Howard had spoken. He hated telling Willie that he was fired, but decisions had to be made. Were promises made across this table? Probably not…even if they were, those were his father's promises--dusty records and bills of a bygone day. There is an efficiency and a decency and a value to moving out unproductive employees and bringing in new ones. It refreshes the system, and frees up men like Willie for tasks that better suit them...his boys, his wife…Howard envied that time. For now, Howard had the business to run, his toys to play with, and promises to keep.