The Sense Of Courage. Martyn Fogg

heart and his prompt urging him to go away.

      “I don’t think so, and I would like to remind you that we live in a free country, or am I mistaken? Anyway I’m going, keep her for yourself” he had added, going away with the same walk.

      From that moment on, deeply annoyed by his attitude, Marco had started to hate him and hope that the opportunities to encounter him would be very limited.

      Anyway, this hope was duly dashed, in reality.

      In fact, Marco was frequently forced to have dealings with him for work reasons.

      Notwithstanding it sometimes happens that by getting to know certain people better, an instinctive judgement proves to be disproved, in that case the saying “the first impression is the one that counts” was prophetic and their relationship continued in a spirit of reciprocal antipathy.

      Slightly reassured by these thoughts, Marco was overcome by tiredness and fell into a deep sleep.

      Some hours later the cheerful shouting of a large crowd of people interrupted his brief rest.

      Marco, with his vision still bleary from sleep, rubbed his eyes to make out the figures that surrounded him more clearly and noticed lots of families and youngsters intent on buying their final gifts Christmas, into which he hurried to participate, with great joy.

      The young manager stopped a long time watching the babies running carefree alongside their mothers, who were attentive to not lose sight of them in the crowd of people walking along, looking in the shop windows.

      Anyway, the atmosphere of the imminent festivities, which you breathed in the air and perceived clearly in the relaxed faces of everyone, contrasted with the state of mind of Marco, who thought of how different that 25th December would be from all the others.

      In fact, he would not be taking part in the traditional lunch with his family at his mother’s house, but would spend that day with people he did not yet know, and that he might end up not liking very much.

      When he woke up from these reflections, Marco got up from the bench, stretching himself, and went to the check-in desk, where the young and smiling woman in charge gave him his boarding card.

      Then he found another bench and sat down next to an old lady.

      Chapter III

      Pedro Gonzalez

      “Good morning”, the man greeted him cheerfully, with a slight Spanish accent.

      “Good morning to you”, replied Marco to the unknown person.

      He was a man of around seventy years old, as suggested by his short white hair, which gave him an aura of wisdom.

      Although he was quite aged, the old gentleman gave an impression of exceptional vigour, both mental and physical, as shown by the vivaciousness which lit his face, and his slim figure, determined by be taller than normal and his body being slim, but with no semblance of fragility or weakness.

      The fact that his exterior appearance was cared for in a fanatical manner, just like his elegant clothes, worthy of the most prominent of businessmen, caused Marco to believe with good reason that he had in the past held an important managerial role, like the one he was getting ready to take up in the United States.

      “Are you also on your way to my beloved Spain?” he asked in a friendly manner.

      “No, I’ve booked a flight to New York, I’m moving there for work.”

      “I suppose it must be an important job opportunity to cause you to make a move of that kind” he observed in practically perfect Italian.

      “Yes, exactly. A few months ago, I received an important offer from JW Corporation, which I promptly accepted, on the condition that I could finish the working year here, without therefore prejudicing the plans of the company I was working for.

      As you can imagine, I met some resistance from my loved ones and my employer, but I decided to stick to my decision, determined to take an opportunity like the one that had presented itself to me.”

      “What job have you been offered?”

      “Managing Director, the same as I have been doing at the Brescia firm that I helped make successful.”

      “It reminds me a lot of my own story.”

      “Are you in business?”

      “Yes, I also worked as a manager.”

      “Can I ask you for some advice about managing important firms? Doubtless from the heights of your working experience you can give me some useful advice.”

      “Considering your achievements, which from your account seem to me to be grandiose, I don’t think you need any advice”, the man cut short with a gracious smile. “Anyway, if you like, I can share with you my own life experience.”

      “I would be honoured”, replied Marco with unusual respect, inspired by the strong personality of his interlocutor.

      “Also I, Pedro Gonzalez, managed a small firm in the country of my birth, with appreciable results”, he began modestly. “Everything seemed to be going well, anyway my ambition had often caused me to desire a higher level role, notwithstanding the fact that the humility which characterises me did not excessively fuel these dreams of glory.

      Anyway, one warm Spring afternoon, I received a fax from a leading firm in the textile industry in Italy, which offered me the job of Managing Director.

      Suddenly, what I had long been secretly aspiring to had materialised and, after discussing at length with my family over what to do, I decided to leave, as I had already decided right from first reading of the communication I had received.