Chapter 3 - Life is more beautiful when you have so many friends

It's a wonderful spring day, and men, women, and children are hanging out in the Stone's family courtyard; four men are preparing barbecues, while four women prepare food while chatting.

"It's so nice you thought about having the cookout today, Mary. It's really a beautiful spring day. It would be a shame to lose such a beautiful day and this beautiful sun by staying in the house," commented Julia Goodman, one of Mary's friends.

Julia is Arthur Goodman's wife, and he is one of the richest men in the little town of Rochester. Author owns a large number of stores selling expensive jewelry. He is a man with many relationships, including many relationships in Congress.

He is a simple and modest man even though he is extremely rich, proving that he has lived in this town and among these people for a long time. It is true that he has a huge house with many servants, a real palace, but he loves this city, his hometown.

But Arthur Goodman is also a true philanthropist. Even though he is very rich, he hasn't forgotten his hometown. He has provided funding for many humanitarian organizations that cater to the poor and sick. He has financed the construction of a home for old people left alone in the world or abandoned by their children. He named the home Hope for our Grandparents Sanctuary. He also funded several hospitals to create specialized medical centers for diseases and serious illnesses for children.

Moreover, along with some of his friends—wealthy lawyers, famous doctors, and directors of banks—he was able to build four hospitals in four towns that were in need of such medical centers.

Arthur Goodman is a good man involved in many activities that focus on helping people not as fortunate as he. Philanthropy was his idea. Beside his significant welfare, intelligent acts, and ambition, Arthur believes his life was helped by divinity. And, as a result, he believes that it's his duty to help the sick and needy.

His wife, Julia, is also a strong, good, and generous woman. She's also a beautiful woman, eleven years younger than Arthur. She's a good mother and a loving wife. A person well known in the city, she is director of photography in the stores owned by her husband. She appears on television and in magazines where she is introduced as a strong and ambitious woman.

"Yes, Julia, it would be a real shame."

Three tiny girls and a boy approach the ladies who are sitting in a gazebo. Angel comes near Mary and asks, "Mommy, can we go up to play with spiders?"

"No, darling. Don't get close to them. I don't want them all over the house and find them climbing over me at night while I am sleeping."

"Okay, mommy," said the girl a little upset. She runs to the front door and the other children follow her.

After a few moments, Julia yells to her son, "Easy not to fall while climbing the stairs, and Mathew beware!" She looks after her son, but the boy disappears into the house with the other kids.

"Let them play," said Mary.

Julia looks at Mary smiling and says, "Yes, let them play. Did you see the scar on his face? I thought I would die when he was hurt"

"Okay, worry then!" Both women where smiling. "Nice shoes, by the way."

"Thanks! I bought two pairs in Paris."

"Still won't be enough for your wardrobe," claimed Susan White. After Mary helped with her daughter, Susan became one of her best friends.

Julia looks at Susan. The woman is smiling. "You are so mean." She pushes her friend a little bit, and then continues to speak. "But you're right. By the way, I almost forgot. You are all welcome on Friday. It is Mathew's birthday." Without waiting for a response, she takes a glass from the tray offered by Mary and brings it to her lips. " What're you trying to do, Mary? Get me drunk to find out my deepest secrets?" said Julia smiling.

"Yes, I want to know everything about you, about all of you, your darkest secrets."

"Then you should know that I really do have a secret. I am running for the office of congressman to represent our state in Congress. To represent you!"

The other women stare in silence with their ears wide open.

Susan breaks the silence. "But, congratulations, Julia!" she said, looking at her other friends.

"Congratulations!" said Mary.

Julia gets up, kisses her friends on both cheeks, and then gives each a strong hug.

"So, will you be part of the House of Representatives?" asked Anna, Julia's younger sister, who is also a close friend of Mary's. Julia is twelve years older than Anna.

"Maybe," Julia responds. "I really want to be in Congress. All my life politics has attracted me."

"And the spotlight," jokes Susan, to which all the women laugh.

"It's not true . . . well, maybe just a little bit, but I'm sure that with that power in my hands, I could do so much more for this world," said Julia.

