Tragedy Strikes

Stanley Gifford stood outside the front entrance of the new factory. It was a project they’d been working on for the past ten years as a family and the genius behind the project was his father Claude who’d over his lifetime weaned the company away from the much smaller operation his grandfather had operated under the title Gifford Engineering.

Giant companies had become a threat to this family operation which had expanded over the years on a large property holding which had originally been a mixed farming plot several miles from town during pioneer days when the family had migrated from Europe to this land of opportunity. Claude’s grandfather sensing a continuing rise of the industrial revolution had turned his engineering skills into a nice side business which grew as the town expanded rapidly to become a city. The city enclosed the family property now zoned industrial.

Claude Gifford with his keen sense of business foresaw the rise of the medical industry and began manufacturing small medical supplies moving over time to the more complicated gadgetry needed in the industry today.

The original Gifford engineering business had largely served the motor and farm industry, but Claude could see he’d not have the economies of scale necessary to compete in that area in future so turned to the emerging medical industry. Being a pioneer in this area of manufacture found the business grow so rapidly he realized he’d have to consider share offers in addition to huge bank loans. But Claude a self-taught engineer having learned from his talented father realized as they grew, they’d need someone trained in both engineering and business at the highest levels to keep up with developments in the trade.

Stanley being the eldest son to Claude was considered to be the one to head up the business when Claude was too old to care for the newly formed privately held company Gifford Medical Engineering. Claude sent him to UCLA to get his education and worked day and night with little rest until his children could return and take over some of the load.

Violet his child next in line was encouraged to study business and marketing seeing she had that aptitude and his youngest son Benjamin who seemed to be interested in all the gadgets now being produced for the medical profession he placed in the hospital industry with the help of a cousin in that industry to learn in a hospital setting while doing night school.

The business was highly leveraged with bank loans so in the meantime while he waited for his children to finish educational degrees Claude hired people highly qualified to manage transition from the old to the new factory and an MBA graduate to investigate other forms of finance and supervise office while Claude concentrated on the exploding marketing side and research. His children would work under them as understudies until capable of taking over.

Stanley recalled this family history while he stared as they put the finishing touches on new signage and neon lights. He now carried a heavy load along with his wife Benita after his father had passed away six months earlier.

He was grateful for Benita who he’d met while finishing his education at UCLA. She’d completed her MBA slightly before he finished his engineering degree and they’d been going out together for a year before her graduation. Her commitment to him was obvious and he eventually plucked up courage to ask Benita to marry him which she quickly accepted.

Benita’s Latino family the Lopez’ were into real estate development in California, so she’d been exposed to that trade since early childhood and planned that as her career before meeting Stanley. Her knowledge of how to negotiate with government agencies from her property development exposures had proved invaluable in getting all the necessary permits lined up as the new factory project progressed.

Stanley turned to his wife standing by his side shouting instructions to workmen up on scaffolding with much waving of arms.

“Nita, I don’t think they can hear you.”

He’d given her that nickname when they were courting.

“What time were you going to the planning office to finalize inspections so we can begin moving production to the new expanded lines in each department?”

Benita laughed. “You know it is our Latino way to supervise even if they can’t hear me from up there. They seem to be doing a good job so perhaps I should go to government office and do some arm twisting down there to get my friends motivated to send someone to get the sign off procedures done and we can move to the next phase. Our project man is becoming agitated at the delay. but it seems they are ignoring him, and I know how to motivate them in government.”

She planted a kiss on Stanley’s cheeks and moved rapidly to her Lexus parked in the top administration parking bay waving as she went.

Stanley watched as she sped out of the front entrance waving at the guard who came out of his guardhouse to observe who was in the car. This head guard was thorough vetting trade vehicles or visitors going in and out inspecting their documents carefully on entry and exit and quick to sack any guard who didn’t follow his strict code of practice. He was well rewarded for his efforts.

An hour later Stanley in his office at the old factory reached for his cell phone as it chimed and vibrated on the table. It was Benita and he listened to the voice message she was probably dictating from her car as she drove back to the factory.

“I managed to motivate the immobile bureaucracy Stan and they are sending a team out this afternoon to give the final inspection and certificate of completion and approval. You can go and tell the project team to get ready to receive them.”

