{"id":165,"date":"2013-07-21T12:02:24","date_gmt":"2013-07-21T12:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=165"},"modified":"2013-07-21T12:02:24","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T12:02:24","slug":"chapter-16","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 16<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

If you want to be remembered, you have to get your name out there.\u00a0 Everyone that people remember made history.\u00a0 They put their name in books, on buildings, anywhere they could find to scrawl their signature.<\/i><\/p>\n

I thought that if I had my own building, I could be remembered in the same way.<\/i><\/p>\n

A picture says a million words\u2026 but a sentence only says a few.\u00a0 No one wants to read anything that has a million words\u2026 but they will always remember a few.<\/i><\/p>\n

At least I knew I could remember a few.\u00a0 A few words aren\u2019t very many to remember at all.<\/i><\/p>\n

Maybe they were more than I thought.\u00a0 And yet, maybe they weren\u2019t.<\/i><\/p>\n

There was one thing I had inscribed with my signature that I wish I hadn\u2019t.\u00a0 Knowing that my name was on that makes me regret having a name at all.<\/i><\/p>\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s best not to be remembered.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday, April 13, 2012<\/b>
\n5:00 p.m.<\/b><\/p>\n

Howard sat in the lobby of the main business administration building.\u00a0 He examined his wallet lightly as he held his phone to his ear.\u00a0 \u201cAnd the papers are in order?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been taken over this afternoon,\u201d the voice on the other end responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t have to go over there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when will they come back to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be sometime within the week, at the latest\u2026\u00a0 Though, I know that you\u2019re anxious to get them back sooner than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard began tapping his foot with a slight nervousness.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I want them back.\u00a0 They are extremely important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing my best, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mr. Jones.\u201d\u00a0 Howard looked up from his call to see Dean Keon exiting the elevator.\u00a0 \u201cI look forward to hearing from you about their progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard closed his phone as he stood to meet the dean.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dorough, I\u2019m glad to see you again.\u00a0 Shall we head over to the building?\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard smoothed his tie.\u00a0 \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men exited the building to find another cart waiting for them directly outside the entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dorough, I have been meaning to ask you\u2026 Do you have any ominous feelings about today\u2019s dedication?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would I?\u201d Howard huffed.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s as good a day as any other for a building dedication.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just meant that it\u2019s Friday the thirteenth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFriday the thirteenth is an old wives\u2019 tale, perpetuated by moviemakers and craven children,\u201d Howard retorted.\u00a0 \u201cI do not believe a man of your caliber would be the type to engage in it as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt never hurts to be at least a little wary during the war\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The dean gave a half-hearted laugh.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure you heard the news about the planes this morning and the diseases up north.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn old wives\u2019 tale,\u201d Howard huffed again.<\/p>\n

The cart reached the building with ease.\u00a0 He exited it with ease and looked up at the inscription on the building one more time.\u00a0 Howard D. Dorough Business Administration.<\/i>\u00a0 Yes, it was to be perfectly preserved in writing.\u00a0 A smile lit up his face.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the dean surveyed the scene around the building.\u00a0 More students than he had expected were standing outside the building, waiting for its unveiling.\u00a0 The dean smiled until he saw a familiar student standing amongst the crowd.<\/p>\n

Howard gave an uncomfortable glance as he watched the dean walk toward a student with a smile.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t imagine any unaccomplished person who actually deserved just such a smile.<\/p>\n

Howard inconspicuously walked toward the dean, to listen in on the conversation.\u00a0 He noticed that the male student the dean seemed to walk towards was being comforted by a female of about the same age.\u00a0 Some indecipherable writing covered both their shirts.<\/p>\n

Howard leaned closer toward the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Montgomery,\u201d the Dean smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood evening, sir.\u201d\u00a0 The young man gave him a weak smile.<\/p>\n

The dean examined his own suit before giving a slight frown toward the young man\u2019s attire.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, sir.\u00a0 I headed here straight from class and hadn\u2019t thought to put a suit on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The frown remained on the dean\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cBut that particular shirt?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young man lowered his head.\u00a0 \u201cSorry again, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard examined the shirt.\u00a0 The inscription across the chest read, Mu\u00e9strenos sus tetas<\/i>.\u00a0 Howard cleared his throat and mimicked the dean\u2019s obvious distaste with a frown.<\/p>\n

The dean turned around.\u00a0 \u201cAh, Mr. Dorough, I would love you to meet the student assistant in my office, Brad Montgomery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPleased to meet you, sir.\u201d\u00a0 He put his hand to his head as he said it.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you always walk around like that?\u201d Howard raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a little hot, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTry wearing a full suit while you say that.\u201d\u00a0 Howard gave a stifled laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad\u2026 do you want me to take you home?\u201d the young woman asked with concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026 let\u2019s just go over there.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head with a warm smile, his voice drawling with a little southern Mississippian inflection.<\/p>\n

The pair walked away slowly.<\/p>\n

Howard studied the back of the young man\u2019s shirt.\u00a0 \u201cKappa Sigma at Sands Key, Fall Formal 2011.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clever, despite its vulgarity.\u201d\u00a0 The dean shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you let your office assistant dress that way?\u201d<\/p>\n

The dean let out a low laugh.\u00a0 \u201cYou know what they say\u2026\u00a0 Let them have their fun now, so they can be cut and dried business men in their later years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard cleared his throat again.\u00a0 \u201cOr they could learn early that the world isn\u2019t all fun and games.\u00a0 It\u2019s mostly work.\u201d\u00a0 Howard shook his head and headed back toward the building.<\/p>\n

