by T. M. Meek
The Success Crew were sprawled out in Leena's bedroom and talking about how well their presentations had gone so far. They had already completed five presentations with three of the five running over fifteen minutes after the presentation concluded which meant an additional three hundred and fifty dollars was earned each time. Now they were enjoying some early celebration time at Leena's. Amelia had decided to invite Julio and Alex along with their parents to a special celebratory dinner at the Lilly home where Amelia had prepared a few entrees and side dishes of her own and had the rest catered. Meredith had dropped Alex off at the Lilly's earlier and had planned to return later with Samuel. As Amelia and her hired help put together the meal downstairs, Leena, Julio and Alex were waiting upstairs to hear when the rest of their parents had arrived so they could know when it was time to eat.
Alex was amazed at how many more clients the Success Crew had picked up since their first presentation. She sat at the edge of Leena’s bed and counted out loud, "Four, five, six, seven more appointments! That makes for a total so far of thirty-nine clients! If we could just get one more appointment that would make forty. Three hundred and fifty dollars times forty clients would make $14,000 dollars. Not a lot but better than nothing."
"Not a lot?! Are you crazy? I thought maybe we'd get only about $5,000 dollars and here we are on track for nearly $14,000? I'd say we're doing a great job." Leena said excitedly. "And you're not even counting the potential for more appointments running past fifteen minutes for more money."
"Maybe that's true. But we probably shouldn't count on all of that money yet." Alex said hesitantly.
"Why not?"
"All it takes is a few cancellations for any reason at all and then we've got to schedule more clients to fill up the cancellations. But hopefully that won't happen."
"I like what we're doing. Helping adults with their future retirement is fun." Leena said cheerfully.
"Yeah. It is." Alex admitted with a smile. "Hopefully at least some of them will have enough saved so that they can spend their retirement making the world a better place for themselves and their families and others. If just one of them has saved enough and has enough faith then God will help them to do what they can to donate to the right cause. When they believe that they'll be blessed to donate ten percent first and then save as much as they can for their future, when they do that, they'll feel it's right in their hearts. They'll know it's the right thing to do."
Julio looked concerned about something and after a few moments he asked with some hesitation, “What’s this?” he asked as Leena moved over closer to him and looked at the notes also.
“Some costs for what it takes to furnish a house, room by room…including the garage.” Alex answered. “It costs about eight thousand dollars minimum. And that’s being frugal. That’s not getting everything you really need and would actually use. It’s just the bare basics. Appliances like a dishwasher, a big enough refrigerator/freezer and washer/dryer sets are the most expensive items to buy. Beds, blankets and bedding, tables, chairs, couches, lamps, light bulbs, drapes and blinds… the costs really add up. No wonder people go into debt through financing as soon as they move out of their parents home.”
“Why is this on paper? Don’t you use your laptop for this?” Julio wondered.
“Of course I do. But were here to eat dinner and I didn’t plan to work on the presentation but I keep thinking about some of the frustrated looks people give us after we finish our presentations…”
“Money on the mind…always thinking about money,” Julio said quietly referring to Alex as he shook his head in disbelief that she couldn’t even relax and allow for some real celebration of their current success.
Alex scoffed, “Look, so far the presentation is great for us. Yes, the money seems to be rolling in. But what if the presentation isn’t great for them? What if it isn’t great for the audience who are supposed to benefit from what we’ve learned?”
“How can they not benefit? Is what you told them true or not?” Julio asked in defense of the team’s hard work.
“Okay. Yes, they can benefit. Yes, what we told them is true in so far as our non-expert minds have learned from others who have had success. It could be hard for them to hear the truth but maybe they shouldn’t worry about retirement right now as much as they should focus on other financial needs such as emergency savings and retooling to increase their income. I mean, after all, if they’re struggling over twenty-five percent or more as a figure, then how can we help them learn quickly enough how to discover their own talents and use their talents so they can earn what they need to earn to be prepared for emergencies as well as have enough for retirement?” Julio and Leena were at a loss for words. If Alex, the thirteen-year-old financial wonder didn’t know, how could Julio or Leena know when they never even thought of these things until Alex came along.
“Well, my dad seems to be able to afford everything well,” Julio shrugged. He never thought to worry over a lack of money because of the success of his dad’s business.
“That’s because your dad is a multimillionaire,” Alex said.
“My dad’s successful too,” Leena chimed in.
“I know that. What’s your point?” Alex asked a little annoyed.
“We know earning enough is possible,” Leena answered somewhat cheerfully.
