"Gentlemen, this is my protégé, Joshua. When you stand to give your report, introduce yourselves and what you do before giving me your report. I don't expect Joshua to remember all your names the first time we meet, but at least he'll know you work with me. As he learns your names and your expertise, he'll get to know you as I know you. Go ahead. Start at the head of the table, Janice."

"Janice Radcliff, recruiting, human relations, and public relations. We're still working on replacing Barry. He has moved on to another service company. I believe Acme. His kind of professionalism is not easy to replace, Marty, but I'm sure you knew it would be a problem. Otherwise we are at full staff. We've managed to cover Barry's responsibilities without making too big a mess. I'm interviewing but haven't found anyone as qualified as we'd like to have."

"Can someone covering his duties move into the job, Janice?"

"I have three people doing Barry's job. No one is going to qualify to take on all his responsibilities."

"How is it we lost him. I don't recall hearing why he left us. He'd been quite a presence in charge of productivity. Everyone liked him and he got the job done."

"Barry's the kind of guy that got everything done so smoothly, you didn't really notice him. He simply had a better offer. He seemed to have already made up his mind when he told me he intended to leave."

"That is sad. We could have talked, but he's gone and I wouldn't want to bargain with a man who didn't think enough of us to bargain before he left us. Keep me posted. You'll know the guy we want when you see him. We won't act like we're desperate yet, but I'm sorry we lost Barry. I did depend on him," Marty said.

"I'm Randall Proctor. Manager of our investment wing. We're currently realizing a yearly average of eleven point eight percent return on our investments. We are looking at a slight downturn this quarter. I've pulled back our 25% of liquid assets. We'll look for something that appears to be gaining momentum to reinvest those assets, but I'm in no hurry as the market is slow at this time of year."

One man sat down and another stood. The table was glass and oblong. There were a dozen chairs, and each man stood as the man before him sat down. Seven of the chairs were filled, counting the chairs Marty and I occupied. We were there for a little more than an hour, and then we walked out into the sweet warm Honolulu day.

I was in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"What's for lunch," Marty asked me.

"You pick. You know what's good. I trust your judgement."

"You know anything you want, you need only say so, Joshua?"

"You've never steered me wrong yet, Marty. I didn't do much eating out, and you know what's good. I like most food. At least I think I do."

We ate at a Japanese restaurant. The shrimp were huge, and the ginger ale tasted watered down. The salad was different in a good way. There were more Japanese people in the restaurant than I'd ever seen in one place before. Eagle Point didn't have any Japanese there, but they were polite and friendly in Honolulu.

"Japanese had a big presence in Hawaii before WWII. Chinese too. That was before Hawaii was a state. I like a variety of food. Each culture has its own way of preparing dishes. Each is quite nice in their own way. Asians tend to lean toward vegetables and fish dishes," Marty told me.

We had a car that dropped us off when we went in somewhere, and it was waiting when we came out. There were a lot of people on the street in Honolulu. We drove for a while before the car turned into a horseshoe driveway. It pulled up in front of Hall House.

"Yours?" I asked Marty.

"Long story. I didn't want my name on it, but they talked me into it if I expected to get the kind of donations it would take to run it."

"What is it?" I asked.

"You'll see. Andre, two hours."

We got out and three people were coming out of the front door as the car drove away. I wasn't sure I didn't want to jump back in and go with Andre. People rushing at me intimidated me. I had no idea who they were or what this place was.

"Martin!" a few people said at the same instant.

"Marty!"

"Martin, so good to see you."

"This is my protégé, Joshua. Since there are so many people you'll meet today, I won't introduce them. You'll learn the identity those who are most helpful to me. Let's go in. I want to have time to see all the kids while I'm here."

I'd like to say we went in alone, but we had company that went with us. Martin talked to different ones as he got his questions answered. "Where are the children. Let's go see my kids," Marty said,

We went into an auditorium size room at the back of the building. The kids sat at tables and were eating. I imagine there were two or three dozen, and Marty and me were surrounded by kids as soon as they saw him. He told me they never knew when he was coming, but it was obvious the children were happy to see him.

"Okay, children. Finish your lunch and you'll have time to visit after you eat," a very official looking woman said.

The kids were young. I'd say the were all under ten. They were nicely dressed and healthy looking. They were all smiles and everyone was laughing and talking. Thirty some kids could raise a racket.

We were given milk and plates of cookies sat on the table at the front of the room. We sat down with a half dozen adults along with the people who met us at the front door.

As the kids were finishing up, Marty took the opportunity to speak.

"I'm hearing good things about you. I've been shown some exceptionally nice things that some of you are responsible for. I want to know who made this," Marty said, holding up a rather outrageous looking car. "Who made this. Come up here."

"Steven, I should have guessed. You made this?"

"Yes," a boy of nine or ten said.

"How did you decide to make it?" Marty quizzed.

