Race to the Top

By K. Arnold

Carol was born in Scotland; from her earliest childhood she had a desire to travel. She fulfilled those dreams and settled down in London with three children without a husband. She was fortunate to get a good job with an oil company to establish and run a training center. She was able to reduce staffing by reorganizing and expanding her own skills. Her contributions were not fully recognized, and she left to establish her own training Center which was also very successful. Tiring of the Learning Center business she invested her profits in a new business of buying and selling one-of-a-kind art pieces. She focused on Contemporary art and with her daughters help it soon developed an international business. She bought a luxury home signaling her success. One dreadful day her home was destroying by fire, killing her daughter and her family. The tragedy brought her closer to her remaining children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798823019781

K. Arnold

K. Arnold was born in Oregon and went to school in Oregon and Pennsylvania obtaining degrees in Engineering. He then worked in Houston Texas for an oil company for his entire career. He started writing in 2002 as a hobby and enjoyed it. His first book ‘Sometimes Things Just Happen’ is a nonfiction book about the evolution of the planet, man, and modern civilization, targeted at the high school level. He also wrote a brief history of East Texas and the city of Houston. ‘A life of business’ is his first novel followed by a second, ‘Race to the Top’ about the life of a successful businesswomen. His recent works have not yet been submitted for publication. He is currently writing a third novel.

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© 2024 K. Arnold. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/20/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1977-4 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1979-8 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1978-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023924399

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: A Cold Start

Winter Walk

Glasgow

A Rebel Spirit

Learning London

Men Not Allowed

CHAPTER 2: French Connection

First Stop

Jean’s Revolution

American Revolution

CHAPTER 3: On the Road

Big Sister

A Greek Holiday

Ancient Volcano

A Good Sleep

On to Italy

Road to Naples

Sailing Home

Hauf Brau House

Night in the Park

Rail Pass

American Justice

Three Plus One

London Bound

CHAPTER 4: Different Messages

Forgettable Weeks

Get Away and Return

Come Back

Proper Spaniard

Juan’s Place

Once In a Lifetime

Spanish Jailer

Black is Beautiful

Language of Love

The Rebel Within

Forgettable Weeks

Get Away

CHAPTER 5: Life’s New Focus

Upstairs Nanny

Downstairs Affair

Slow Seduction

Party Time

Second Gift

Winston the Trader

A Better Deal

Native Justice

Second American

Historic City

Reflection

CHAPTER 6: To America

Work Visa

To America

Arrival Houston

Find a Job

Job One

Job well Done

Second Job

New Proposal

What is This Stuff?

Seeing the Goods

Race to the Top

Back to Zero

Visit from John

Leave of Absence

Courses and Facilities

Plants and Refineries

Course Demonstration

CHAPTER 7: Learning Center Business

John’s Contribution

John’s Story

Learning Center Profits

Anniversary

Goodbye John

The Big House

CHAPTER 8: Going International

Data For the Business

Setup Costs

Collecting Data

The Big Apple

Ms. Gomez

Digital Photos

CHAPTER 9: Family Affairs

A Major Loss

Business Booms

High Volume Art

A New Home

News from Cheryl and George

A Major Loss

Open for Business

Record Year

High Volume Art

A New Home

CHAPTER 10: View from the Top

Time to Retire

Dealing with Alba

One Last Deal

Hospital Visit

View from the Top

Farewell Tour

CHAPTER 11: A Place for Mom

The Villa Dog

One Last Race

The Race

Election

Win by Any Means

CHAPTER 12: Growing Older

One Last Visit

Nothing Matters Now

Prodigal Son

CHAPTER 1

A Cold Start

A THIN LAYER OF SNOW dusted the city, giving it an early morning clean look. Snowplows pushed snow from previous storms into piles beside the road and onto vacant lots. Within a day or so the snow becomes grey and appears dirty…that happens in northern industrial towns. Some mornings there are a few blemishes in the snow; footprints left by early morning walkers. The piles of accumulated snow are now a dirty grey with a ‘white tarp’ from the current storm. The snow slowly melts during the afternoon hours and the streets and sidewalks lose their fresh clean look.

