Solomon's Private File #382
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 32 in this story, in the Winter of 2058-2059.
Solomon's Private File #382 "Marcel Betrothed"
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Marcel said to me, "I would marry." I said, "I knew that." Chuckles.
I said, "How much have you considered that would change your life?" He
said, "You're leading to something." I said, "When have I not?" He
said, "You're evading. That means you want me to think about it,
because you suspect I haven't." I said, "True?" He said, "Don't do
that." Chuckles. He said, "I can't win in these things!" I said,
"Always." Grins. He said, "If I haven't thought about it as I should
have, it means I don't know what I don't know. A little help?" I said,
"The best student is one who wants to know something. If only they knew
what they needed to know. You do a lot of things here. You're running a
household, more than one, actually, and a general business. What will
your wife do?" He just stared at me. I said, "Well, what is she able to
do?" After some thought, he said, "I don't actually know!"
I nodded, and said, "All people need to do something. Everything is
work, even if it might be considered play, and causes no income. Bored
people make trouble." He said, "That I know! Hmm, this is indeed an
issue. She will want to rule the servants." I said, "Who might resent
that. But you won't have mine here when I leave. Her father has been
informed of that, so he could help with the hiring, knowing his
daughter's er, preferences." He said, "Oh! Thank you." I said, "I may
have done something of a slight disservice to you, in teaching you to
manage people in an honorable way." He said, "I think I understand what
you're hinting. That it surprised me, should indicate that such a way
is not common in our society. She might not treat our people well, and
resist changing that." I said, "You rule your employees. Your wife
isn't isn't one of them. She will except your rule of her only as far
as she sees fit, and maybe not even that, where you might not be aware.
All people seek mastery of their lives, and for that, mastery of others
in them. That doesn't end in marriage."
I said, "Disagreements will be made worse, by the forced divided
loyalty of the staff. And more, with fights of dominance among the
staff with who of you they will favor over the other, and how often
they switch." He said, "Wow! I hadn't thought of any of that! I see
now, things WILL change, and very much. I also appreciate how well you
"Helps keep it attached!" I said, "She will want to make changes here.
Many, just for the sake of change." He said, "Dominance." I said,
"Asserting her rule over her space. First in decorating. Anything you
like that she knows of, might be the first to go." He grinned, and
said, "Thank you for the warning." I said, "She will be testing you in
that, with how far she can push it, and you. You must establish limits
that she will discover only in approaching them." He said, "Right.
Never encourage her to oppose something in advance of needing to." I
said, "That should apply to much of life." Grins.
He said, "One thing is firm. She is to not rule any business activity
unless I can be sure she will do it well." I said, "As I was with you.
Our workers depend on us for their lives and well being. That must not
be played with. If she won't accept that, talk to her father. And she
WILL want to play with it, not having your er, experience in compassion
for people who are considered to be socially inferior." He said, "Oh.
That was one of the reasons you had for me to work for them in learning
what they do." I said, "That should have been obvious." He was a little
embarrassed. I hid my grin, but he was aware of it. I said, "Much of
this she will NOT believe. That includes almost all of what I've taught
you." He said, "I can hardly believe it myself!"
I said, "She will need something to occupy her time. She may not
realize she needs it, to cause her to have some self worth. Praise for
that, will help significantly." He grinned, and said, "It sure works
for me. When are you going to start?" Chuckles. I said, "She may not
tell you all you need to know about her interests, desires, and skills.
But her mother will. If you ask. Is that some lack of courage I
detect?" He said, "I hope not." I said, "Remember, she is entering an
entirely new household. You are not. She will have to learn a lot, to
fit in it, and to fit it to her. She'll need a lot of help, even if she
won't admit it. Yes, women have pride, too. The more you know about
these issues in advance, the more you can manage them. There is one
thing you haven't asked about. Too embarrassed?" He said, "I think I
know what you are referring to. Sex. I have no experience with women!"
I said, "We should discuss that just before you have some scheduled
time alone." He laughed loudly. When he could, he said, "I'll never get
used to that, how you make something funny in a way that's a surprise
that it IS funny." I said, "Well put." We did have that discussion,
which was first, more an education in anatomy and physiology, with
graphic illustrations. He learned more than he thought possible, about
his own body, too. Then we discussed techniques and responses. Then
romance. After all that, he said, "Does everybody know this?" I said,
"And how would you go about discovering that?" He said, "Oh." Grins. I
said, "But you suspect correctly. Almost all people know some small
parts of that. Eh, some actually have small parts." Chuckles. I said,
"But one person knowing all of that? Well, now there are two in this
land." He retired to his rooms, but didn't actually retire.
