Chapter 7
While Linka was in her meeting with Greg this was what was happening with Wheeler
Wheeler / Kwami
"Wheeler … Wheeler" Kwame said trying to warn Wheeler
"Mmmmm…..what?" He is driving a police car and absent-minded
"What's wrong with you man? I told you to stop, there is a kid crying at the gate of the garden."
Wheeler stopped the car and the two police officers got out of it and calmly approached the terrified child, he appeared to be three or four years old.
"Hello baby. My name is Wheeler and this is my friend Kwami. We are police officers and we want to help you. Where are your parents?" He kneels in front of the child.
"Maaamaaa…mammmaaaa!" He rubs his eyes and tears on his cheek
"So your mom was here, don't you know where she went?" He is getting closer to the child
"Were you here with her and left you to play and went? Or did you come from your home alone?" Kwame trying to calm the baby but the child is still terrified and crying so much
Through the few words the child said, they understood that his mother was with him and he lost her.
Wheeler carried the child and led him into the garden in search of the mother, they asked everyone there, they knew from the cleaner that she was with him some time ago, so they took from him the mother's a description, they called another patrol to look for her.
Wheeler was trying to calm the child, playing and joking with him, the child responded to that and stopped crying, then Wheeler bought him a cone of ice cream. They were waiting in the garden, hoping the mother will return the mother to her child, while the rest of the patrols went to look for her outside the garden.
"You're good with kids, man," said kwami
"I can't believe there are irresponsible parents like this man, how do they leave their children and disappear" He feeds the child ice cream
"Don't prejudice, Wheeler, the mother may have been kidnapped or fainted somewhere"
The child's topic helps to distraction Wheeler from thinking about the meeting between Linka and Greg, but when he remembers it again, he's angry and frustrated again.
After about two and a half hours, the child's mother came back looking for him, so Wheeler and Kwami searched her car and found some contraband in her possession, so they arrested her for investigation and took the child along.
Greg
When we entered the factory I went first to the office of the factory manager, I didn't need to go, I was with him yesterday, but I wanted Linka to notice the power and strength I had. (I have a plan to implement). He gave us a plastic uniform like the one that astronauts wear.
"The worker's clothes have changed since my working days in the factory," She grumbled while wearing the outfit.
"Of course, sweetheart, this factory is more developed. Health and safety specifications are more complex and stringent. It cost me millions to build it, and millions more have been spent on equipment that increases the quality of the products" I said this when the lab door opened for us.
I was looking at the admiration and amazement in her eyes as she looked at that huge equipment
"In the past, everything needed the presence of a human being, and now there are hardly some workers"
"The use of modern equipment imposed on us that, but on the other hand, I like to employ qualified young people, I mean those who really need the job. I love helping the poor. I hire and train them. Make them have experience that qualifies them even to work for competitors" (I was lying; of course, I do not care about the employees or the poor people)
"Wow Greg that's so nice of you. I really appreciate what you are doing; hope all the managers follow your lead"
"Thank you sweetheart, I'll take you to the pastry department. Come with me" I said that as I gently opened one of the doors for her.
"Pastry section!. I thought you specialized in French potatoes only" She said with amazement
"Oh that was so long ago. Since I took over the management, I have introduced new products to our factories. Like frozen pies of all kinds with different fillings. frozen vegetables of all kinds of different sizes, frozen fruit pieces, frozen desserts ready to bake, sauces of all kinds, and inside each production line there are many products, ….in short, everything that helps the modern housewife to be lazy" I said my last joke while looking at her with a smile
"Da, that's right "she said laughing
She watched the pies production process with excitement as the little doughs rolling from machine to another machine. Until we get to the packaging process.
"By the way, Since I know you're an environmentalist, I would like to tell you that all our final packaging methods are made of biodegradable materials and do not pollute the environment"
"That's really great! I didn't know you cared about this stuff, At least not as I remember you"
"Of course, I'm environmentally friendly as well, You convinced me, do you remember? (I'm lying again, I don't know what the hell I really packaging materials are made from, I only care that they are cheap to cut costs, She didn't convince me in the past, I pretended to be so I can get her to like me )
She watched how the workers stood up for me and greeted me. I was explaining to her that I take care of them and give them annual increases (and all of this kind of crap).
"What about the percentage of pollution in the factory, the most factories that pollute the earth, water and the atmosphere?" She said that as if she was challenging me, as if she knew that she would not like my answer.
"Well, I have a whole team to study this stuff, they are trying to find different ways to reduce the carbon footprint and rely on multiple sources of energy such as thermal and solar energy, it is a long topic, it costs me a lot, but during the past two years, I managed to obtain the international ISO certificate."
This is another lie. I don't do any of these things, and I don't have a team to study this shit.
"I'm really proud of you, Greg "
"Finally, do you remember how we used to fight over these things when you were training in the factory"? you kept insisting and nagging until you convinced me of your point of view. And guess what? you was right sweetheart!"
"What about the use of animal materials in your products, in packaging? Do you expose the poor animals to experiments as well?"
"Rest assured, sweetheart, we never use animal materials in our products. In fact, I'm a huge supporter of animal rights. I could never do that."
I said that as I remember the pets I tortured and killed when I was young, that of course I don't care for those creatures, not in the past nor now.
At the end of the tour, we went to take off our uniforms and she thanked me for my time, she seemed happy with what she saw and heard from me. I gave her some samples of some products that I felt she might like, and she told me it wasn't necessary but I insisted
"I really liked your factory. It's like my little dream land." She said that while putting on her seat belt
"Well, thanks, but doing all of that wasn't easy. It's... oh I can't tell you about the suffering, the long trips, the meetings, the constant struggle. It's a long story actually "as I'm putting my seat belt also.
"I'd like to hear about your success story, maybe someday" She is looking at the street through the window
I pause for few seconds the another idea just come to me
To be continue…..