Chapter 8: The Association Meeting Part 2
The anteroom for the conference hall was much smaller, but the carpeted floor and lessened light from the small windows made for a much more comfy setting. Alicia had taken leave of Ayumi to converse with the other guests, and the rust-haired girl chatted with the Himeya representative, a stately-looking woman with brown-black hair.
"Hello," Ayumi greeted the woman, "I don't think I've caught your name."
"I'm Miya Okemi - it's good to meet you, Ayumi. I don't think I have seen you when you were in Himeya, but I've heard of you as that girl who refuses to row on anything other than the traghetto. It's good to see your passion for it fulfilled."
"Hehe, thanks," the girl responded sheepishly. "I have a long way to go, but I'm trying my best with the help of my employees."
"I'm sure they've been working hard. I heard you requested for a new batch of trainees."
Ayumi nodded. "I don't have the time or the facilities to teach people from scratch, so I have to rely on trainees that have expressed their interest to transfer. I know there isn't that much interest, since most trainees signed up for the glamor of being an Undine."
"Well," Miya pondered, "perhaps you need to spread the word. I'm sure Himeya, at least, does not mind. Perhaps some of our trainees would find more fulfilment or enjoyment with the traghetto, working with the townspeople. I'm not sure if Himeya will change that view, however, especially with the dedicated traghetto branch being planned.
"I also am sure there are townspeople who may consider a career. Have you been advertising?"
Ayumi shook her head.
"If you have the money to spend, try putting up posters. Green Dream is a very new company, and word of mouth may not be enough, even after all the fanfare a couple of weeks ago. You should also find time to visit us or the Orange Planet campus and talk to some trainees."
A knock on the door before it is opened by the meeting's secretary. "Thank you for waiting - deliberations have been made, and the meeting is about to resume."
The Himeya representative smiled at Ayumi. "You have a great thing going, Ayumi. With how much you've been working for your company, it can only get better from here!"
"After some deliberation, we have decided to allow all traghetto operations the choice of offering a discount to children and students up to and including the high school level, and to mandate free transportation for the elderly. We believe that giving such accommodations to the elderly of Neo-Venezia is a right - in the same vein, we will not consider any pricing changes for gondola tours as they are a privilege.
The head of the Association representatives continued. "With regards to baggage fees, we deny the petition. It is not a necessity to charge passengers further for baggage as we do not have a shortage of space in or number of our also will not authorize any additional charges other than the industry standard of three copper coins per person at this time."
The secretary took the cue and took over. "Now is the time to respond with objections or concerns, before we move on."
The room was silent for a while, and the secretary cleared her throat. "Very well. The next item in the agenda is a petition for Green Dream to receive three prospective transferees, which was made in communications before this meeting. The Association has decided to allow the transfer, and three trainees have been informed and are completing their transition from their parent companies. The details of the transferees will be sent to Ms. Jasmine later today."
The secretary looked at her papers and set a bunch of them aside. "It seems that all requests involving Green Dream and Ms. Ayumi have been addressed." The woman looked at the rust-haired girl. "If you or your employees have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us through telephone or mail. Thank you for your work, and for your suggestions at improving traghetto service for our townspeople."
"Now, the next item in the agenda is a performance review and general discussion of Orange Planet's volunteer traghetto service…"
The meeting whirled by - grievances and issues were resolved, suggestions taken into mind or put into action. From time to time, when Alicia is not talking or discussing with her fellow Association members, she would look at Ayumi and give her a very subtle smile, which the girl replied as subtly as she can.
"All items in the agenda have been addressed in sufficient length and detail," the secretary proclaimed. "This meeting is adjourned. From me and the entire Association, we thank you for your hard work and for the contributions each of you have made today - not only for the Association and the companies, but for the beautiful town we live in. Once again - thank you, and have a great day."
People rose from their seats and walked either to the anteroom or to the halls outside the room. Ayumi made it out of the room and breathed a deep sigh.
"Tired?" Alicia appeared beside the girl, smiling at her. "Come with me - let's have some tea."
The rust-haired girl gratefully followed the older blonde through the halls of the Association building, the clacking of their heels echoing throughout. Alicia opened a door, and Ayumi was welcomed into a small sunroom, complete with a large glass window and some tables and chairs. Ayumi sat, and Alicia took a large vacuum flask from a cabinet and two cups.
"Do you like hot barley tea?" The girl nodded and was handed a steaming mug of tea. The two sipped in silence, savoring the bright and the quiet in the sunroom, isolated from the rest of the building and all of the activities and goings-on.
"Not that many people go through this part of the building. There's a library, filled with records and accounts and volumes, just a couple of steps from this room. Of course, everything is digitized, but you can get a record that you needed and peruse it here in this sunroom if you liked.
The bespectacled woman brushed some dust off the table. "Even here, some people prefer convenience, so nobody goes in the library anymore."
"Do you come here often, then?"
"When I'm not too busy," Alicia giggled. "It's a nice retreat where you could just relax and take your mind off. I don't have too much time for that, so I savor every moment I have here."
The two women finished their tea, and Alicia spoke as she washed and put the cups and saucers away. "You did well today, Ayumi...you really did.
"Out of all the things we discussed in the meeting today, you stood out when you asked about the fees. No one ever thought of that, because very few people here are as passionate as you are about your work."
Alicia looked at Ayumi intensely. "Always remember and appreciate that, Ayumi, and don't let that passion slip away. I've only seen two persons who had as much passion and love for her work as you do - Akari, and Ms. Ametsuchi...Grandmother. You'll be just as wonderful as them if you keep doing your best."
The rust-haired girl beamed at her.
"I'll try my best, miss Alicia."
Author's note: Okay, okay - Ayumi has rust-colored hair. That's final! I'm gonna edit all the other chapters so it's more consistent.
I also took a small break from writing, and I'll transition to a more regular update schedule as the days go on.
Thanks for reading!