"I like cars," Steven said.

"How did you decide on this car. It's quite imaginative."

"It's from the pieces I had."

"Did you imagine a particular car when you designed yours?"

"Batman's car. I thought about that. I like Batman."

"This is quite nice. Can you design me more cars?"

"Yes, I can."

"Do that for me. I don't suppose you'd let me have this one. I have a place on my mantel where this would fit perfectly."

"You can have it if you want," Steven said. "I'll make another."

"I can't wait to see what else you'll come up with, Steven. You're a wonderful car designer. I won't keep you any longer. You can go sit."

I wasn't sure what I was seeing. No one ever made me feel as good as Marty just made Steven feel about his ability to create something. I don't guess I created much at that age.

"Here. Who drew this? I want to hang this in my apartment. The colors are so vivid, who did this?" Marty asked, looking over his audience.

A small blond haired boy raised his hand.

"Can you come up, Adam?" Marty asked.

The boy looked young. He stood and hesitated before coming up on the stage where we sat.

"Adam, this is my friend, Joshua. He likes art too. How did you decide on this drawing?"

"I drew my friend, Brad."

"Oh, Brad, come up here. We'll see if this is you," Marty said.

A boy with dark hair stood and came up beside Adam. He was bigger and a bit older.

"Is this you, Brad?" Marty asked.

"Yes, Sir. Adam drew it."

"Adam, why did you draw Brad. This looks a lot like him. Is Brad your friend?"

"Yes. He helps me. He's my friend."

"When did you become such a good artist?" Marty asked.

"I always drew. I don't do much. I like to draw."

"If you draw another picture of Brad, can I have this one? It's a very special piece of art. It will remind me of you and Brad."

"You can have it. You give me stuff. I'll give that to you."

"That's very generous, Adam. I want you to draw more. Next time I come, I'll ask to see what you've drawn for me."

"Yes, Sir."

"Brad, Adam must think a lot of you. They tell me you help Adam."

"He's my friend. Of course I help him."

"You can go sit. Thank you for coming up. I expect big things from you boys, and the rest of you, I'm waiting to see what you can do. Promise you'll do something for me for when I return to Hall House."

We finally sprung free of the three people who never left us while we were inside Hall House. It was different and I wasn't sure what to make of it. Andre was waiting at the front door when we came out.

"What did you think?" Marty asked.

"I don't know what I saw. There lovely kids. All boys?"

"Orphans. Adam hardly talked when he came to us. Brad made friends with him and he's starting to socialize a bit. His mother died in childbirth, his father is a drug addict. Can't take care of him. We keep track of him. Maybe one day he can take Adam back, but not now. He's adjusting. Most of them come to us after losing one or both parents."

"You pay for all this?"

"No, I paid for developing it. We get donations from all the companies we deal with. We ask them to contribute. It's not strong arm asking, we make them aware, and many companies don't mind helping."

"You are full of surprises. You really have a way with kids," I said.

"I put myself in their shoes. They need to eat. They need a roof over their head, and education. That's not that much. If people pitch in, it's not much at all. Our teachers are mostly retired and donate their time. I had two of these on the big island and one on the two smaller islands. There are hardly a million people in Hawaii. Lots of orphans. This is where we started Hall House. We have one in Hong Kong, Singapore, and we have one on Luzon. All places I do business. I can ask for donations."

"Why are you showing me all of this, Marty. You have an empire."

"You need to know what you're getting yourself into. I have my finger in a lot of pies. I need to keep an eye on all of them. I want you to come along. I like being with you. I want you to be sure you want to spend time with me. I'm merely taking you along on places I'd be going anyway. Adding you makes it more enjoyable for me."

"It's just hard to believe. I am enjoying myself. Hall House is wonderful. I had no idea what it was. The kids seem so happy. They all seem to like you," I said.

"I'm sure they play it up when they know I'm visiting. I don't want them making my visits a big deal, but some of them do. They mean well. They want me to see what good things I'm doing. I just want kids to have a chance. Most of us have pretty good childhoods. I want to pass it on so more kids have childhoods worth remembering."

"That is kind," I said. "You are a generous man."

"To whom much is given, much is required."

"Where did that come from?" I asked. "I heard it before."

"John F Kennedy said it at his inauguration. I believe he got it from Luke in the Bible. Words to live by. I've been a fortunate man, and giving back is the best part of it. I get to make people happy. It suits me fine."

I kept looking for the flaw in Marty's makeup. I couldn't find it. He was exactly what he seemed to be. He was a successful businessman who was giving back to those who weren't as fortunate as he was. Perhaps I'm expecting something to make it harder for us to be together. Maybe I should look for reasons to keep us together. I really liked him.

I felt a bit like a hanger on. I wasn't contributing anything.

In the morning we went to Waikiki. Marty saw how I was watching the surfers. They were hot, but the surf was big and they rode their boards on the waves like pros. I was fascinated by their ballet on boards.

