Capítulo 108: Year-end credits.

May 30

Billy is on his way to the airport with his father, and fortunately, his grandparents will come to the graduation ceremony on June 17, 1991. However, they will arrive twenty days earlier to spend some time with young Billy. His grandparents can be somewhat challenging to deal with.

-Remember to tell Grandma that you'll be studying at Stanford. If she asks about acting, just say it's a hobby, and now the focus is on graduating, - Thomas said, reviewing the multiple responses they would give to Billy's grandmother and Thomas's mother, respectively.

-Yes, I understand. I won't say anything that could cause us any trouble, Dad, - Billy replied, knowing his grandmother's personality. All the Carson men should keep her on the right track. Only the wrath of Richard Carson can intimidate her, which happens once every five years.

From cleaning the house to the food in the fridge, everything is for grandma's arrival. Even Billy is dressed in a suit with a tie. It's a formal uniform suit with a few colors—black suit, white shirt, maroon tie. In contrast, his father is wearing his favorite blue suit. There's this new suit shop that customizes suits for $3,000, tailoring them to your shape. You can choose the fabric from various options, and the suit's fit is adjusted to your measurements for an additional $1,000.

-Behave, just behave as best as you can. Mom can be tough, but once she leaves, we can get back to our routine, - Thomas said, signaling for the tenth time that Billy shouldn't cause any trouble.

-Yes, Dad, I understand the grandma's temperament too, - Billy said.

-Well, son, -- Thomas said, turning left toward the airport. - I think we can go to that pizza restaurant we used to visit so often before we got busy with our respective businesses, - he suggested.

-That sounds great, but I'm starting to eat healthier. I want to regulate my diet and eat something more nutritious for myself. It's essential to stay in good physical shape if you want to be an actor, - Billy replied.

Thomas raised an eyebrow and didn't say anything, but he still parked at the pizza restaurant. -We'll eat healthier next time. We'll pay one of those nutritionists to create a diet plan for you. Right now, we don't have time to go somewhere else, - he said.

Billy sighed but got out of the car. Nevertheless, that pizza was delicious. When he was seven years old, he loved that pizza. They used to go there almost every weekend when his father didn't have extra work at the office. His favorite pizza had always been pepperoni and chicken with mushroom pizza.

Is this the sensation he's seeking, a mouthwatering pizza experience?

-We'll bring some to the grandparents, - Thomas said.

-Do whatever you want, but it's a sure thing that grandma will scold you tonight, - Billy remarked.

-Hahaha, she'll never be pleased, but if you offer, she won't be able to resist her beloved grandson, - Thomas said, knowing his mother's weakness for her grandchildren over her children.

-I don't think grandma has a preference. Sometimes she prefers my cousins, - Billy replied.

-My brother has always followed in our parents' footsteps. He's followed every step, and he's strict with his children, just as they were with him. Very strict. They have followed the family's path since my grandfather's time. They go to church on Sundays and work as hard as they can on the farm, from sunrise to sunset. They cultivate the crops and tend to the livestock. There are many things I was never willing to do. Even Kevin, your cousin, studied agricultural engineering at his father's request, - Thomas explained.

-So, you're the rebel of the family, - Billy teased.

-Let's not talk about that, - Thomas replied.

As luck would have it, their grandparents arrived just in time. Billy couldn't help but smile at his grandfather's checkered white shirt, a nod to his grandfather's sporty appearance. His grandmother wore a long green and black dress that reached her ankles.

-My dear little chick, - Richard Carson said, embracing Billy tightly. The strong cologne of his grandfather was distinctive, and he had been wearing it since '58 when the store had just started selling it. It was one of those things that always stuck in his mind—the smell of his grandfather. The story behind the purchase was a stroke of luck. He had befriended the store's salesman, who turned out to be the owner. They had a long-lasting relationship until the salesman's untimely death some time ago.

-Ah, my old man, good to see you, - Billy said, embracing his grandfather. He was the most affectionate of the Carsons.

-You've grown so much, ignoring your grandfather while I'm doing my best to run your video game company. We're in the final stages of the game, - Richard said, his cheekiness always refreshing. He noticed his grandmother rolling her eyes at her husband's lack of decorum.

Thank you, Grandpa. I'm excited about everything we're doing. I think I'll spend a few weeks with you in Massachusetts, although I have to go to New York for some work. I hope you'll be with me too," Billy said.

Grandpa's wrinkled smile could only be compared to the occasional glances Grandma gave. What's curious about their attitudes are the peculiar ways of offering greetings—polite greetings, separated from their expressive love. With their dry manner, Grandma only resorted to small, solitary moments to express her affection.

-Grandma, - Billy said, separating from his grandpa and hugging his grandma, who was gently patting his back.