I asked to meet with the father of Emirmis. I said, "There are some
things you should know about me, and by extension, Marcel. You may have
noticed that I might have some unusual skills and knowledge." He
smiled, and said, "Indeed I have! I know you have taught all you can to
Marcel." I said, "He's learned well, and I haven't been his only
teacher. I believe that a manager should know all his employees know,
at least enough to understand the quality of their work." He said,
"Well considered." I said, "I went a little further. He apprenticed
with all of them, from the cook to the smith. While he isn't able to
completely take over their work, he can do it in an emergency, and can
evaluate people for hire." He said, "That's extraordinary! That he was
able to do that, and that you required it. I think that's a very good
idea." I said, "Well, I did prepare him in the skills of learning, and
physical health. And that I could do all that myself, helped to
motivate him." Grins.
He said, "I think you have tried to help him to be as much like you
as you could." I said, "And as he desired. Before he discovered how
much hard work would be involved. But he did it, and is glad he did.
All our employes are loyal to him. That is caused by how they are
treated. With honor and respect. He was surprised by that, at first. We
know that's not the usual way in this society." He said, "I understand
why you're telling me this, and considering you will take your inside
servants with you, new hires will have to be er, introduced. What you
suspect, may be true. I'll have a talk with her." I said, "Thank you.
All people need things to do. Does your daughter have any interests
that could occupy her time, hopefully in a productive way?" He grinned,
and said, "I DO know what you mean. I had that problem with my wife.
There is only so much redecorating a man and staff can stand." Grins. I
said, "I've already warned him about that, and that he should ask her
mother about interests. He's discovered there are more kinds of courage
than he knew." He laughed loudly.
He said, "She likes to design bad jewelry." I said, "Oh, that hurts!"
He said, "Yes, I should have remembered. I apologize." Smiles, and I
said, "I accept." He said, "She is skilled in needlework." I said,
"That's good. I have some beads and other things that can be applied to
clothes, she might like to use. I can even design and make some for
her. Seeing some of them in advance, could be er, beneficial." He said,
"I have to admire your way of expressing yourself. I agree. You sound
like you would enjoy that." I said, "I would. I haven't been doing that
much here, with all my other work taking up my time." He nodded, and
said, "Have you had the talk?" I said, "Just recently. He thought he
was beyond being astounded with me." He tried not to laugh, and said,
"Oh? In what way?" I said, "Well, I'm an artist. I used very detailed
illustrations. Even of things only a doctor or mortician would know
of." He said, "That would astound anybody!" I said, "Not enough keep
from him spending a busy night in er, contemplation of that
discussion." He laughed loudly, and said, "Well and delicately said!" I
said, "Eh, thank you."
I said, "That causes another issue for discussion. You know of my
unusual hearing." He said, "Much of the city does." I said, "Some of
that is inborn, and some from training. Marcel can't equal me in that,
but he's better than any other, and in the use of other senses as well.
That means it will be difficult to conceal anything from him." He said,
"I should assume he is much like you in abilities, but not fully." I
said, "Close, yes. Some of those abilities are so unusual, he probably
won't discuss them. You know of the feeling you can have of somebody
looking at you from behind?" He said, "I do. I suspect you have made
that a reliable skill." I said, "Yes, and it also senses intent. If he
doesn't ignore that through being distracted, he can't be attacked
without warning, even by a long distance firearm. Yes, most people can
learn this skill, but it's not easy, and it takes a long time." He
said, "I think I understand. He is not like other men. He's better." I
said, "I've tried."
He said, "He will be a leader." I said, "He can't avoid it, as I
couldn't." He said, "You've tried to reduce that." I said, "Because I
won't be staying. Unfilled vacancy causes problems. Less to fill,
easier to fill." He said, "That's wise. It's said you have the best
workers of any establishment." I said, "Well, I hope so." Smiles. I
said, "If you want the best, make the best to want to work for you.
Couldn't be simpler. Pay them well, help them to live well, treat them
with respect and honor, you can hire and keep the best. More, if you
don't try to keep them when they want to leave, to rise in another
situation." He said, "I've seen that. Almost no other managers do
that." I said, "Pride. They want to exercise that, at the expense of
success. You know my system works better. So do others, but they don't
WANT to change. Not even more profits will motivate them to reduce the
requirements of their pride. Speaking about that, your son."
