The Big Decision

Herbert Forman sat on the terrace of his apartment looking out over the skyline of New York. He had some decisions to make which were troubling his mind and spending time on the terrace helped him relax as he watched the winking lights blazing their glory from many skyscrapers in his line of view. During the day he could look out over the waters on a weekend when not at the investment firm in the financial district or at work on his computer at home. He found the multiplicity of water traffic fascinating morphing to rapidly moving lights on the waterways at night. As he struggled with his decisions his mind went back over his life in England and circumstances leading to his eventual migration to the US.

From earliest recollections he remembered his father Cedric and mother Elizabeth Forman as teachers at the University of Manchester in the UK. His father taught mathematics at the university and his mother lectured in psychology. Herbert learned much later from relatives his entry into the world had been a difficult procedure which ruled out any further children, so while his parents were excellent in their care of this their only child, he’d felt lonely not having any siblings in the home. His relatives on Elizabeth’s side of the family were titled people from Scotland and he rarely interacted with his cousins there. His uncles and aunts were scattered around the world in important positions and Grandfather Forman was in a high government position in London too busy in his work to have been an important part of Herbert’s life as he grew up. Grandfather and Grandmother Forman had died in a motor accident when Herbert was in his teens.

So, academic life had been a large part of his life as he grew and his father who taught math delighted in playing math’s games with his son when not teaching or attending meetings. He did take his small family on weekend trips around the UK exposing his son to the beauties of nature and history of the nation. Herbert delighted in these math’s games with his father, and it was natural he’d gravitate to majoring in sciences as he progressed through his elementary to advanced education in Manchester.

He did so well in studies it was considered he should be quickly exposed to higher grades than normal which meant he didn’t progress along with his normal age group and was treated as a curiosity by those older than he in their classes. This gave him a feeling of isolation, and he found solace in concentrated studies sports and his happy relationship with his mother and father rejecting any approach to get to know him by his peers. He graduated with a masters in sciences at a young age and his professors encouraged him to work on a PhD which his parents joined his professors in encouraging him to do.

But word of his outstanding mathematical gifts filtered through to the leaders in academia in London and they competed with University of Manchester in seeking his interest in joining them in London instead and this opened to Herbert’s mind other possibilities for a career in life outside Manchester. He’d been dabbling with investments and had made a tidy sum for himself using gifted seed capital from his parents. Perhaps there was to be more satisfaction outside the academic world he’d grown up in and he began to look at other ways to pursue a career. He was drawn to the business world where he could see the possibility of high salaries and the use of his beloved mathematic skills. He applied for a job with a London Bank. They were looking for someone for their economic research department dealing with foreign investments. When he interviewed, he was quickly employed and noted as an outstanding acquisition.

He swiftly leaped into responsible positions because of his total commitment to the job working nights and weekends and enjoyed travel abroad which was part of the job.  His first trips were as an understudy to experienced administrators then sent by himself and later elevated to administration. He was on a quick rise to fame much to the jealous rage of seniors to him leapfrogged over in appointments to plumb positions in the bank. It was on one of his trips to New York he was put in touch with other leaders in the finance world who realizing his value made him an offer with salary and perks he couldn’t refuse. This apartment with its spectacular views was one of those perks.

Now he had to decide whether this was the end of his meteoric rise in the world of finance. His father had died a year into Herbert’s sojourn in London and that made him cautious about accepting the job in New York as he realized his mother would be heading for retirement within the next ten years and wondered how she’d be cared for if he were to be on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. He adored his parents and determined to make Elizabeth his top priority in thinking of accepting this new opportunity. But when he made known to Elizabeth the offer from New York she urged him to take it saying she had no intention of retiring soon and was quite happy with her interactions with faculty and the social set of Manchester even though she missed his father. She’d visit him in New York from time to time and knew he’d also take the time to visit her in Manchester, so she was happy for him to be getting these work experiences at such an early age.

But he’d received word the day of thinking through his dilemma Elizabeth had been diagnosed with cancer and this was at an advanced stage. She’d been given six months estimate before the cancer would end her life. His mother was more important to him than his job despite its attractions. Should he bring her to New York to care for her? His apartment would not be big enough for that and she’d be out of her familiar environment where all her friends would give her emotional support at a time like this. She stated she was not in pain and therefore it would take her mind off her condition to continue to work through the current teaching period before taking retirement. The only logical thing to do would be for him to give up his current job and seek employment somewhere in Manchester. He wouldn’t be working among international highflyers there so that would be a come down in position and remuneration, but it was worth it to spend those last few months with his mother. He sighed as he cast a final glance over the city before retiring to bed. Tomorrow he’d hand in his resignation and finalize his projects before leaving. He showered and dressed for bed then phoned his mother to tell her of his decision. Elizabeth plead with him not to take such a drastic action as she was able to handle her situation by herself with the help of her friends, but Herbert knew she was happy he was determined to come home. She’d cherish these last few months being in closer proximity to her son.

Herbert realized he didn’t need to get a job in Manchester as his prudent investments during banking years in London had made him moderately wealthy even before transferring to the US. But here in New York he’d been able to significantly increase that wealth and could continue to work his investments from home in England to keep him busy during each day while his mother fulfilled her obligations to University of Manchester in her final term teaching.

It was a big sacrifice for him to leave his New York job. He was under contractual employment and part of his remuneration package apart from free accommodation was stock options. He’d lose both of those in breaking his contract but fortunately the investment firm understood why that contract had to be broken and assured him they valued him highly and would be happy to employ him when his obligations at home in Manchester had been fulfilled. They’d have no problem recruiting among the best to replace him, but his abilities were such they’d put him on priority should he wish to return to the US.

So, Herbert wound up his work in New York, said farewell to those who’d befriended him there and packed his clothes to ship back to Manchester.

To be continued.

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