Winter Walk

It is an early morning after a light snow. Although not snowing at the moment, the wind gusts slowly mask the footprints. It is a cold winter day in mid-February; the weather conditions are not unusual for Glasgow, Scotland at this time of the year.

Carol rapidly walks down a residential street carrying books in a cloth bag slung over her shoulder. She is bundled in a heavy coat with fleece-lined hood, woolen pants, and thick gloves; knee-high rubber boots and thick woolen socks keep her feet warm and dry. Her face is partially covered by her hood and a woolen scarf. She is cold, very cold. Every step she takes seems to drain more energy from her body. An hour ago, she was warm in front of the coal burning stove in her parent’s apartment. There, or snuggled under the heavy down comforter on her bed, are her warm places. She has read about Spain, Italy and other countries on the Mediterranean that are warm year around…but she is stuck in Scotland. Increasingly she hates to go outside during Glasgow winters. Nevertheless, almost every Saturday morning she goes to the library, returns books, and looks for others. Books are her escape from not only the weather, but also from the city itself. She spends hours fanaticizing about other lands and other people.

Carol knows the route to the library well, the narrow streets, the same cold sidewalks, and dreary scenery. On one side of the street is a vacant lot that is now a lifeless frozen field with an occasional skeleton of a bush without leaves. And piles of dirty snow. In the summer, children play kick ball on green grass. On the other side of the street are two-story row houses with small, enclosed yards in front, and usually an old car in back…it probably will not start until spring. The sidewalks need repair and are icy in some places. Occasionally her boots lose their grip, and she slips.

As she turns onto Kirkland Road, she sees a young man on the other side of the street. After a moment, she recognizes him; it’s Alec, a friend of her brother. She brushes the snowflakes off the front of her hood and pulls it tight under her chin. She lowers her head to avoid being recognized. It’s been almost a year since she’s talked with Alec and is not in the mood now.

Alec carefully looks her way; he thinks he recognizes her but is not sure. Hey Carol…that you? He crosses the street and walks up to her. I thought it was you…how are you?

Fine. Her response is almost inaudible. She doesn’t know him well and has no interest in talking with him. Besides, he has always treated her like a child, just like her brother treats her. Not surprising since both David and Alec are more than 10 years older, and Alec has known her since she was eight. David was never unkind to his little sister, even though he viewed her as spoiled and often a pest. In fact, he paid her little attention at all.

They walk a half block without a word. To make conversation Alec fakes a shiver. Brrr…cold day, isn’t it?

Yes.

I’ve been outside all morning and my arse is freezing. When they reach the next corner he asks, Where you headed?

Library. What a dumb clod; does he think I carry books around for exercise?

I’m going that way; I’ll walk with you.

She gives him a half smile, and continues walking, eyes straight ahead. She mumbles to herself, don’t do me any favors.

Kirkland Road has commercial stores and small service businesses intermixed with two story townhouses. After walking a couple more blocks, they come to the Bonnie Bar, one of the many suburban Glasgow bars. It is a working-class bar seating perhaps 10 at the bar and another 15 in booths and tables. It has a narrow street entry; the bar stretching from the entry to a larger room in the back with tables. Carol knows the place well; it was her father’s favorite hangout. On too many occasions the bartender called her mother…Hello, hello, come get your man, he is too drunk to get home. She would usually go with her mother to pick him up. On one unforgettable evening, they found him lying face down in the gutter outside the bar. With the help of the bartender, they somehow got him up and then supported him on the way home. At the time, Carol thought it was the most humiliating day of her life.

As they approach the bar Carol glances at Alec. Does he know her father is an alcoholic? Of course, he does. If he says anything, I’ll ignore him. They pass the bar, and she is relieved; Let’s hurry, I’m cold.

Me too. I think I’ll go in the library and warmup before heading home.

The library is housed in an old cement building with a flat roof; it is gray with black streaks down the outside walls where water runs off the roof. It is essentially a large two-story rectangular box with an indented porch for the front door and perfectly aligned small square windows. Likewise, the inside is plain and totally lacking in style. The book selection is weak, but they can order from a large selection through the Glasgow central library. On one visit the librarian complained that they had little money for maintaining the building or for buying books. That big shot Carnegie built fancy libraries all over America…but not a penny for his own countryman. Does he think we can’t read!