He said, "Yes. He is jealous of Marcel." I said, "Might be a little
less, were he to know how hard Marcel worked for all he will have." He
said, "I'll tell him about the apprenticeships. Smith, really?" I said,
"Yes. You should have heard his daily groans." Chuckles. I said, "But
then, he began to like it. Making something with your own hands can
have a joy of accomplishment in it like no other experience." He said,
"Yes, I have to agree. I do a little painting." I said, "You know I'm
going to ask to see it. May I?" We stood, and he said, with some
embarrassment, "It just escaped me." I said, "Some people believe
that's when we express our minds most honestly." He said, "Is that
true?" I said, "Can I qualify that to be when it's not something
extremely stupid?" He laughed.
We went to his work room. I looked at all the paintings. Studying
them, actually. He was becoming very nervous. I said to him, while
still looking at a painting, "I'm wondering how long it will take for
you to become so nervous, you will just HAVE to say something." He
laughed almost hysterically. When he quieted enough to hear me, I said,
"I think the whole house heard that one. How you're going to explain
that, I have no idea." He said, "I feel the same." I said, "You have a
talent. You will make one of the wedding, that will hang in their
dining room." He said, "Giving orders to me in my own house?" I said,
"Yes. This one. Want to fight about it?" We shared grins. He said, "No,
I will comply, gladly."
I said, "I have some pigments you might want to try. Some
semiprecious stones, when ground, display some interesting colors." He
said, "That sounds interesting. Thank you!" I said, "It will be my
pleasure to share with another artist." That was his pleasure, too. I
said, "For your wife, I was thinking if a multilayered necklace, with
flanking broaches. More, for the hat, with long pins through it." I
motioned to some colored chalk, and said, "May I?" He said, "Please!" I
painted what I had described. I said, "What do you think? Would she
like it?" He said, "Absolutely! It's in a style she likes, but
different enough to intrigue her. And expensive enough to make her make
a fool of herself, in lust for it." I said, "Well, isn't that the
goal?" He laughed, and said, "It is." I said, "Let's leave this here,
to assume you did it. When she sees the real items, well, you'll have
to work er, hard to survive her attentions. Hmm, it looks like your
face is fighting with itself in a war of opposing expressions." He had
to laugh
I said, "It is said that laughter is the second happiest exercise."
He said, "Oh, and what is the first?" I said, "Give her those, and
she'll MAKE you know." More laughter.
I said to Marcel, "My properties. Could I have managed them well, and
have had enough time. This is a full day's work. I've actually been of
help to you!" I said, "Yes you have. And that's going to be a problem
for you when I leave." He said, "Oh! I have to replace ME!" I said,
"Yes, but a little quieter." Chuckles. He said, "Who helped you before
me?" I said, "Lead carpenter." He said, "He's getting older, and his
second is very good. What do you advise?" I said, "I won't. That's YOUR
responsibility and work, and you'll have to live with it, not me. Ha! I
see the conflict; gratitude or curses." He had to laugh. I said,
"Secret room and contents shall remain so, for now." He said, "Yes.
Reserves unlisted."
A week later, I brought the pigments and a fancy box to the father of
the future bride. In his work room, I showed him the different colors,
and said said, "This is wonderful! Thank you very much!" I said, "Now
this." I opened the fancy box for him with a key, and his eyes almost
popped out of his head in surprise. In it was the necklace, pins for
the hat, and shoulder broaches. And I had added two bracelets and rings
to the set. All made of gold, silver, and precious gems. He said in
wonder, "This is beautiful! You made this all in a week?" I said, "No,
actually. I've been working on a lot of things for a long time. Just
needed some assembly and finishing. Most of the work this week was in
making the box." He said, "Oh." I said, "Here's the keys. I sense what
you would say. Don't. I love doing this for people. I'm not poor. It
won't hurt me in the giving, only in the refusal."
We sat. He was still in shock. I said, "There is another family issue
we should discuss." That woke him up. I said, "Marcel witnessed my
first day at the Council. That's known to his friends. They might
discuss it. Emirmis might hear it. If she doesn't already know what
happened, she might not want believe it then, and that could cause a
significant family issue. I see she doesn't know. You thought to
protect her? Ignorance doesn't do that, but eventually makes it worse.
I know very well, myself, parental cowardice. You REALLY aren't alone
in that." He said, "You DO understand." I said, "While she should know
what happened, she should also know that is past, and we are now the
best of friends, and soon to be joined by law and love. And my humor
and your loud laughter." Grins. He said, "Would you do this with me?" I
said, "And her mother, and Marcel?" He said, "That would be better. At
your home, so they will be forced to be polite." I said, "I was
thinking that, but I'm surprised that YOU would do that, and actually
tell me." He laughed, and said, "I've learned from you! Planning!" I
said, "Competition. I'm not sure that's a good thing for me." More
grins.
