APC Short Story: Tough Decisions
Tough Decisions
James had read this letter countless times this past week; it still made his blood boil.
Tobias broke the silence “We made the right decision James. We can’t just stop serving our customer because of…”
“… I know Toby, I know.” answered James.
James crumpled the note with one fist, and dropped it to the floor.
“Let’s walk.” sighed James.
The two men exited the workshop, and James locked the doors behind him. The air was crisp and the grassy yard was shimmering underneath an unobstructed moon.
Toby drew his wool coat over his shoulders. “I expect this years’ early frost will upset the field workers...” exhaled Toby with icy breath.
“I imagine it will.”
With the conversation going nowhere, the two men walked down the trail towards the road out front of James’ house in silence. When they reached the road James noticed that his bedroom lamp was still on. He could make out Maggie sitting up waiting, despite the late hour.
“Heard from Stewart yet?” Tobias asked, drawing James’ stare away from his bedroom light.
“No. Not yet.” He started walking again “He’ll be better off though… he needs to learn some discipline and respect.” he replied, although Tobias had not asked.
“He’s good with horses; he’ll do well for himself in the King’s military, James. Heck, he may one day ride with the King’s Color Guard!”
“… he was happy to leave, Toby.”
James’ eyes blurred the shimmering moon light, and his used his sleeve to dry his face.
“Please, let’s just walk tonight….”
To James Whyttel, of the Whyttel Woodworking Company,
With the passing of his father, Sir Marten has commissioned that the Steeplewood Manor Estate be updated with modern décor and styling. I am proud to inform you that Sir Marten desires your family’s services for the upcoming stages of renovations to his Manor.
Your family’s history of expertise in woodworking for the past 25 generations is well known across all of Windaria, and is even heard of in all lands of Aeralon. Furthermore, being a local Steeplewood success, the Whyttel Woodworking Company is the obvious choice for such an ambitious and prestigious project.
It is for this reason that he has chosen your family business over all Windarian competition. He has requested the Whyttel Family be the sole company contracted to oversee the renovations of his Manor. Construction will begin this coming spring, and will continue for the foreseeable future. For this reason, Sir Marten is recommending that the entirety of the Whyttel Woodworking Company’s resources be focused on the Marten Manor renovations for the duration of the project.
Sir Marten patiently awaits your response to his kind offer.
- Squire Guydion
James had read this letter countless times this past week; it still made his blood boil.
Tobias broke the silence “We made the right decision James. We can’t just stop serving our customer because of…”
“… I know Toby, I know.” answered James.
James crumpled the note with one fist, and dropped it to the floor.
“Let’s walk.” sighed James.
The two men exited the workshop, and James locked the doors behind him. The air was crisp and the grassy yard was shimmering underneath an unobstructed moon.
Toby drew his wool coat over his shoulders. “I expect this years’ early frost will upset the field workers...” exhaled Toby with icy breath.
“I imagine it will.”
With the conversation going nowhere, the two men walked down the trail towards the road out front of James’ house in silence. When they reached the road James noticed that his bedroom lamp was still on. He could make out Maggie sitting up waiting, despite the late hour.
“Heard from Stewart yet?” Tobias asked, drawing James’ stare away from his bedroom light.
“No. Not yet.” He started walking again “He’ll be better off though… he needs to learn some discipline and respect.” he replied, although Tobias had not asked.
“He’s good with horses; he’ll do well for himself in the King’s military, James. Heck, he may one day ride with the King’s Color Guard!”
“… he was happy to leave, Toby.”
James’ eyes blurred the shimmering moon light, and his used his sleeve to dry his face.
“Please, let’s just walk tonight….”
posted by Dean Michaud
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home