adbright

Saturday, May 28, 2011

a Greek hero in Cyprus, along the Green Line

a Greek hero in Cyprus,along the green line

fiction
edward w pritchard

see Patriots at the ready -today's blog

Olives were the currency and olive oil was the wealth in our family.

Each of us was dis-satisfied with how papa's estate was to be split. None of the rest of us would voice our displeasure for our Father was still very much alive and once before he had staged this death bed ritual. Then we had been all but prepared to throw dirt across our Father's chest and he had survived until now,  another two years later, he was alive but again on his deathbed. This time my oldest brother risked two years of hard stares from Papa should he survive by speaking his mind about the planned split of the Family olive business here in Nikos, Cyprus.

We are Greeks and are a proud people and to my Father olives are not just a business or a means to make a living; the success of the family olive business enable us to be respected and well thought of on our little Island. Father's philosophy of business was customer first, we sold the finest product in the world he said but unless our customers were happy with every transaction we had failed in the business plan.  My oldest Brother by tradition Father's heir apparent had a different philosophy. Never give the customer a chance to back out of a deal, before or after a sale, -he might,-. My oldest  Brother had learned to run a business in business school studying in America. My oldest Brother could grow a business; he had grown the family business many many times over since Father's illness two years ago but he had displeased our Father with his methods. Now Father was dieing and  preparing on leaving the day to day running of the family olive business to my youngest Brother Mikos.
end part 1

No comments:

Post a Comment