It happened in April at the meeting with the branch families. I neither had any intention nor any interest to be there, but grandpa insisted. His idea was for me to gain experience about how things were done in those types of situations. He also wanted to make use of that gathering to tighten the bond between me and my parents.
If I were to describe my relationship with my parents at that time, it would be easier to explain by comparing it with an old wooden bridge over a mountain river or at least that's how it felt at that time. If you want to strengthen the bridge, you will have to tear it down first and then build one tougher than the previous one. Surely the tearing down part wasn't grandpa's intention.
Mom and dad were always busy with their work. It was only natural for them to be so as the responsibility of keeping the family business going was on their shoulders. Even though I was young at that time, I could understand their situation. But if that was the only case then it would have been fine. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
I began to feel like for some reasons they kept avoiding me. In a sense, I knew the reason behind their odd behavior. But I didn't really think that they would actually avoid me. They wouldn't even talk to me if I didn't take the initiative to talk.
I decided not to think about that any more because it was in a way the consequence of my choice. I kept myself distracted with my own studies and daily chores.
When I arrived at the venue accompanied by my grandpa, I was greeted by all the branch family heads present there. I couldn't tell whether it was out of admiration for me or fear of my grandpa. But I didn't care about it or to say it properly I wasn't concerned enough to care about that stuff. When my parents arrived the meeting started.
The encounter was as usual. While entering the meeting hall they just took a glance at me. I wasn't surprised. It was nothing new or to say it more clearly, if they had come at me to ask about my whereabouts, I would have been surprised. Some of the attendees found it unnatural as parents don't usually avoid their children. But they knew that they didn't have the right to meddle in.
Grandpa was the main advisor at the meeting. The members presented the problem they faced that year. The meeting was a discussion about the problems that were faced recently in the business and finding out their respective solutions.
"What am I even here for?" I thought. Looking at my face at that time, anyone could tell that I was feeling out of place.
When a solution was brought up for a problem grandpa tried to bring me into the discussion.
"What do you think about it, Jacob?"
"I think creating a competitive atmosphere would be more productive. As most of the employees are demanding a pay raise, let them prove themselves whether they are worthy or not."
"And how you suggest we do that, Jacob?"
Mr. Huston inquired. Looking at everyone's expression, it seemed to pique their interest.
"We can issue a notice that depending on their performance each year, the top ten employees of each branch will be given a ten percent pay raise."
"The idea of setting up an inner competition isn't bad. But what will we do about others?"
One of the attendees asked.
"One of the reasons why they are demanding a pay raise is because of inflation every year. So considering the rise of the inflation rate is always around 3-4%, we can issue a 5% pay raise for the rest of them. It's more that what we are doing which is 3% raise."
"It does seem to be a good idea. But if everyone receives the same pay raise excluding the top performers, the most of them will just take it for granted without doing their best."
Grandpa joined in the discussion.
"Some of them will surely do such. But to counter that, we can issue another notice. If there is a decrease in their performance, they won't be eligible for their pay raise. Their performance have to be at least the same as the previous year. With this we don't have to worry about their decline in performance."
"What does everyone think of Jacob's proposal?"
Grandpa asked everyone as no one had any further questions. All of them gave their words of affirmation.
"What do you think, Fred? and what about you, Kelly?"
"It is indeed a fine proposal. As everyone gave their approvals, we don't have anything against it."
What dad tried to say was that he also gave his approval. But the way of his saying so was always twisted. Mom didn't say anything just nodded to my dad's words.
The meeting went well. My proposal to one of their major problems shocked all of them. The credits weren't all mine though. Me and my grandpa usually discuss about business topics. It was his way of training me. It was fun in it's own way. And that meeting was a practical experience for me.
As the meeting ended, one by one all of the attendees left.
"Don't you want to talk to your parents?"
Grandpa asked all of a sudden as he noticed that both parties were avoiding each other.
"It won't be necessary."
I tried to avoid grandpa's question. Grandpa also realized that. It wasn't surprising that mom and dad didn't come to talk to me after the meeting. After talking with grandpa, they left.
After that Grandpa and I got in the car and set out for my mansion. Grandpa wanted to have dinner with me that day. It seems grandpa was curious about why me and my parents were distancing ourselves.
As we reached the mansion, Rosaria was waiting for us at the gate to receive us, especially grandpa.
"Good Evening, grandpa Silas."
"Good evening, little girl. What have you prepared for this hungry old man?"
"Pasta with salmon and peas, your favorite."
"Well then, let's hurry. It would be unwise to keep such delicious food waiting."
Grandpa was always friendly with others. He treated everyone fairly. It was one of the things I admire about him.
At the dinner table we had our short chat which was as I expected the reason behind grandpa's visit.
"Jacob, did you have any arguments with your parents?"
"Nothing that I can recall. Why ask?"
"Recently it feels like both sides are avoiding each other."
"It's just that we don't talk much. Nothing serious."
"I hope I am worrying for nothing."
Grandpa continued eating dinner after that.
Obviously there was something going on between me and my parents that was keeping us apart. I wasn't confident enough to talk about that with grandpa. In a way, I was afraid of what his reaction might be after hearing everything.