When they reached the library, Carol walks carefully up the entry sidewalk to avoid icy spots…rejecting Alex’s attempt to steady her. She stops on the porch hoping Alec will not follow; he does and they enter the main lobby. They go into a coatroom and Alec helps her take off her heavy outer garments. She hangs up her things and then turns to him. Thank you for walking with me. I’ll be here awhile and there’s no need to wait. She turns to leave the cloakroom.

Whoa! He grabs her arm as his eyes look her over. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you…you’ve changed.

She pulls her arm away. What do you mean?

You’ve grown a set of knockers! As he faces her, his hands lightly cup her breasts from the underside and give them a couple of quick lifts. Smiling he says, These are as fine as they come.

Shocked and embarrassed Carol pulls away and darts out of the cloakroom, turns, and without looking back, stiffly walks down the hall and disappears into a reading room.

Glasgow

Carol was born in 1945. Her parents lived in a heavily populated Glasgow suburb. Most of the people in the area live in row after row of three-story tenement buildings. Of those who worked, most had low paid service jobs. There is a lot of crime on the streets and most people consider it a slum area. Carol’s father was a musician who had little work. He was also an alcoholic. She was a late child; her brother and sister are more than 10 years older. The five of them lived on the second story in a small apartment house. Industrial workers had a much better life; they lived in better neighborhoods and their children went to better schools. Unlike the English, there were few class lines among the Scots, at least not economic divisions. However, religious sectarianism was rife throughout Scotland for much of the last century.

Scotland has been predominantly Protestant since the Reformation. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Irish immigrants migrated to Glasgow for industrial jobs resulting in a large Catholic community. A fierce competition developed in the labor markets which inflamed an already volatile situation…catholic-protestant rivalries were common. The Church of Scotland and other Protestant institutions encouraged these anti-Catholics feelings at the time, and religious bigotry became entrenched in many of Scotland’s most basic institutions. Children attended either a Catholic or a Protestant school; and Catholics lived in different housing projects than Protestants.

With the Second World War, the economy again reverted to its traditional base in heavy industry to meet the demand for munitions and naval vessels; jobs were again plentiful. However, post war, Glasgow economy still lacked diversity and many of the returning vets were unable to find jobs. At the time, many believed that poverty had reached a level that intervention by the English was necessary. With the labor government and left-wing politicians in power the intervention took the form of massive subsidies and government controls. By late 20th century the economy improved some, but sectarianism remained even into the 21st century.

Carol and her family are Roman Catholics. When she was seven the family moved into to a better neighborhood, located several miles from the slums. They lived on the ground floor of a two-story building in a larger apartment than they had before. They also had a small outside area of their own and the community had several open areas shared by the residents. Her mother was a strong-willed puritanical woman with outspoken views; she was clearly the head of the family. She seemed harsh and demanding to many, but not to Carol. She spoiled her within the limits of their meager resources.

Carol was an independent child and often at odds with her mother. She had what many called an ‘attitude problem’. From her youngest years, she seemed to look at her environment with a condescending view. As if she didn’t belong there and was only tolerating her circumstances before moving on to a bigger more exciting world. Her mother was baffled by her attitude. No one else in their family shared it nor did others she knew. And, at times, she was also baffled at her behavior, at times even frightened.

Her father died when she was an adolescent; her mother was her family for many of her early years. Carol has favorable memories of her father. Even though he was seldom pleasant and often chided her looks and behavior. She also has a foggy memory of being molested at a very young age…by a family member. For many young girls, molestation saps their pride and self-respect. This wasn’t the case for Carol, at least it was not noticed at the time. She seemed to have a high regard for herself, thought she was special, and was determined that things would be different for her. She held these beliefs even though she had no firsthand knowledge of what it meant to be different. There were no role models in her family or among family friends that pointed to a different life.

Carol grew up Catholic with Scottish pride. Like most Scots, she dislikes the English for dominating her country. To many, she seemed insular, even withdrawn. She was a voracious reader and spent hours with her books. She read novels and matched her emotions and feelings to the fictional characters. She read adventure stories and traveled with them to foreign lands. Her aspirations for adventure soared well beyond the British Isle.

