You can read the first part of this story by clicking here. It is generally considered good practice to read the first half of the story before going to the ending. The ending of the story is below.
Part II of the Story In Which An Employer and an Employee Examine Loyalties
-Why sir, Andrew said, I wouldn’t dream of doing that to my boss. Every layer of fat on his body has rippled with nothing but goodness towards me. If it’s shares you want, take the ten percent that he had was kind enough to give me earlier this year.
Saying so, Andrew promptly signed off his share of the company to the Chief Investor. He then called his wife and son and asked them to do the same.
Andrew's daughter would forego shopping at this store
His wife who was also his childhood sweetheart signed on the share transfer document without a question.
His son was disappointed. After all, his father was asking for the money that would guarantee his higher education in the long term. However he saw greater value in remaining in his father’s good books, so as to support his drinking habit in the short term.
Andrew’s daughter was a minor and had no say in the matter. She sighed silently and resigned herself to a life where with a reduced inflow of money, she would shop at Old Navy.
-You have your ten percent now, Andrew told the Chief Investor once all the documents had been signed. The Chief Investor thought the young man to be very foolish and left without saying a word.
People reveal their true nature when not in the presence of their employer.
The CEO observed these developments from outside the room. He felt blessed at having got a chance to observe the real Andrew. A man is but only an employee in the presence of his master. He reveals his true nature only when removed from the presence of his employer. Andrew’s nobility moved the CEO greatly. Tears dropped from his eyes and were devoured by the greedy jowls on his cheeks.
-Never in a fine book or even a bad soap opera have I seen such a fine employee, he said. Andy, your good deed will not go unrewarded. I have decided to give you half my personal share of the company. Let’s run this thing together.
-Thank you sir. And it’s Andrew (for he was Andy only to his childhood sweetheart, who was now his wife).
I paused as vampires do when having reached the end of a tale.
-Tell me O’ King, I said. Of the CEO, Andrew, his wife and son, all of whom gave up their options, who was the most foolish?
-Foul Devil! said the King. Immoral blood sucker! What you see as foolish are in reality deeds of the greatest nobility.
-Whatever, I said paraphrasing the most useful word I had learned in America.
-Andrew was good to his employer because he was generous to him. Andrew’s wife, who was also his childhood sweetheart, donated her shares out of love for Andrew. His children, for one reason or the other were dependent on him, and had no choice but to fall in line with his wishes.
But the CEO had no such compulsion. He donated a portion of his personal shares out of the goodness of his heart. It is he who is the most noble.
-Well spoken O’ King, I said. You are as wise as I am free.
I laughed from the lower regions of my host body and flew back to my tree. Once there, I noted with pleasure that the owl had flown away for it’s nightly pickings. I had the branch all to myself. I looked up at the stars twinkled in the sky.
It was an ideal night for ruminations.
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