-Dear, - Grandma said.

-How have you been? - Grandma asked.

-I've been very well, Grandma. Everything's fine with work and school, - Billy said, adjusting Grandma's suitcase on his shoulder. His father and grandpa were ahead, a dirty but necessary tactic, carefully planned before arriving at the airport.

-University, - Grandma said, demanding answers from Billy.

-Stanford, Grandma. I'll start after the summer, the university's business course (MBA), along with the supplementary social sciences program, - Billy said.

-It's great to see my little one making progress. And what about those nonsense dreams of being an actor? What are you going to do? - Grandpa asked, with an oddly serious expression. This was a delicate topic because actors were considered somewhat like jesters.

-First, I'll pursue a business career and manage the companies. Acting is a hobby, - Billy said.

-Of course, a pastime. Ahh, how you've grown. Your grandma has been alone for a long time, and you haven't visited her. You've matured in these years I haven't kept an eye on you, - Helen Carson said, relaxing her posture. For now, her beloved grandson has come to his senses and dedicated himself to being a godly citizen, working hard.

-I'll visit this summer, Grandma, even though I'll be leaving. I have a work meeting in New York the second week of July with someone important in the comic book industry. He'll teach me some tricks. The company is expanding, and I need technical assistance, Grandma, - Billy said.

-Your grandpa mentioned it to me, the nincompoop will accompany you, there's no doubt about that. If he could roam the entire country, he would. I hope not to cause any inconvenience, but he's a very stubborn man, - Helen Carson said.

-Grandpa is always welcome by my side, Grandma. I'll try to finish everything ahead of time as best as I can to stay a few more days, - Billy said.

-Thank you, my child. You have to meet your cousins; they're all hardworking men. A bit of fieldwork wouldn't hurt you. You're looking scrawny; I don't think those little arms of yours can lift a sack of potatoes, - Helen said.

Inconveniencing Billy greatly, the loudspeaker announced, - Flight 3B of New Angels Airlines to Michigan would be delayed by one hour. Please proceed to the boarding gate. -

-Yes, Grandma, I'll take your advice into account. Come on, the car will be ready at the entrance in a moment, - Billy said.

-California, how annoying. Your father told me there's no church nearby, - Helen said.

-That's true, Grandma, but we have a fifteen-minute prayer session on Sundays. We read the Bible for a bit with care. Then Dad and I head to work, Grandma. If we don't have too many chores, we go out for a meal, - Billy said.

-What wisdom, my dear children. Richard mentioned that your father has been reading the Bible a bit, but I feel comfortable. He never liked the Orthodox Catholic Church, but the years are straightening the tree with great care, - Helen said, particularly content.

Exiting the airport bathed them in California's sun. Taxis were lined up in an orderly fashion, for better or worse for the taxi drivers. Travelers knew the appropriate fares for the journey to Silicon Valley and the business sector that wound its way through San Jose. They gave generous tips if the drivers didn't talk much and focused on getting them to their destination as quickly as possible. Time is money.

Mr. Carson's family van appeared around the corner, gleaming in the sunlight, a departure from his usual choice of the latest sports car model.

-Come on, Grandma, get in the car, - Billy said, opening the back door for his grandmother.

-Son, you'll have to carry your grandmother's luggage. I won't stop until we get home, - Thomas said from the driver's seat.

-No problem, - Billy replied.

-My father told me that John Romero brought in some game distribution companies at good prices. They're willing to distribute the games. They're still editing the game to adapt it to different consoles. You can finish the guidebook for the upcoming Doom game and bring it when you visit your grandfather. Anne will handle printing the images for the CDs. Sega, Nintendo, Neo Geo, and Turbografx-16 will take care of the entire process. They'll give us a 20% cut of the sales, - Thomas explained.

-It's almost finished. We just need to touch up a few minor things. But I think for this game, we'll have to hire two new programmers to formulate the game's requirements. This time, I'm quite ambitious in creating the game. The standards are a bit higher, - Billy said, adjusting his position. Grandma was looking out the window but listening attentively.

-That new game you released with the Chinese, how's it doing? - Richard Carson asked.

-Japanese, Grandpa. I haven't seen the statistics. Dad, do you know anything? - Billy asked.

-The cutoff is in a month. Sales are announced weekly, but it's not good until everything comes together coherently, - Thomas said.

The arrival of the Carson grandparents in San Jose, along with a bit of pizza and the irritability of Grandma, which becomes comforting once you get used to it, led to a thorough cleaning of all corners of their home. They bought new curtains, some plastic plants, beautiful pictures, and homemade food by the third day of their arrival, with Grandpa carrying bags behind her and accompanying her to the markets.

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