A Rebel Spirit

When growing up children develop different ‘states of mind’ for different situations. Some would call them personality traits or masks. A state of mind governs how you think and behave in reaction to what is going on around you. It is also a factor in what memories come to mind. For example, when around siblings, many children are stubborn and competitive. When playing with friends, open and fun loving. They do not choose these states; they develop on their own; they are triggered by what they are doing or who they are with at the time. They can consciously change from one state of mind to another, but it is surprising how rarely this happens. In technical terms a state of mind is formed when neural patterns, embedding certain behaviors, feelings, and emotions, fire together as one. When they repeatedly firing, these clusters become ‘wired’ together with neural glue and become a semi-permanent brain structure. This freezes the state of mind into a personality trait.

As children grow, their personality traits are in flux as the child learns by experience which traits give satisfaction? Some are dropped, some modified and new ones are added. In healthy teenagers, these personality traits are rationalized and integrated forming a single personality. But integration does not always occur, at least not until later in their lives. Initially, Carol’s rebel spirit is one of her states of mind. However, it was not integrated until she was in her 20’s and then in an unusual way. One reason for this was her intense interest in rebellious women of the past such as Boudicca, Joan of Arc, and Marie Antoinette. Boudicca was her favorite. She was a Celtic Princess who valiantly fought the Romans forces 60-62 AD. She died in battle perhaps by taking her own life.

While young, Carol didn’t have many friends; she was seldom interested in the activities of the other girls. Her mother often worried that she spent too much time with her books and not enough with schoolwork and other children. When not reading, she liked doing things rather than socializing within her peer group. She was competitive and played to win, not to make others feel good. She was strong-willed and wanted thing her way. Her friends either went along or she went alone. She was not a Tomboy. She was not interested in sports and had no particular desire to be around boys. She seldom shared her thoughts or feelings, even with close friends.

Carol was often bored in school and had no interest in many subjects; not surprising, she was not a good student. She had no interest or aptitude for analytical subjects such as science or mathematics. When necessary, she forced herself to learn material that was difficult for her. This further developed and strengthened a strong internal self-discipline, a life-long living skill that would serve her well in the years ahead. Much later in life she was diagnosed with Attention Deficient Disorder. ADD was unheard of at the time and she dealt with her disorder with sheer determination.

Carol was verbally gifted and had a creative mind. She was very quick to size up a situation, but not by analysis or reasoning. It is well known that some people when meeting someone for the first time, make almost instantaneous judgments about the person’s trustworthiness, aggressiveness, and likability; and that these first glimpses are astonishingly accurate in predicting how people will feel about new friends many months later. These assessments are subconscious, only the feelings are conscious. Carol has this gift. When meeting someone she has immediate feelings about their character; these feelings just happen, whether she wants them or not. Almost as if the person had a positive or negative aura about them. When these feelings are positive, she is likely to be open with the individual; guarded when they are negative.

Early on she was excellent with languages, easily picking up unfamiliar words and distinguishing different accents. On the other hand, if something mechanical came apart she probably could not put it back together. Nor was she good at directions; she was often lost and was hopeless at reading a map. She seldom planned things, relying on her wits to face successive challenges. As if a plan stifles opportunity for new adventures.

Carol’s early adolescence brought rapid changes. She gained weight as she grew and became stronger. Her breasts developed and her waist and hips became well defined. She had mood changes and began menstruating. All common symptoms of puberty, only they were more pronounced and dramatic for Carol than for most. Her reproductive cycle flooded her body with hormonal changes that greatly impact her appearance, moods, and behavior.

Her reading interests broadened to include, among others, romance novels. She began to feel the emotions and excitement of being a woman and what it might be like to be with a man. She became more conscious of her body. As she walked, she felt her breasts move and her nipples rub against the fabric of her blouse. At times she feared men could see through her clothes and see her naked. In private she carefully examined her body changes wondering if what she sees and feels, is normal and proper. While all young girls do this, she worried that something might be wrong.

She begins to see some of the more mature boys in a new light. They may be jerks, but she is attracted to some of them. Surging hormones, a desire for adventure, and a rebel spirit push her into ever more challenging situations. Too young to date, she attends parties; some include make-out games. Her mother hears of some of the parties and greatly limits her activity. Carol will not talk about what she is going through, her thoughts and feelings, with her mother or her friends. However, she dutifully confesses all to her priest. He warns her that she risks damnation if she allows carnal thoughts.

