30th Ymiden, 718
She sat down, hands folded in her lap and she looked at them. Her employees and her friends. They had been with her since the beginning and they had stood, united as a team. On the first trial they opened, and every trial thereafter, they had supported her in her crazy dream. A dream of making a restaurant which funded a faction which would change the world.
And they had done it.
Isonomia would change the world, Faith had no doubt about it. It already had – for over a hundred people who had undergone the training programme, who had been part of a system which took them from poverty and hopelessness to a place where they were taught a trade, given a place to live, food to eat and medical care. More importantly, though, than anything as far as Faith was concerned, they were given a chance to build their future. That was what Isonomia did, it gave a future to those who had none.
And here, it had worked.
”I have news,” she said and she smiled at them. They looked at her, Joq’et, Paul and Taylor and she wondered how they’d take it. Trudi, of course, already knew. ”Padraig and I are going to Rharne.” Three of them nodded but Joq’et, her sous chef and, therefore, the person she had worked most closely with, frowned. She recognised that Faith was saying something more than they were going on holiday, or having a break. They were leaving. Joq’et said nothing, just looked at Faith and the two of them shared a glance.
”We’re going to Rharne, in a permanent move.” Eyebrows raised at that and then, they started talking. What was going to happen here, who was going to run the place, that kind of thing. Faith let them have the time to think it through, and then started to answer the questions. ”We’ll be leaving soon. On the next flutterbus, I think.” That was straightforward enough. But then there was the more difficult question, what would happen here, what would happen to them?
“It’s alright, Faith. Whatever you need to do,” Joq’et said and they nodded. They’d been a team so long, they knew each other so well that there was no doubt they trusted her. Faith was pleased they did, they’d all worked hard here and she was loathe to leave. But they had to. Both of them, for all of them. They had to. ”I’ve sold the business to Trudi, who will continue it for Isonomia. It will fund Beacon and maintain the training programme. Nothing will change, in that regard.” Trudi looked at them and smiled. “Except you won’t be here. That’s a major change. We’ll miss you,” Faith nodded her head, then continued to speak in her usual manner – factual, statements of what was, not what she was feeling. She had never been good at expressing those. ”On a trial by trial basis, I have been here far less over the past few seasons.” Trudi smiled at that, knowing what it meant, what Faith was like and how she dealt with things.
”So, we need to plan for that, work out what we’re doing and arrange a clear handover.” Faith said and Trudi piped up. “And I’ve arranged for the business and property to be values, so Faith gets a fair deal. Not the deal she suggested to me.” Faith looked at Trudi and smiled, but in a vaguely exasperated manner. The deal she had suggested was that she gave the business to Trudi, but the young biqaj would hear none of it. Faith knew when she was beat, however, and so she got herself into the mindset that doing this right was the right thing to do. Also, this would allow her to set up a new business in Rharne, with the aim of the same thing.
Now, though, it was time to get down to the business of making sure that Cally’s continued after it’s founder had left.
665 words
And they had done it.
Isonomia would change the world, Faith had no doubt about it. It already had – for over a hundred people who had undergone the training programme, who had been part of a system which took them from poverty and hopelessness to a place where they were taught a trade, given a place to live, food to eat and medical care. More importantly, though, than anything as far as Faith was concerned, they were given a chance to build their future. That was what Isonomia did, it gave a future to those who had none.
And here, it had worked.
”I have news,” she said and she smiled at them. They looked at her, Joq’et, Paul and Taylor and she wondered how they’d take it. Trudi, of course, already knew. ”Padraig and I are going to Rharne.” Three of them nodded but Joq’et, her sous chef and, therefore, the person she had worked most closely with, frowned. She recognised that Faith was saying something more than they were going on holiday, or having a break. They were leaving. Joq’et said nothing, just looked at Faith and the two of them shared a glance.
”We’re going to Rharne, in a permanent move.” Eyebrows raised at that and then, they started talking. What was going to happen here, who was going to run the place, that kind of thing. Faith let them have the time to think it through, and then started to answer the questions. ”We’ll be leaving soon. On the next flutterbus, I think.” That was straightforward enough. But then there was the more difficult question, what would happen here, what would happen to them?
“It’s alright, Faith. Whatever you need to do,” Joq’et said and they nodded. They’d been a team so long, they knew each other so well that there was no doubt they trusted her. Faith was pleased they did, they’d all worked hard here and she was loathe to leave. But they had to. Both of them, for all of them. They had to. ”I’ve sold the business to Trudi, who will continue it for Isonomia. It will fund Beacon and maintain the training programme. Nothing will change, in that regard.” Trudi looked at them and smiled. “Except you won’t be here. That’s a major change. We’ll miss you,” Faith nodded her head, then continued to speak in her usual manner – factual, statements of what was, not what she was feeling. She had never been good at expressing those. ”On a trial by trial basis, I have been here far less over the past few seasons.” Trudi smiled at that, knowing what it meant, what Faith was like and how she dealt with things.
”So, we need to plan for that, work out what we’re doing and arrange a clear handover.” Faith said and Trudi piped up. “And I’ve arranged for the business and property to be values, so Faith gets a fair deal. Not the deal she suggested to me.” Faith looked at Trudi and smiled, but in a vaguely exasperated manner. The deal she had suggested was that she gave the business to Trudi, but the young biqaj would hear none of it. Faith knew when she was beat, however, and so she got herself into the mindset that doing this right was the right thing to do. Also, this would allow her to set up a new business in Rharne, with the aim of the same thing.
Now, though, it was time to get down to the business of making sure that Cally’s continued after it’s founder had left.
665 words
