20.July.99

Here we go!

Little Nugget.

I just want to say about remarkable persons, which I met. This one was remarkable really. I stumbled at him when I was at work, (there were such times). He was ordinary "office-boy". I time him as 12 years old. His type was far well-known - not tall, plump, (fat as boxing-sack), with childish thin voice. He could be odd-hand boy, because no one would confide him to talk with banking clients on money business. He should be good to walk in and walk out asking about something or bringing something into. I saw him first time performing exact these functions.

So I felt to him a little patronizing and a little irritable, (you should always to be a little irritable about children on the job). But once I was invited to fix banking computer system in "general's chamber. We called it as if we had any army command stuff emphasizing all sacrity of it. First thing in such cases - to check proper junction - they shuffling and unplugged any cords and then make big fuss about "my comp. is flat broken". So it was in that position when I had got to know his real status.

There two respect solid man and he enters, one of man asked me:

- Is everything Ok?

(I:) - not yet.

(Man to boy, ) - ???

(Boy) - Well, suppose we start.

He is climbing in big luxorious "general" chair and his "valets" bending reverently near both his hands. They are beginning to discuss stock problems.

It didn't struck his behavior as a behavior of wizard specialist. I didn't hear from him really smart discussion as real specialists do. But it only proved that he was a real tycoon. The fact is all financial specialists sat in another room, prattled with me about stock-market opportunities and played in odd hours in Quake with me.

But that boy had a real grasp of things. He felt "as fish in water". To say true, it more reminded me, as he could play with toy cars on his table. But it wasn't toy cars it was figures on paper sheets, which stood for fortunes. He was acquainted with it, he was used to handle it nimble.

The humor side of this sight, it seems, appeared only to me. "Uncles" behaved as they were mere privates or rather commissaries near real army general. All his words were a law to them. I would be greatly surprised if one of them answered to the boy - "Oh, come on, Doc, don't pull my leg".

The boy was typical hero of some book. You know there are such stereotypes - they should be definitely in one or another book but you just unable to locate it. He was typical fat boy with thin voice and in white shirt. Such boys are always 100% self-sure as that Dickens travelling boy in Pickwicks notes. Young men with scientific degree, slim, handsome, eager to work could be embarrassed or have a qualms about their position, good forecast or their perspectives in catching "right" girl to next Weekend. That boy hadn't any scruples. Life was "open book" to him, (I wonder he considered, it was open check-book).

I hope you will understand me in right key - I don't evaluate his role or behavior - I just depict him, other people. I often caught myself on idea that many books convey "operetta personage", but when you meet such people as that boy - you begin to realize that our own real life - one big operetta and no exaggeration is sufficient to mirror it in proper light.