She broadens her reading interests to more explicit and even adult oriented material. The local librarian calls her mother suggesting she is reading inappropriate material for her age. Her mother confronts her and meets a stone wall. They argued off and on for months until her mother finally gave up.

In November of 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas and a mail train was robbed in Glasgow netting over 2 million pounds. Carol was aware of both; however much more important to her, she had turned sixteen and had grown a fully developed woman’s body. While only 5 foot 3, she had large, full breasts, befitting a larger woman. Her pelvis broadened and her legs, arms, and buttocks filled out; she maintained a flat stomach.

She was keenly aware of how boys looked and reacted to her. Not coincidentally, she developed a near perfect posture, head held high and shoulders back. Whether sitting, standing, or walking, her posture showcased her figure; and she had a pretty face to go with it. It was delicate and perfectly proportioned with fine features and grey-green eyes. She had brunette hair that she wore long or bobbed in the back. However, she needed glasses to correct near-sighted vision. On occasions, she walked down the streets without her glasses, head held high, knowing that she made a striking impression. She accepted an occasional stumble and black and blue marks to project the image she wanted. After one bad fall she talked her mother into getting her contact lenses.

Once every month her mood turns dark coincident with her period. Worse, her PMS brought a rejection of those around her, even a hatred of those who entered her space. She learns to close herself off from the outside world and endure her depression alone. At these times she has no friends and has little regard for her own well-being. And then, she snaps back.

In high school she attracts a lot of boys and dates a few. She quickly learned that on the second or third date their hands begin to wonder. She usually found that exciting and sometimes allowed it to continue. She wanted to further explore her sexual feelings but doesn’t allow it to happen; she couldn’t bear the thought of explaining a sexual encounter to her priest. During her junior year, she began dating Joel, a recent graduate from her high school. Her mother urged her, Stay away from Joel; he’s a slum boy and you’re better than that. He was also popular and good looking, and Carol ignored her mother’s frequent warnings. Over time Carol and Joel became a couple and occasionally were intimate.

One evening Carol and Joel were at the Crystal Palace, a second-rate ballroom that attracts mostly teenagers and features loud rock music. It was common for couples to dance for a while and then make out in the dark recesses of the oversized ball room. On his own, Joel decided it was time they go all the way and he arranged for the use of a bedroom of a friend. Much to Joel’s frustration, Carol wanted to dance essentially the whole evening. Finally, he insists they leave, and they did. However, Carol baulked when he wanted to go to his friend’s apartment in the slum area. She now knew what he wanted, and she wasn’t ready. Finally, she agrees to go. What harm would come? On several previous occasions she had no trouble turning him away.

Things did not go well. They necked for a while and then he began removing her clothes. She slowed him down and he got angry, insisting she had to let him do it. Damn it, we’ve gone together for over a year…I’ve paid for our dates, and we’ve always done what you wanted…now you owe me. Carol wasn’t going to give in, not because she wasn’t interested. In her mind, intercourse is a big step beyond the intimacy they have shared in the past and…when it happens, it will be on her terms. As she continued to resist, it occurred to her that if things continue to go badly, she will have to find her way out of a very unfriendly neighborhood.

She let him go a little further, hoping he would cool down and walk her home. Of course, he didn’t, no man would; a lesson she needed to learn. And then she suddenly gets up, dresses, and puts her bra in her coat pocket. At first, he orders her and then pleads with her to stay. At least get me off. Blowing him would have been an uncomplicated way out; but no, she didn’t want to…it would be giving in. She puts on her shoes and then makes another bad move. You want off…fuck yourself. As she leaves the apartment into the dark hallway of the building, he yells at her to come back which alerted others in the building. He tries to save face with the neighbors but seals his fate with her; Come-on bitch, I’ll pay what you asked.