“Yeah. All hope isn’t lost. People just have to choose the right career so they can afford to handle the challenges of life as well as to enjoy simply living,” Julio agreed.
“And they can still do it charitably. My dad gave a hundred thousand dollars to support cancer research last year. It’s doable,” Leena said.
“We do, after all, encourage people to save well and earn well to have millions for retirement,” Julio said thoughtfully.
“That’s because that’s what a successful retirement requires,” Alex replied still thinking.
“We’ll figure out a way to show them how they can use their talents to earn an honorable income and sufficient one since we’re showing them they should aim to earn enough. If more people are doing what they already love to do and what they know they’re really good at, then they’ll have more hope and a stronger drive to earn enough Yes! Let’s definitely do that!” Alex said with a breath of relief that maybe they could help people even more than they had so far. “By the way, Leena, did you finish the newspaper art? The one that helps us to have hopes for good marketing in the news so we can help others?” Alex asked.
“Yep!” She then tossed Alex and Julio the artwork she did to help them imagine getting good feedback from the press.
“That’s really good, Leena! Can I hang one of these on my wall at home?” Alex politely requested.
“Of course! There are plenty of copies for all of us,” Leena smiled proudly.
Julio looked at the newspaper art and smiled brightly from ear to ear. He then set it down close beside him so he wouldn’t forget to take it home later. "I bet we get a hundred more appointments!" Julio said optimistically as he playfully tossed a Frisbee sideways up towards the ceiling and caught it again.
"Don't get your hopes up too high, Julio." Alex warned politely.
"We have to set our goals high if we're going to get even close to reaching them. Right?" Julio said making a reference to one of the lessons taught in the presentation as he tossed the Frisbee up again.
"If we did get a hundred appointments, would you guys get too tired of the work? Even though it's for a good cause?" Alex wondered.
"Not me. I like what we chose for the Triple-C" Leena smiled proudly.
"Not if I'm well fed." Julio added wryly. "Speaking of which, I can't wait to eat! I'm hungry!"
"I don't think what's waiting downstairs is a buffet of marshmallows, Julio." Alex said in jest.
Julio stopped playing with the Frisbee to address Alex's last verbal jab directly. He spoke in a dignified manner as he said, "I'll have you know that marshmallows are not the only food I enjoy."
"Oh really?" Alex challenged.<
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"I bet you don't like the same foods Alex likes. Alex likes delicious health food." Leena added now fanning Alex's flames of contest.
"Try me. Name your three favorite vegetables." Julio said confidently. He was up to the challenge.
"I absolutely love steamed asparagus. Cooked brussel sprouts with butter is heavenly! I also love all varieties of onions since they add so much wonderful flavor to meals." Alex said honestly as she looked for Julio's reaction.
"Do you prefer your asparagus with or without hollandaise sauce?" Julio inquired maintaining his dignified confidence. Alex was stunned that Julio even knew what hollandaise sauce was. Leena was getting a kick over seeing the two talk game over favorite foods.
"With." Alex responded matter-of-factly.
"I enjoy it both ways. I like steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce or plain. I might add a little salt if it's plain." He added while making a pinched gesture with his hand to indicate a small amount of salt.
"So what are you favorite vegetables, Julio?" Alex challenged back.
"I happen to like all of the ones you said plus cucumbers, tomatoes, water chestnuts, mushrooms and cauliflower. And if the cauliflower is steamed and then topped with a bunch of cheese that melts on top then I’ll like it even better!"
"Did you know that a great way to enjoy two vegetables in one dish is to mix them together? I love it when my mom mixes cooked cauliflower into her homemade mashed potatoes!" Leena said as if dreaming about them right then.
Alex looked curiously at Leena and asked, "What other vegetables do you like Leena?"
"All of the same ones both of you like! Plus steamed artichoke hearts. Those are the best with melted butter!"
"Why is it that butter makes everything taste so good?" Julio wondered.
"Because of all the fat. That's why. But it's not good fat though. Olive oil or canola oil is good fat. But since butter is still healthy to use from time to time, I'll still use it occasionally. It tastes too good not to." Alex replied.
"That's part of why I like onions so much. If you use olive oil when you sauté vegetables, like with zucchini, it really adds a lot of great flavor so you don't have to use butter." Alex added.
"You like zucchini too?" Julio asked.
"Yep!" Then the three of them began to look at each other as if waiting for one of them to take back what they said about liking vegetables in order to make fun of the others. As the three sat looking at one another, their increasing skepticism showing on each of their faces, Julio decided to take a chance on reading everyone’s mind and breaking the silence.