We discussed and planned how we would make that evening happen. I
told Marcel, and he was VERY nervous. My grins didn't help that. He
personally escorted them from the entrance to the parlor, and did it
well, in full formal politeness. We talked in general areas. Then the
mother said to me, "Sir, what is it that you do?" I said, "We have a
full farming and orchard business, and some careful forestry. We make
our own things to aid in that. Some other businesses like them, and
purchase some from us. Many other households send their people to us
for their apprenticeships, because we have the best in the guilds.
Being that we have many ways of earning, we are not restricted to
seasons, and so have a steady and stable income all year long. I
managed that, until Marcel came to me. He manages it now, while I do
other things. I'll tell you of them, if you agree to keep it
confidential." Father said, looking at his family, which included his
son, "We will." I said, "I am restoring a large building in the city
center, for use as offices for some professionals. I support some
charitable things. I do another thing that could cause this household
to be in some danger, if made public. I make jewelry. A kind of family
interest."
Emirmis said, "Why would that cause a danger?" I said, "Such high
value small items can cause some people to want to acquire them by
impolite means, including violence, were they known to exist in more
than a small quantity at a known location." The son said, "In plain
talk, thieves and robbers." I said to him with a smile, "I could have
said it that way, had I wanted to shock my listeners. I must admit I
was sorely tempted, though." He smiled back. I said, "Any of those who
attempt that here, well, disposing their remains would be quite an
inconvenient chore." The father laughed well. He said to his family, "I
don't doubt that in the least. I've fought him." His family stared at
him. I said to the son, "You and I aren't the only people who like to
shock others." He grinned at me. Marcel said, "Oh you DO!" I said, "My
most convenient er, victim, speaks the truth." Chuckles.
The father said, "Solomon was asked to appear before the Council, to
address his proposed membership." I said, "The reason for that, was
that I opposed dueling." He nodded, and said, "I was on the other side
of the issue, being well skilled in that. He was challenged to a duel
by one on my side. The best in the land. Solomon made him concede
defeat without fighting." Marcel said, "I was watching that with my
grandfather from the back room. I could hardly believe it!" Son said,
"But how?" I said, "They hadn't considered that as the challenged, I
could choose a weapon other than a rapier. I'm strong. I chose one that
would be too heavy for him to lift, which I chose to show them how
stupid it is, to try to win a debate that way." Son said, "Wow!" I
said, "They might have been thinking in a less polite way." Chuckles.
Father said, "Then he said some er, unhappy things about my side of the
issue, sure to cause a challenge. We had to choose another to fight
him, or all of us supporting dueling would have to resign." I said,
"They selected, well, I think you can guess that." He said, "Me! I
thought I had a way to beat him. The night before, he had said he had
not learned the use of the sword. I said to him that to be fair, he
should choose a weapon that we were equally skilled in, the sword."
I said, "That's when I caused him to disbelieve me. I said I had
learned it that night after my guests had left, and was then proficient
in it, and better than any person in the council." He said, "Of course
we didn't believe him. We didn't know then that he never lies. He said
that to be as fair as possible, I could use any weapon, and he would
use none. He didn't look like a fool, but he sure sounded like one!"
Marcel and the son laughed. Father said, "I tried, but couldn't beat
him. He knocked the sword out of my hand, and knocked me down. Many
times. He let me try again and again, TEACHING me what I was doing
wrong! He could have killed me in an instant, any number of ways, but
that's not his way. We ended it as friends, and are still good friends
to this day." Son said, "But weren't you required to resign from the
Council?" He said, "I was, but Solomon asked me to stay, having shown
my good honor to the council."
Son asked Marcel, "Are you able to do what Solomon did?" At Marcel's
expression, I said to the son, "You have poked him in his modesty. I'll
say it. Yes he can. He was a good student, which he may be surprised to
learn." Chuckles. I said, "I would not have him unable to defend his
family. I would not have left my own family to come here, if they were
not WELL able to defend themselves. Yes, even my young children can
beat grown men. Not that my sister would give them that opportunity."
Son said, "She would take them away?" I said, "The children? No, the
bodies of those who would hurt them. In the land of my mother, my
sister is second only to me in the fighting arts, and actually likes
them better. But my mother is the most feared. How do you think I
learned to fight? My father was the best fighter of his generation, but
he didn't live long enough to teach me all he knew. In my family, we
all learn to fight, to defend ourselves, and for health. Good
exercise!"