Carol is enraged and wants to get away as fast as possible. She pulls on her coat as she runs down the steps to the first floor and then down the hall into the street. The nearest streetlight is a block away and she can hardly see it. She had been in the slums before but on previous occasions it was either daytime or she was with others. She stops running and slowly walks toward the streetlight. She doesn’t even know which direction to go. She sees several small groups of older boys hanging out around the tenement buildings; there are also a few drunks. She is frightened and feels threatened. She stops to think; she will simply have to walk until she comes on to something she recognizes. Then a series of things come to mind that she acts on without thinking. She must lower her profile. She unties her belt. buttons her coat up to her chin, and puts on her glasses. She loosens her hair at lets it fall haphazardly on her shoulders. She keeps her hands in front of her to further de-emphasize her figure. If she runs into a gang, she will show strength rather than fear or weakness. Although frightened, she must appear calm. That’s what she read in adventure books about women who were threatened; she wished one of her heroes were with her now. In fact, they were all with her.

She continues walking; it is very dark, and she still has no idea of where she is. She passes near the gang, and they take note of her; one of the thugs speaks to her. She puts her hand in her coat pocket, stares directly at him, and asks in a calm voice, Something? He mumbles an answer, and she immediately responds, Then get the fuck out of my way and walks stiffly past him. After almost an hour of wandering she still doesn’t know where she is. When another gang approaches her, she walks by them. They began following her and she picks up her pace without running. They fall back and let her go. An older man walks with her for most of a block begging for money. She never looks at him until he grabs her by the arm. She then turns and slaps him on the face. On each encounter, she acts with confidence, a confidence she does not feel. She asks herself what to do next…what would Boudicca do? After this happened several times, it became a norm. She had access to behavior wiser and more aggressive than her own.

Finally, she comes to what looked like a familiar street, with tenement buildings on one side and commercial shops on the other. Her heart leaps as she gets closer and finally breathes normally for the first time since she left Joel’s apartment. Just ahead on the right is a square grey building with a porch alcove for the front door. It’s the library she knows so well.

In high school, her school marks gave no indication that she would benefit from further education. Nor did she have any interest. And there was nothing in her early experiences that led her to believe that schooling was important. She loved to read, and her social interests were met by spending several evenings a week dancing at the Crystal Palace Ballroom. She just assumed she would learn secretarial skills to earn money needed to pursue her dreams of travel and adventure.

Before completing her senior year of high school, she leaves Glasgow for London. Her mother bitterly opposes her move.

Learning London

In London Carol meets a lot of people and dates a few men. Before long she is very cosmopolitan and easily fits into the London scene. Unlike many locals, she seeks out people with different backgrounds and learns new things from her activities and from the people she meets. She uses her dates to go to new places and see new things. She also learns the give and take of dating in London. Meals and entertainment offset by her charm and, for some, physical intimacy. However, she will only go so far. Intercourse is reserved for marriage and children; a promise extracted by her mother before leaving Scotland. She might not have given the promise only her priest had already convinced her that, without marriage, intercourse was a mortal sin.

One day when walking home from the Russell Square Tube Station, Carol meets a fellow tenant at her boarding house. She had seen him once before and assumed he was a tourist on a budget. A tall, good-looking man probably 24-25 years old, wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt with bold markings: Carnegie University. Although she had never heard of the university, she just assumed he is a student at a Scottish University named after Andrew Carnegie. She speaks to him with a heavy Scottish brogue, something she seldom uses when not in Glasgow. He gives her an inquisitive look as if she spoke in a foreign language. From his response, she knows he is American. She speaks again, this time without the heavy accent and they quickly clear up the university name confusion. As they walk toward their boarding house Carol learns about him and his travel companion; they are graduate students at Carnegie University on holiday to tour England and Europe. She protests, You’re not visiting Scotland?

He smiles, we haven’t decided yet.

The next day Carol comes down for breakfast at her usual time. As expected, the food is laid out on a large table at one end of the room. Breakfast is available for the guests from 7-8 am. She looks around for her intended breakfast partner. She doesn’t see him and sits down at a small table. After about 10 minutes he walks in and goes to the food table where she joins him. She casually nudges him, Leave some bacon for the rest of us.

He turns and smiles, Your here early this morning.

Carol responds, That’s a good sign…you noticed me this time.

Of course, I noticed you…you’re the first Scottish girl I’ve ever met.

Carol smiles: "That may be a good thing. If you thought I was English,