My dear friends and readers. No one is more surprised than I am to be writing once again. On November 18, 2019 it will be 2 years since I was able to put anything on paper worthy of you reading it. I am not going to bore you with what has happened during this time. However, I am still here, and I guess that is better than any alternative I can think of. I thank you for looking at Her mighty trees, and saying hello for me in my absence.
I have finished reading the 21 chapters of this novel, and I hope to bring it along satisfactorily to a conclusion. There is still much to be explained and much to do. I hope to do it justice, and to those of you who have waited so patiently for me to end this story I am going to do my absolute best to keep you updated and informed. Bob
79. Will It Come To Pass?
1. "Why do you have to go to New York, Juliet", her father asked?
"Dad, the administrator's mother is near death. She had a massive heart attack, with major complications. His father is 98 years old and is not far behind her, because of the stress he is under. From what the associate administrator told us, the administrator is in very rough shape and could use some friendly faces around him. I am not the only one that's going, 20 of us are going, and many more from other NASA stations are joining us there. I don't know why I was invited, because I've never said a word to him. I like him a lot. I really like him a lot. I'd like to get to know him a lot better, but I am too shy to make the first move. I think he is as shy as I am, because blushes when he sees me looking at him. He is younger than I am, as rich as God, and I don't understand why he is working. Heaven knows he doesn't have to. He has promised all of us that there were going to be substantive changes to the way we do things at work, and he's followed through on everything he's promised us so far. I am going to New York with or without your approval, dad. I am 21 years old, and it's time for me to be on my own."
Her mother cowered in the corner, because she knew her husband was about to blow his top.
"Juliet, you will quit your job at NASA, immediately. You are restricted to this house, until I have you properly married to a gentleman I approve of. I raised you as a proper Christian woman, and you will not go anywhere unaccompanied. Is that clear?"
"I love both you and mom with all my heart. You have raised me properly and I know how to take care of myself. I have never disobeyed one thing you have told me to do in all my life, but this time is different. I am not quitting my job, because I love it. I have friends my own age and I find this job challenging. I do not move papers from one side of my desk to the other. It is technical work, and it is important work. Just like you dad, I find my work fulfilling. I will not be stuck at home, like mom is, because of your edict. She is frustrated because of you and you cannot see it. You think everything is fine, however, if mom had money of her own, she would have divorced you years ago. Everything is in your name except for the money I earn and put into the NASA Federal Credit Union.
You nearly had a cow when I did it, instead of putting it in the bank with your money, remember dad? When you did, I knew I was right keeping my money away from your greedy hands. The cars are in your name, the house is in your name, the boat is in your name, everything is in your name. Nothing is in a joint account for mom.
Mom can't go anywhere because she doesn't have a dime to her name. If she filed for a divorce, here in Texas, she would be left penniless, and out in the street to fend for herself. She has no job skills or references for the past 22 years. Where could she get a job other than as a maid at a hotel at minimum-wage or a household servant?"
"Juliet, don't put me in the middle of an argument between you and your father. It's not fair to me. If I have a problem with your father, I will handle it in my own time and in my own way, thank you very much," Adriana said.
"Yes mom," Juliet replied. "However, you know every word I said is true."
"Juliet, stop it!"
"Yes mother."
"I never expected you to stand up for yourself like this, Juliet. So, it would appear the three of us are going to New York,
As A Family
."
"Dad, I am going on a NASA jet, with my friends, free of charge. If you want to go to New York, I would suggest you make reservations on an airline to get there before us."
"Why can't we travel with you," her father asked?
"You can, but it will be very expensive, and I mean very expensive, because I checked."
"How much could it possibly cost the government to fly two people to New York?"
"It's like flying first class, dad. It's 5655.16 per person round-trip. For you and mom. The total would be $11,310.32."
"$12,000 to fly two people to New York? No wonder the government is broke."
"That's only the beginning of it, dad. NASA is paying for our room and board. You will have to pay for your hotel room, meals, outings and transportation. As you know, or should know, New York City is a very expensive place to visit. Personally, I think you should go by coach, on American Airlines, and save yourself $11,000 on airfare. The rest of the stuff I would look up online and get the best deal you can."
Adriana said, "Lyman, we could always go by train or bus if you want to save more money."
"Adriana, I have never hit you or our daughter out of anger. I am not that tight with my money."
"You bastard, did you notice how you said 'my money'?"
"Adriana, you have always had open access to all that money, all the time. Why is there a blur up your ass today?"
"Dad, you said a bad word! That's the first time I've ever heard you do that at home."
"Don't you start with me, Juliet. I've got more bad words in my head, because of you today, then I thought I would ever have. It takes years of my hard work to save at least $20,000 so your mother and I can keep an eye on you, while you are traipsing around New York City. It is the devil's playground and everyone knows it."
"Dad, you are thinking about what was going on when I was a child, and the city was in ruins. When Giuliani and Bloomberg took over the downtown area went into renewal. It is now the center of business in the world. I don't know what you read, or if you read any of the business journals, but downtown New York City is beautiful. The streets are clean, the buildings are new and the old areas that had the sex for sale signs are gone. Crime in New York is down below that of Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. You can look it up for yourself, if you know how to use a computer."
"You were doing so well, Juliet, and then you had to insult me with that last statement. I use a computer all day long. I am in the oil business and all we do is track oil all over the world. If something happens to an oil pipeline in Tajikistan at 6 PM, we know it here in Houston instantly and the price of gasoline goes up the next day."
"I never understood that dad. That oil has nothing to do with us. Even if it did, we wouldn't receive any of it through the Black Sea for three or four weeks. Why would oil futures go up the next day and affect my purchase of gasoline tomorrow when nothing has happened here?"
"Juliet, oil prices are built in 3 to 6 months in advance. Airlines buy jet fuel two and three years in advance by predicting the market. Sometimes they win because the price of oil goes up and their price remains steady. Sometimes they lose because the price of oil goes down. They win because their ticket prices remain constant and they win bigger by adding baggage fees and other upgrades to ticket prices. It's all a big game, and everyone wants to win. Airlines don't go out of business anymore using this model."
"I guess charging $13,000 for a round-trip first-class ticket for two to New York City isn't so outrageous if you think about it. Why don't you call an airline and find out what a coach ticket to New York for two round-trip costs, dad?"
Lyman replied, "We are not letting you out of our sight, Juliet. Get used to that fact."
"I have always been amazed that you allow me to drive to work alone."
"Who said you were alone? When you stop at 7/11 for coffee, and a muffin each morning, I know about it."
Juliet screamed. "I can't believe you spy on everything I do. Do you watch me while I have sex, dad? Do you enjoy seeing me naked? What do you want to do next dad, have sex with me? Tell me, what do you want of me?"
