“This is very good,” David said to Lucy who handed him a comic strip she had drawn.
“I thought maybe you can put it on your website,” Lucy said.
“If you don’t mind then I will. It will go up in a couple weeks.”
“No. Today.”
“But I have other comics to post first. They’ve already been scheduled.”
“Daddy…” Lucy began pouting.
“All right. I’ll move the other posts down and post this one today.”
“Yay!” Lucy squealed and began dancing around. “Millions and billions of people are going to see my cartoon. Millions and billions of people are going to like my cartoon,” Lucy said in a singsong voice as she danced.
“Will they?” Alison asked.
“What?”
“Will millions and billions of people see and like her cartoon?”
“I barely get to 1,000 pageviews per day and have never passed 200 Likes on Facebook or Instagram. She’s getting nowhere near millions and billions.”
Everyone left for work and school while David stayed home. He scanned Lucy’s cartoon and posted it and rescheduled all the other posts. He spent the rest of the day watching TV, playing with Oliver, and cleaning. He got back online about three and saw over 1,400 Likes on Instagram, over 700 on Facebook with 15 shares, and nearly 100,000 pageviews on his website.
“Son of a bitch…” he said.
“I can’t believe we have a meeting with an investor like Siddhartha Osayande,” David said as he and Milo went to the ninth floor of the Santa Fe Building downtown. “He helped get that upscale shopping center built in that bad part of town.”
“And I go there once a month. He’s doing so much for this city that I’m shocked he agreed to see us,” said Milo. “If he agrees to invest in us then we’ve got it made.”
They arrived at the ninth floor and went up to the front desk. “Welcome to Osayande. How can I help you?”
“We have an appointment to see Mr. Osayande.”
“Name?”
“Milo Story and David Livingston for Chesney Hill Brewing Company.”
“Okay. Go right down this hallway,” she pointed “and it’s the third door on the right. I’ll let him know you are coming.”
David and Milo walked down the hallway and gently knocked on the door. “Come on in,” said a voice behind the door. Milo opened the door and the two of them walked in. “Mr. Story. Mr. Livingston. How are you two doing?”
“We’re good?” Milo said. “I want to thank you for seeing us. You’ve done so much for the city and we’re glad you’re thinking of investing in us.”
“This city has two breweries already and it’s quickly becoming the next big thing. I’m worried that I’ve missed the boat but there’s no harm in trying. And getting in on the ground floor would help immensely,” Siddhartha explained.
“Here is our portfolio of beer that we are currently making. We have enough room to start one more but any more kinds or a larger quantity would require more space,” Milo handed Siddhartha a folder and he promptly opened it.
“If I were to invest, I would want my own flavor. I hope that’s not a problem.”
Milo and David looked at each other. “I don’t think that would be an issue. What were you thinking?”
“Something unique. I’m a huge fan of the smell of lavender and I feel something with my name on it should have something fancy. Gold flakes,” Siddhartha mused. “Is that possible?”
“Well, I guess. What kind of taste do you want for the beer. Dark, light? Do you want it hoppy or…?” Milo asked.
“Which ones would make the lavender and gold stand out?”
“Probably light and not as hoppy.”
“Can you make me a sample?”
“It’ll take about a month but yeah.”
“Make me a small sample that we can serve here at the office and we’ll see what happens.”
“It’s not...terrible,” David said, taking a sip of the lavender beer they had been making the last couple of weeks for Siddhartha. The beer was a pale purple color highlighted by a light yellow color. Little gold flakes, barely noticeable except in the right light, floated around the drink.
“Lots of companies have a lavender beer so I researched, tested, called, tried to get as much info as I could on lavender beer,” Milo explained. “Maybe this just isn’t meant to be.”
“Maybe Siddhartha will like it,” David shrugged. “I don’t think he really plans on selling this stuff. It’s just to have.”
“Well, he can have it,” Milo said. “I don’t think this is something that we’re going to be known for.”
“Someone will like it.”
“I only care is Siddhartha likes it. How are your little pictures doing?”
“My comics?” David smiled. “They’re okay. Lucy drew one that I posted a month or so ago. It’s currently the most popular comic on my site.”
“So the most popular comic on your site wasn’t even done by you,” Milo clarified.
“Oh, no. Of course not. Why would that happen?” David jokingly asked. “She’s trying to come up with a sequel but she has writer’s block. Her words.”
“I think this is as good as it’s going to get,” Milo said. “I’ll call Siddhartha’s secretary and let her know we’re ready for him to do a taste test.”
About three days later, Milo and David were back in Siddhartha’s office with a couple growlers of the lavender beer he had requested.
“Interesting,” Siddhartha said after taking a sip. “This will be perfect for the Expo.”
“Expo?”
“It’s a large expo I’m starting that showcases the diverse businesses the city has. I want you to offer this beer and one or two of your other kinds at your own booth if you can. It will be great exposure.”
“That’d be amazing,” Milo said.
“Have my secretary give you the info. We look forward to seeing you at the Expo,” Siddhartha stood and shook Milo and David’s hands.
The two of them got the information and went back down to their cars. “Yes!” they exclaimed and high-fived. They then shook hands and hugged.
“This is it,” David said.
“We’re headed in the right direction now,” Milo stated.
“Alison is going to be so happy.”
“We need to figure out which two beers to bring.”\
“I say a light and a dark. That way people can try both along with the lavender.”
“Ugh. The lavender. But if Siddhartha want to special order it then I am fine with that.”
“We need more room if we’re going to start keeping a lavender for Siddhartha.”
They continued talking back and forth in the parking lot for the next half hour before getting in their car and heading home.