The dedication went off without a hitch.\u00a0 Howard gave a riveting speech about the importance of setting high standards for one\u2019s self and achieving one\u2019s goals in the lucrative world of business.\u00a0 It truly was a moving speech\u2014the press even attended, in order to document that moment.<\/p>\n

Howard gladly posed for photographs because publicity made business.\u00a0 And business created earnings.<\/p>\n

The building was opened for tours afterward.\u00a0 The entire proceedings had an almost theatre-like feel to them.\u00a0 Howard smiled as he watched people enter and exit the building.\u00a0 His legacy was already making him famous.<\/p>\n

However, a short frown did appear on Howard\u2019s lips as the dean\u2019s student assistant exited the building with the female who had accompanied him earlier.\u00a0 His arm was slumped over her shoulder as though he were too weak to walk by himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad\u2026 let\u2019s get you home\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He paused her for a moment and motioned toward Howard.\u00a0 He stepped toward them slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great building, sir.\u00a0 Thank you for the donation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no trouble at all,\u201d Howard chuckled, almost out of character.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, you don\u2019t seem to be doing too well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just need to eat something\u2026\u201d he trailed off.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far is home for you?\u201d\u00a0 Howard raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust over in Greek Park,\u201d his female companion answered.<\/p>\n

Howard nodded as he watched the two students start the trek back toward their houses.\u00a0 His thoughts turned to his own son, Bartholomew, as he continued staring after the two university students.\u00a0 They had planned on going south this weekend, but business was business\u2026 even the few times Howard wished it wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 Now was one of those times.<\/p>\n

He let out a small sigh, and it was at that moment that he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to face Dean Keon.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dorough, it\u2019s almost time for the dinner to start.\u00a0 I\u2019ve just been called into a meeting, so I can\u2019t go there with you, but the Assistant Dean, Dr. Ganesh, will head over there with you.\u201d\u00a0 He motioned toward the African American man behind him.<\/p>\n

Howard gave him a nod and went with the assistant dean.\u00a0 He turned back toward Dean Keon with a slight frown on his face.<\/p>\n

Being called into a meeting at six-thirty on a Friday evening was highly unusual, if not slightly alarming.\u00a0 The dean had already made his plans for the evening, and they had all revolved around Howard\u2019s building dedication.<\/p>\n

Any meeting that would draw the dean away from that had to be of the utmost importance.<\/p>\n

Howard\u2019s brown crinkled as he pursed his lips slightly.<\/p>\n

His concern, however, was soon abated by the dinner.\u00a0 He thoroughly enjoyed the company of Dr. Ganesh and the two directors of the school of business, Mr. Jacques and Ms. Roberts.<\/p>\n

The food was satisfying, if not exquisite.\u00a0 The drinks were delectable.\u00a0 The rest of the attendees were talkative and distinguished.<\/p>\n

It was a good crowd.<\/p>\n

The only downside was that a few people were noticeably ill, but Howard assumed it was from too much liquor.<\/p>\n

As the evening wore on, Howard noticed more and more people were beginning to confine themselves to their chairs, and the people who tried to leave were turned from the door.<\/p>\n

As a wave of concern swept over Howard\u2019s face, Dean Keon entered the room.<\/p>\n

He was as composed as he could be, despite the feeling of panic that emanated from him.\u00a0 He made his way toward the head table and pulled the microphone toward him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour attention, ladies and gentlemen.\u201d\u00a0 He cleared his throat, a sure sign of his ever-increasing panic.\u00a0 \u201cI understand that many of you are attempting to leave this event; however, we have been forced to quarantine the school.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few gasps rose from the crowd, followed by a low murmur.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur campus health center is completely full with students complaining of flu-like symptoms\u2026 and a few others\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard\u2019s thoughts flashed back to the young man in the unseemly shirt.\u00a0 He felt ill just at the thought of having come into contact with someone who was already carrying the disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not want this to spread to the rest of the Orlando area.\u201d\u00a0 The dean\u2019s voice was shaking.\u00a0 \u201cSo we must ask that you do not leave this event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another murmur rose from the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cI repeat, no one is to leave this event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard sank into a chair.\u00a0 He put his hands to his head, swearing that this was not how he\u2019d intended to be remembered at all.\u00a0 Everything was supposed to have gone off smoothly, but not like this.<\/p>\n

And his son\u2026<\/p>\n

He pulled out his phone hastily and scrolled through his contacts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello?\u201d a woman\u2019s low voice answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBree\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHowie, where are you?\u00a0 Barty is getting impatient!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell Bartholomew that I\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 There\u2019s a disease going around the university, so they\u2019ve had it quarantined.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the university?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis wouldn\u2019t have happened if you\u2019d stayed with your original plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBusiness is business.\u201d\u00a0 He would never relent that to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cBusiness is always business with you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you receive the papers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should it matter if I did?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you receive the papers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I received them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill they be signed when I come pick them up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see if I can fit in it my schedule\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBree\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, fine.\u201d\u00a0 She paused momentarily.\u00a0 \u201cHowie\u2026 about that disease\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see you when I get there.\u201d\u00a0 Howard slid his phone down with a snap.<\/p>\n

Those papers were his greatest worry.<\/p>\n

What Howard did not worry about, of course, was that his building dedication, the events surrounding it, and even his important documents ought to be the least of his worries.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

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Chapter 16 If you want to be remembered, you have to get your name out there.\u00a0 Everyone that people remember made history.\u00a0 They put their name in books, on buildings, anywhere they could find to scrawl their signature. I thought … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":16,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165\/revisions\/166"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}