Being a parent is the hardest job in the world, and you never really know how you’ve done until your children grow up. Clark Hanson was a successful businessman, but he felt that as a parent, he’d failed miserably.
His oldest son, Court, was a quiet, sober, hard-working man, but his youngest, Gerald, was a spendthrift, thoughtless, and selfish. Clark often asked himself where he’d gone wrong with Gerald and what he could do at this late date to make it right.
As his first step in his campaign to make Gerald hardworking and responsible, Clark got his 26-year-old son his first job in the company’s mailroom. Gerald looked around at the mailroom then stared at his father in astonishment.
“You want me to do WHAT?” he asked.
“You will be separating the mail and delivering it to the people it’s been sent to,” Clark said. “And you’ll be starting at 9:00 on the dot.”
“Yes it will,” Clark said firmly. “Because you see, I’m the one paying for the personal trainer and the lunches and the tennis pro, and I won’t be paying any longer. You’ll have a lot of free time from now on.”
Gerald was furious, but Clark wouldn’t yield an inch. After a week in the mailroom, Gerald burst into his father’s office, pushing past his secretary and not even knocking on the door.
“I’ve had enough!” he cried, waving his weekly paycheck. “This whole week I worked like a slave and this is what I’ve earned?”
Clark calmly took his paycheck and looked at it. “That looks about right!” he said.
“Why can’t I have a job like Court’s?” Gerald demanded. “He earns a fortune!”
“Court has a degree in economics, Gerald,” Clark said. “What did you major in? Oh! That’s right! You dropped out…”
Gerald squirmed. “Well, maybe I haven’t been very diligent, dad, but I do have skills!”
Clark asked, “What skills, exactly?”
“I’m good with people, and I know a lot of celebrities,” Gerald said. “I know how to handle the press… Maybe public relations?”
Clark was thoughtful. “You have a point there, Gerald. There may be something you can do. I’ve agreed to sponsor a fundraiser for UNICEF,” he said. “I want to organize a celebrity auction…In fact, I want YOU to organize a celebrity auction, and how successful you are at it will show me your potential — or not. But please note, Gerald, this is your last opportunity. Don’t fail yourself.”
“You mean ‘don’t fail me,’ right?” asked Gerald.
“No, I mean that your future is at stake, so think before you mess up,” said Clark and escorted his son out of his office.
Over the next two months, Clark watched with some interest as Gerald poured his energy into the organization of the fundraiser. Soon the objects donated by celebrities started arriving.
It looked as if the auction would be a success, and Clark felt a secret relief. Maybe all Gerald really needed was to focus on something he was good at and understood!
Gerald hired a prestigious venue and ordered a luxurious buffet and the very best champagne — all of which Clark’s company would be paying for. He also contracted a famous singer to perform before the auction.
However, the event was hugely expensive, at least $170,000 more than he’d budgeted for. “That’s a lot of money…” Clark thought. “I think this merits a closer look.”
Clark ordered his secretary to gather all the receipts for the UNICEF event, and it all added up — but something felt off. He looked at the receipt for the singer’s fee, which was endorsed to a company called Talent Incorporated.
“Diane,” Clark said to his secretary. “Get me in touch with the girl who sang at the auction, would you, and ask her how much she charged.”
An hour later, Diane walked into Clark’s office and looked very pale. “Mr. Hanson,” she said. “She didn’t charge us a cent. It was her contribution to the cause…”
Clark felt as if the bottom had been cut out of his world. “She didn’t charge anything?” he asked in a whisper.
“No, sir,” said Diane, and she had tears in her eyes. Over the next few days, Clark contacted all the vendors, suppliers, and caterers and discovered that Gerald had demanded 20% of their fees in cash kickbacks. Gerald had made the most of his second chance!
Clark didn’t say a word to Gerald, but when the family got together that Sunday for lunch, he had an announcement to make. After they finished eating, Clark got up with his wine glass in hand.
He looked at his sons and smiled. “Court, Gerald, as you know I’m now sixty-two, and one of these days I will be handing the baton over. But retirement isn’t my only worry. When I die, I want my legacy in good hands, and I want to make sure that my money is distributed fairly among my sons.”
Gerald smiled, but Court looked upset. “Come on, dad, you know I hate that kind of talk!”
“I know, son,” Clark said gently. “But I want you and Gerald to know what to expect. Yesterday I had my lawyers draft a new will. Court, you will, of course, receive the shares for the company, but as for the money…I mean my personal fortune, you as the eldest will receive $2.8 million, and you, Gerald, will receive one dollar.”
Gerald frowned. “I’m sorry, dad, what did you say?”
Clark smiled. “I said that your inheritance will amount to exactly one dollar.”
Gerald jumped up. “What is this?” he screamed. “What have you done?”
“Calm down, my dear Gerald,” Clark said calmly. “If you will recall, I warned you when you took on the charity event that it was your last chance…”
“I did a great job!” Gerald protested. “We raised millions for the children!”
“Yes, you did do a great job,” Clark said. “Especially when it came to filling your own pockets. I trusted you, and you stole from me. Consider it your inheritance.”
Clark changed his will and left Gerald one dollar.
