He led me to a conference room, refreshed my coffee and left. I sat there looking at the photos on the wall and there was a photo of my cabin but not installed.

I sat there for about 10 minutes when several men entered the room. I stood, they introduced them selves. One was the major stock holder of the company and chairman of the board of directors. One was the president, one was the secretary, one was the financial manager and two were local businessmen.

After introductions, they got down to business. The president spoke about the company and how it got started. He showed graphs of sales by year. I was particularly interested in the years that they used by drawings. The bottom line, they wanted the rights to all of my cabin designs. I thought they had that with the first cabin I designed. As it turned out they didn’t, those designs I sent them were mine and the agreement was they would pay me a royalty when one was used. Now they wanted to claim them as their design which for me meant when they used them I would no longer get a check from them.

I listened but I didn’t smile. If I understood them, they want the full rights to my designs and I would no longer get a fee from them for using the designs. I guess when this thought went though my head, my face showed my disapproval.

“Before, you make a decision, we would like to offer you a position on our Board of Directors.”

Now I had to think a moment. “So this means you will own my designs and I will no longer receive a commission or license fees, whatever you call it, for the use of my designs?”

“Yes, but we are offering you a place on our Board of Directors, you will share in our profitability.”

I must have looked a little shocked. They thought because of the offered position I was thinking about that. But I was thinking of the loss of revenue. I knew if I accepted, then they would have the full rights to all of my designs.

I could see them all smiling. “I need to think this over. There are projects in the air, if approved, would mean a substantial income for me.” I wasn’t sure what a substantial income was. I had enough money from Uncle Joe’s and my gold mining to live. My needs were simple.

I watched as the President opened a folder, took out some legal looking papers, penciled in something, showed it to the other members of the board, they shook their head yes. He signed the paper and handed it to me. It was an employment contract.

I looked it over. I have never seen an employment contract. I wanted to review it with Dad. I saw the salary and commission numbers. They must have thought I was overlooking the contract but I was wondering what Dad would say.

Looking at the President, “Sir, I am flattered with this offer. But…I need to think this over.” I wanted to talk to Dad.

“I understand you are developing a project that will involve several cabins.” Now I knew, those people who brought Bobby’s brothers cabin had reported back what they saw.

“Yes, I am. I’m not sure what is going to come from this project. I have a young student of mine working out some ideas as we speak.” I watched as they all seemed to become alert very quickly.

The president spoke, “Yes, I have seen reports that the area at Crystal Lake looks promising.” I smiled. Now I knew why they offered me a position on the Board.

“I need to think this proposal over. Currently I have been involved in designing cabins, but I want to move into housing designs.”

I saw the smiles, they were predominately into cabins but I saw advertisements by other companies for pre-fabricated homes. I had a feeling that was were they were heading and hopefully based on my cabin designs they would want my house designs as well. Even though I had not submitted any house signs, it was obvious they were thinking ahead.

At the end of the meeting. I took a copy if their proposal, told them I would get back to them by next week or sooner. I could play their game as well.

That evening in the copter, the pilot asked me what happened. I told him about the meeting. “That sounds like a good deal to me.”

“Think of it this way. You want to buy a case of beer, There are several distributors in your city, but you want the best deal. The guy you are using delivers to your house so you use him a lot. A competitor offers to deliver as well as giving you a 10 percent discount. Which one do you sign with?”

He thinks, “I’d go with the one that provides all the same services but gives you a cheaper price.”

I answered “Maybe”

Knowing that any activities at Crystal Lake was being reported back by the people who arrived by helicopters, I was betting on our little game getting back to them.

Arriving home, Dad and Uncle Joe were still there. I showed them the papers they gave me. Over a cup of tea, I told them about the meeting. Dad asked to give him a copy of the contract he will have someone at the University look it over. There was no way I could copy it, so I gave him the contract. “Dad, make a copy and send it back to me.”

Bobby wanted to know if he design a cabin would I get a commission on it. I told him, “No, but you will.” “How much?” “I don’t know. But what ever you get, will be better than nothing.” I would see he got something.

Dad and Uncle Joe started home in the morning. After they left, Bobby and I headed over to Crystal Lake. Whether I wanted it or not, I had a friend that adopted me.