“First of all young lady, you owe us an apology? I am sorry you are so upset, but my job requires me to go.” Answered Cameron.
“Your mother and I did not raise you to behave in this manner! We can understand that you have issues, but I am sure we can work them out? What do you think, Jenny?” Stated Cameron once again with a little more authority in his voice. Jenny was the name he used when she had done something wrong.
Jenny turned and glared at him. Not knowing what to say or do. Her eyes darted back and forth.
“How could you do this to me, without even asking me? I am not a child!” She stuttered, clenching her fists as she did so.
“I had to find out from Jerry’s daughter, Donna at school!” She continued as large tears ran down her face.
His attempt to placate his daughter did not achieve the effect he wanted, because Jenny ran upstairs to her room. All the way screaming and crying, “I hate you, I hate you both of you!”
Both parents stood there in shock and amazement and tried to gather their thoughts together before they had another confrontation with her.
“Well what do you think, Ingrid? How do we handle it? I think its time for a deep mother to daughter talk, don’t you?” Stated a confused Cameron, with a sly grin on his face.
“Sure, sure. You cause the trouble and leave little poor me to solve your mess!” Quipped Ingrid, as she slowly walked up the stairs towards her daughter’s bedroom.
The mother and daughter talk did not go as well as she would of liked. Her daughter was in no mood to listen or understand what her mother was saying. All she knew was that she was being torn away from everything and everyone she loved. Mrs. Clark tried in vain to console her distraught daughter, but nothing helped. Ingrid ran out of the room and begged Cameron to come and help her. After all she reasoned this was all Cameron’s fault, and he should take care of the problem.
“I need your help! She won’t listen to me at all! Maybe you can manage to do it. I am giving up for now! She is just like you, stubborn, stubborn and stubborn!” Yelled an upset and angry Ingrid, as she ran out of the room.
Cameron went upstairs and spent the better part of an hour calming his daughter down. It took every bit of negotiating skill he had to come up with an armistice between them. It was agreed that she would be able to spend two months of her vacation in California, and her boyfriend would be able to visit her twice a year. She eventually understood, how important it was for Cameron to go and work in Germany!
“Let me make sure I understand? You are going to allow me to visit California twice a year? And you are going to pay for it? In addition to that, you are going to allow my boyfriend to visit me? As long as you keep your promise, I will go with you to Germany.” Stated a much calmer Jennifer.
The Adventure Begins
As Cameron prepared to enter his editors’ inter-sanctum a series of brilliant and vivid flashbacks appear before his eyes. He reflected on everything he knew about Jerry Kunstoff: Jerry is an old-timer by any standard, and is a veteran of over fifty-years of journalism. Both as a writer-journalist, and as an anchorperson for some of the major networks around the world. His assignments have covered every part of the known world, and some that were not that well known. He had traveled extensively in the past five decades, and covered more than a dozen major wars. On at least two occasions Jerry Kunstoff was severely wounded and barely made it out alive. As a matter of fact, he was once shot in the head by a Vietminh sniper, while covering France’s Indochina debacle in 1954. He now proudly wears the crease on his skull as his “Red Badge of Courage.”
Cameron knocks loudly on the door and no one responds. He knocks a second time, and a gruff sounding voice bellows from the other side.
“What do you want? If it’s not important, don’t bother me.”
Not waiting for any further instructions, Cameron walks in. Although small in stature, a mere five-foot four in his socks, Jerry could party with the best, and had a command presence in many ways reminiscent of an Edward G. Robinson tough guy character. Perhaps it was the ever-present large cigar in his mouth that reminded him of Robinson or USAF General, Curtis LeMay.
“So you finally showed up? Where have you been all morning?” Asked a somewhat grumpy Jerry.
“Excuse me, sir? But you said to be here at nine-o’clock sharp and it’s only eight-forty-five.” Replied Cameron, a slight tone of amazement in his trembling voice.
Once the initial jousting was over between both men, they sat down to business. Jerry was very specific in what he wanted out of Cameron and wished to make sure there were no misunderstandings between them. Jerry was able to provide Cameron with an initial list of leads and references, but also expected Cameron to come up with his own clues and above all, be creative and flexible. After several hours of further discussion, both men felt more comfortable with their future development of this story.
“Don’t forget Cameron, you are representing me and my paper in Germany. I am a ninety percent stockholder in that newspaper and I expect them to give you all the help you need. While you are there, you are the acting manager. Is that understood?” Stated Jerry, in a gruff voice.
“Tell me Cameron, have you decided how you are going to get to Germany?” Asked Jerry as he slowly twisted his cigar in his yellow stained, stumpy fingers.
“I will probably fly nonstop to Cologne airport. Ingrid and Jennifer can join me in a week or two, once everything is settled at home.” Replied Cameron.
“I want you to get started as soon as possible, and please keep me informed at least twice a week of any new or exciting developments.” Stated Jerry as he stood up and extended his hand.
“It’s a deal. I promise you Jerry; we are going to get a great story and maybe even a book out of it? What do you think?” Replied Cameron as he walked out the room towards the outer office.
“I would be delighted with a book, but let’s first concentrate on this story. One thing at a time.” Replied Jerry as he bent over his desk and pressed the intercom.
“Miss Harris, would you please give Cameron his salary advance on the way out.” Asked Jerry to the still silent black box.
“Of course Mr. Kunstoff, I will be glad to.” Replied Gladys Harris, head administrative assistant to Jerry Kunstoff. Gladys was a short and squatty fifty something brunette. What she had lost in good looks, she made up in efficiency and discipline.
As Cameron walked out into the outer office, Gladys reached into her right-hand drawer and withdrew a large eight by eleven manila envelope. She handed Cameron two hundred one hundred dollar bills, a receipt to sign and a set of written instructions on how to apply for more spending money when needed. He silently counted the money and signed the receipt for her. He had never held that kind of cash in his hand at one time. At least money that he could have direct access to and spend on a project.
Cameron drove home thinking about the future, his family and what lay ahead of him in the next twelve months. He was so embroiled in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice the time and drove by the first exit to his house. He concentrated a little more and managed to hit the next one on the button.
His wife Ingrid had made him a wonderful spaghetti dinner and he could already smell the garlic bread as he walked in the house. Ingrid had cleaned the house, put flowers on the table and had a great smile on her face.
“Wie Gehts, schatzie?”