The mother said, "Even the women fight?" I said, "In defending
themselves, yes. Better than being inconveniently dead. That we are
known to be able, actually reduces the antisocial intentions of
others." Grins. Son said, "I like how you say things!" I said, "Thank
you." Father said to him, "You hear me laughing loudly, you know he's
visiting me." He said, "Oh! I didn't know that was the cause." Grins.
Daughter said, "You teach girls to fight?" I said, "I do. It's
important. It's a dangerous world. There won't always be a man there to
defend them. In my opinion, ALL people should learn what they can, so
they don't have to depend on others for their very lives. Fear is not a
pleasant way to live." Thoughtful nods. I said, "I think we should not
keep the staff waiting for us in the dining room. It's not a good idea
to anger those who prepare your food. Oh, she heard that!" We could
hear her laughter in the other room. We went there.
Our guests were surprised at how polite we were to the servants. Back
in the parlor, I said to them, "You have some questions about what you
observed. I know of them, so you don't need to be embarrassed in
voicing them." The mother said, "You were uncommonly polite to your
servants. Please tell us why." I said, "It is my opinion that honor
requires us to treat ALL people with honor and respect, as we want them
to honor and respect us, those that are not trying to harm us. It's
foolish to make more enemies than you need to, and VERY foolish to make
them of the very people who help you to live. How many well placed
people were killed by their angered servants in ways we'll never know?
How many cooks spit in their Masters' food, as the least of unpleasant
ingredients? I prefer not to be a fool, in encouraging spite and
revenge in those who I pay to work for me. And I like to be nice. I
like to see people smile and laugh. It makes me feel good to cause
that. It's been said by many, that we have the best people here. The
most skilled, and the most hard working. AND the most honest. That's
not an accident. They are that way because they want to be. They like
it here. Simple as that." Son said, "Wow!" I said, "Included." He
laughed.
Father said, "Do you pay them more than others do?" I said, "I do,
and get more from them in service, than the extra pay justifies. I
can't lose!" Amazed chuckles. I said, "I have my pick of hundreds of
applicants who want to work here, so I can choose the best, and that we
have the best, causes more to want to work here." He said, "It's true!
You can't lose!" Son said, "It's so simple, but why hasn't it been done
before?" I said, "Pride. People like to abuse others whenever they
think they can, to feel superior, all the more, that is least
justified. That causes the abused to abuse others of even less status,
and so on. There is no honor in that. Pride is the enemy of the good in
people. Selfishness is the root of almost all the bad in the world. I
pay them more than usual, and I get much more in return. That proves
what I said. It's simple, but easy to reject, when pride is in us."
Marcel said, "OH! That's why you oppose dueling! It's death by pride!"
I said to him, "I have succeeded in you, a man I can love and respect
as one of my own children." He wasn't ashamed of his tears. We hugged.
We sat again. I said, "I think he didn't expect that." Son laughed. I
said to him, "There are different kinds of shocks. I think I might know
most of them." He said, "I have to agree. I was prepared to dislike
you. I can't." I said, "That doesn't cause in me great unhappiness." We
shared grins.
The father looked a question at the mother and daughter. They nodded.
He said to me, "Where shall we have the wedding?" I said, "It would be
best to have it where the bride and groom will be present." They all
laughed. I said, "What is the tradition?" He said, "Usually, the mother
of the bride makes the arrangements, and the father of the bride cries
in paying for it." I said, "Crying is messy. I wish to prevent that. We
will share in the expense. Crying about it is forbidden. I prefer
laughter. Alright, smiles my be substituted, temporarily." They smiled.
The mother said, "How much expense?" I said, "I will not purchase the
entire city. Something less than that, could work." She said, "Hmm,
could you?" I said, "I wouldn't know that until I tried, which I have
no desire for. Where would I put it?" Grins.
She said, "The Council Hall can be rented." I said, "A good start."
She looked VERY happy. I said, "Needs proper decoration, but there is a
problem. I think our er, victims might not want to wait so long for all
that you might have in mind, to happen. Hmm, opposing desires. No
dueling!" Chuckles. I said, "We do this FOR the young people." She
bowed to me, and said, "Sir, you are to be admired for all who you are,
that all should aspire to." I bowed to her, and said, "Madame, you
honor me beyond words. Hmm, I just said some. Oh, well." They had to
grin.
After they left, Marcel said, "This has been an unusual evening!" I
said, "Yes. You had your revenge, via the mother." He grinned, and
said, "I did, and enjoyed your embarrassment immensely." He backed
away, expecting something physical. I said, "You deserved it. You
didn't think I would be fair? I see a need for some more instruction."
He said, "Oh, that's alright. I understand!" Grins. We hugged.
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