Stanley phoned the head of project management delivering this news then went to Benita’s office to talk with Gilma Silva her Brazilian personal assistant to share the good news. Gilma had been Benita’s close friend during their UCLA years, so Stanley looked on her as one of the family as she was constantly in their home. He smiled as he remembered the ongoing good-natured arguments between Gilma and Benita over whether the Spanish language was superior to the Portuguese language before they called a truce and headed out together arm in arm with children Timothy aged eight and Beverley aged four for a trip to the mall. The children looked on Gilma as a second mother because of the closeness between the two women and she showered love and presents on them.

As Stanley entered the office Gilma paused the telephone conversation she was having and spoke.

“Inspection team come this afternoon, Stan; Benita texted me.”

Stanley nodded.

“She sent me a voice mail and I was just calling in to let you know.”

He felt a bit resentful Gilma already knew but brushed it aside realizing she was Benita’s personal assistant. He indicated Gilma should resume her telephone conversation and headed for his office.

Two hours later he glanced at the digital clock on his desk and reacted in surprise reaching for his cell phone and punching in Benita’s number. There was no answer, so he texted.

“Benita where are you? We need to be prepared for this inspection team and you seem to know government language, so we need you here. I’m heading for the new factory site to do a quick final inspection before they come so, please give me a call.”

He had only just disconnected when his cell phone chimed, and he looked at the caller number. Good it was Benita at last. But it was a man’s voice at the other end.

“Am I speaking to Mr. Stanley Gifford?”

“Yes, you are using my wife’s phone. Who are you?”

“I’m highway patrol officer Oliver and I’m afraid I have bad news for you sir. Your wife is in an ambulance headed for emergency at the county hospital in town and we are cleaning up after a fifteen-car accident. A semi-trailer crashed through the retaining walls on an overpass and fell onto the highway below causing fast moving cars to crash into the wreckage. It’s a mess sir and it’s just by chance I was retrieving personal items from this car before its towed to a holding lot where police do their inspections in the event of an accident. You may want to contact the hospital sir and will need to come to police headquarters to identify your wife’s personal effects we’ve removed from the car.”

The phone disconnected and Stanley sat in his chair shaking trying to collect his thoughts. He reached out and phoned his mother who was probably relaxing at the country club the family had membership in. There was a brief pause and a voice at the other end greeted him happily.

“I didn’t expect to hear from you during business hours son. How can I help you?”

“Mom, I’m in shock as Benita has been in a terrible accident and I’ve just learned she’s in hospital so I’m leaving the office to see what her condition is. I need you to pick up the children from school and day care today and probably for a while. Can you do that and stay with them at home while I’m looking into Benita’s needs. We have the inspection team coming in from authorities soon to give final clearance so we can move to the new factory, so I must do some quick delegation before leaving for the hospital.”

“I’m so sorry son, you see to Benita’s needs while I look after the children until further notice.”

Stanley heard her sobbing on the phone as they disconnected the line. She loved Benita.

He headed to Benita’s office to tell Gilma the news and ask her to step in as Benita’s temporary replacement with the authority of Benita’s vice-presidential position until Benita would be recovered and back to take over again.

Gilma smiled as he entered the room but quickly noted the shock and distress on his face and her expression turned to anxiety.

“What happened? Problems with the inspection team appointment?”

“Worse than that Gilma. Benita is in hospital after a terrible multiple car accident.”

Gilma leaped to her feet.

“My sister needs me; I’m going to the hospital.”

Stanley put up his hands and stood in the doorway to block her intended rapid exit.

“Gilma, you need to take over Benita’s work immediately, that is the best service you can render to Benita and that means you need to represent me when the inspection comes to the new factory for clearance while I go and see to Benita’s needs. I need you to calmly consider this need and get this done. I’m contacting the head of the project task force before I leave to inform them you will be the administrator in charge when they arrive.”

Gilma wept then wiped her eyes and stood up straight.

“I will do this for my sister Stan as I know how hard she has worked to get that inspection team here so the opportunity should not be missed. Please phone me from the hospital when you find where her room is so I can visit with her this evening. She needs me by her side.”

Stanley was comforted to know he could leave things in her capable hands though knew she’d have to use the same skills Benita had in dealing with the transition team mostly consisting of men who’d feel affronted by the fact someone appearing to them to be on a lower level was suddenly elevated above them in negotiations to take place.

To be continued

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