"Is this some kind of a joke between you two? Are you guys serious about liking those vegetables or are you trying to play a trick on me?" They both looked at Julio and one another in shock. "Or are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Leena looked bewildered and then asked, "What are you talking about?"
Julio looked confused. Alex looked at Leena and Leena looked back at Alex before they both looked at Julio.
"Do you guys really like those vegetables?" Julio asked timidly bracing himself for possible humiliation for speaking the truth about the foods he likes.
"Yes!" Both Leena and Alex said in aggravated unison.
"Why would we joke about that?" Alex asked not hiding her annoyance in the least.
"Because other kids might." Julio said.
"That's because they're idiots." Alex said in further annoyance.
"They're not idiots." Leena corrected Alex. "They just haven't been properly introduced to great tasting foods that are really healthy. Like the vegetables we like," Leena said as if she were a matchmaker for gourmet foods and the people who may enjoy them. “And some people find the word ‘idiot’ to be offensive, just so you know,” she added with a clear look of disapproval.
Alex sighed. “You’re right. I’ll be more careful about what words I use to describe people who aren’t using common sense about things.” She then thought for a few moments and added, "Healthy foods. There's another spending issue."
"You're always thinking about money." Julio half-joked.
"Not always. But the fact is, until healthy foods are made more affordable than fast food and highly processed foods..."
"Also called Junk foods," Leena added.
"Right. Until healthy foods begin to cost the same or less than junk food, people aren't going to have the kind of health and physical strength they want for their lives."
"Healthy foods affect the emotions too you know. Too much sugar can cause symptoms of fatigue, depression and moodiness for a lot of people." Leena sighed.
"I know." Alex replied.
"How do you guys know all of this stuff?" Julio asked bewildered.
"My Dad is a doctor. He always had all kinds of health journals lying around our house growing up." Alex reflected. "I've read a few articles in them."
"My Mom subscribes to a few health magazines. You've seen them around here, Julio." Leena said.
"I figured your mom would read them. I just didn't think you read them too." He said slightly annoyed over her insinuation that he wasn't aware of the environment at the Lilly home. He often prided himself at being like his security minded father by being constantly aware of his surroundings. Since simple things around you can tell a lot about how safe or unsafe a person or place really is. Leena simply shrugged off his defense. "I'm hungry." Julio said trying to be a peacemaker and find common ground. "Anyone else hungry?"
"I am," Leena sighed now laying her head on a nearby pillow.
"Me too," Alex joined.
"I also like cheesecake." Julio tossed in as an after thought.
"I like strawberry gelatin." Leena said.
"Do either of you like grilled chicken or grilled fish?" Julio asked curiously. Both Leena and Alex nodded in agreement. "Me too." Julio said as he rubbed his stomach.
"Do you think there will be a side of lemon wedges available? I like a little lemon with my ice water." Alex asked Leena.
"My mom is the superb hostess of all hostesses. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if she had nearly everything we all mentioned as favorite foods as a part of our dinner in one form or another." Leena smiled a bit tired from her hunger.
"Sweet!" Julio smiled. "I can't wait!"
Leena then thought to give everyone a reminder in simple manners as she said, "But none of us should complain if we don't like some of the food since that would be rude." Alex and Julio sighed thinking their gastronomic hopes might be shot down but they still nodded in agreement. Leena saw their downcast expressions and didn't want everyone to be without hope. "But like I said. My mom is a superb hostess. I'm sure there will be plenty of things to eat that we all like." Big smiles returned to both Alex and Julio's faces. Leena was glad.
“Maybe we should go down there and offer to help out. You know, like help set the table or chop up vegetables or something. I don’t want to seem lazy or like I’m expecting to be treated like some selfish, egotistical snob who cries ‘I’m entitled!’ by my lack of contribution,” Alex suggested.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Let’s go see how we can help,” Leena agreed. All three began to get up to go downstairs. Just then, the three heard the doorbell ring downstairs. As they listened for the front door to open, they waited to hear the remaining parents’ voices. Once all of the parents had arrived, it would soon be time to eat. At first, they could only hear the voices of greetings of Meredith and Samuel, but soon after, Manuel and Lucita were also heard saying 'hello' as they entered the front door.
"Leena, Julio, Alex..." Amelia called up to the three hungry souls. "Dinner is ready!"
All three of them smiled in excitement and ran down the stairs eager to eat many of the foods they had just dreamed about. They would not be disappointed.