"You want to meet one of the surfers?" Marty asked.

We laid side by side on king size Hawaiian towels.

"How can they make it look so easy. I've never seen anyone surf."

"Would you like to learn to surf?" Marty asked.

"I'd be afraid to do that. It looks so…, so…, wild."

Marty watched me watching for the next few minutes. He got up from his towel and walked to the edge of the water. The first surfer who came out of the water carrying his board was stopped by Marty.

They spoke for a few minutes. Marty pointed at me, and the two of them came to where I sat watching them.

"Kalani, my friend Joshua. Joshua, this is Kalani. He would like to teach you how to surf."

"I'd be most happy to teach you to surf, Josh. Are you ready for your first lesson?"

"Kalani, how much is he paying you to teach me to surf?" I asked.

"A hundred dollars a day and I get to take you to tonight's luau."

"You understand Marty is taking me to the luau. You're escorting us."

"I'm doing whatever you two decide I'm doing," Kalani said.

I drank a lot of the Pacific Ocean my first day as a surfer. I never really got up on Kalani's board. He started out with his board flat on the beach and me standing on it, moving on it. The water seemed a bit rough. I lived hundreds of miles from the Pacific in Eagles Point. I'd seen it but I never went into it until we went to Hawaii.

Kalani's family had a luau five days a week. There were aunts, uncles, his mother, father, and cousins galore. The children were trained to do traditional Hawaiian dances and sing traditional songs. The spectacle was spectacular. The food was delicious. They had a whole pig cooked over a firepit. It smelled wonderful.

There was no alcohol. There was plenty of food and drink, and pineapple and coconut were part of most dishes. Kalani was one of the male dances and he played the drums, and the drumbeat that accompanied dances was hypnotic and set the mood for a nice evening.

By the time I had two pineapple drinks with fresh orange sections and pineapple slices, I got the taste of the Pacific out of my mouth. I'd never enjoyed an eating experience like the one at Kalani's house, where all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and his parents lived together and staged evening luaus.

Andre stayed to eat and drink with us and he too enjoyed the entertainment that was pure Hawaiian. The last act were six lovely ladies doing the Hula to the sounds of Ukulele, guitars, and the ever present drums. If you didn't swing and sway with this wonderful display of Hawaiian dance, you were asleep or dead.

I held Marty's hand as we walked to the car shortly after midnight when the luau ended.

"You certainly looked like you enjoyed yourself, Joshua," Marty said. "I am always in search of thinks you'll like."

"It was so different. The food, the entertainment, the people were all delightful. No wonder they draw a crowd. Who knew Kalani was so talented. When he sang, it was difficult to believe his clear voice."

Andre and Marty talked about the luau as we went back to his penthouse on top of a hotel that gave us a view of the ocean and the city below us. It was a spectacular view. We'd slept on the boat the first night, but tonight it was dry land sleeping.

The penthouse was surrounded by windows. The lights of the city below made for a great view of the city at night. Where the lights ended, I imagined the Pacific Ocean began.

Honolulu was surrounded by water.

When Marty brought me a ginger ale, I was standing in the living room looking at the mantel over the fireplace. I was rather surprised to see what had been placed there.

"Hard to believe a boy that age has such talent. He hardly interacted with anyone. Brad sat with him, talked to him, laughed with him, and looked at the expression on his face. His kindness is in his eyes and in his face. Some mature artists couldn't capture what Adam did."

Not only was the pencil sketch hung over the mantel, but it had been placed in a gold frame that showed off the sketch even better than it looked at Hall House. Once again Marty surprised me with what a compassionate man he was.

The model car had been placed directly under the picture of Brad.

There was a meeting at another building in Honolulu the following morning and we went to a second and third Hall House by helicopter. We'd see all four Hall Houses while we were anchored in Honolulu.

The meeting was curious. I was once again introduced as Marty's protégé. The meeting was about the functioning of a business that dealt in art and relics. We toured a museum with mostly Hawaiian art and articles from the country's history.

"Here," Marty said when we left the museum. "I forgot I got this for you. This is a talisman. It has very strong powers that will protect you."

He put the bracelet on next to the gold bracelet he gave me.

It was handcrafted and felt lighter than air. I liked its simplicity. The idea that in this world, the bracelet would protect me was nice. I felt well protected already, but this touch added to my contentment.

"Now you are protected," Marty said, kissing my cheek.

"Thank you. It's unique."

"I'm going to need to fly back today. There's trouble at my headquarters in New York City. I need to go to take care of it. You can stay here. Andre is going back with me to be available in New York. I'll leave a car for you and you can stay at the penthouse or on the yacht."

"I will not. Why aren't I going with you. I don't want to be here alone, Marty."

"I was hoping you'd say that."


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"New York"

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"Fast Lane"

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