The other women were still laughing.

"But what did Arthur say about this? Does he know?" asked Mary.

"Yes, he knows, and he fully supports me. He helps me with the election campaign."

"But you'd have to move to Washington," said Anna.

"I know. I will stay there with Arthur, but when I'm not working or when I have free time, I will come back here to see you and spend time with you!"

"I think you will forget us," said Susan.

"No, I will have to greet you if I want your vote in the next election," said Julia.

The four women laughed again. Mary rose from the table and walked toward the four men who had finished barbecuing the food.

"Did you hear? A new lady in Congress, Mrs. Julia Goodman," Mary said to them.

"Madam Congresswoman? The person who said that anything is possible was right," Sam said

Mary looked at Sam trying to be serious and said, "Hear this, if you do not vote her, you will have to deal with us."

Anna helped her friend in the woman–man fight. "So, you'd better go and convince all the men in the entire country to vote her."

Anna's husband also enters into this game. "Should we go now, or do you want me to bring you something to eat first?"

"After eating!" said all four women as one voice, as they approach the table.

"Kids, it is time to eat!" yelled Julia.

All the children come quickly. They are hungry after running around and playing so hard. The husbands also come to the table, each one carrying a dish. They put the goodies on the table.

"Arthur, you can sit here, next to me. I won't bite you," said Anna to her brother-in-law. "For so long have I wanted to charm you, a man so good and rich," smiled Anna.

"But what about your husband, Anna?" Arthur asked.

"I'll give him to you!" she said.

Julia, looking at Anna's husband, said, "You know, dear sister, I think it's a good bargain. I could get used to a guy so young and beautiful."

Anna's husband is almost ten year younger than Julia, and he is an athlete. He's a football player in the little town's team, a small sports club.

"I agree," said Anna. "If I had so many relationships in Congress like you! Are you fine with that Arthur?"

"Anything that makes you both happy," said Arthur very serious.

The women all stop talking, because usually Arthur Goodman doesn't play their games, but this time he is, so everyone begins to laugh. Even Arthur, a serious man, smiles a little.

"Leave him alone, you snakes," said Mary smiling at the two women.

"Thank you," said Arthur, smiling at Mary.

But Mary becomes serious and grabs Arthur's arms and speaks to him with gratitude. "Thank you for helping our hospital and buying the medical equipment. I will speak to the mayer to put a placard with the names of the people who—"

"Mary, I told you that you shouldn't thank me every time we meet. Anyone else in my position would do the same thing for the children," said the man with a little frown, a bit upset.

"Yes, you told me not to, but you shouldn't get upset. You should know that no one else would do the same. How do I know? Because I talked to people—so many people! So, thanks again."

"Arthur," Anna says, changing the subject, "I heard you opened a new jewelry store. Julia boasted about it. How many do you have now?"

"We're doing pretty well, I can't complain, that's for sure!"

"Anna, ask him about the new hospital he just endowed!" intervened Julia.

"About that home for old people left alone in the world or abandoned by their children? That Hope for . . . them hospital? We already know about it."

"Not that one, the one for children," said Julia

"I know nothing about it. You didn't tell me about it."

"Oh, God! Sometimes you are so—" said Julia to her sister.

"Julia, we're eating, and they definitely don't want to be bored with such discussions," said Arthur upset.

Julia looks at her husband, also a little upset. It's obvious that she doesn't like that her husband does so much good for so many people and doesn't want to discuss about it.

"Oh, dear, you're so modest. So modest that sometimes you are boring."

"Julia, please," said Arthur

"Dear friends, do you want to be bored with such discussions?" Julia cuts Arthur words.

Everyone says all at once, "Of course we want to be!" They were all laughing.

Arthur smiled at them. "Okay, then I let my wife speak about it, as she is a better storyteller than I am."

"I think it's the fourth medical center," begins Julia.

"It's only the second, dear. The other two are for other purposes," said Arthur

"You said you would let me talk."

Arthur says nothing else, and then continues eating. And Julia begins to talk in her way—with lots of details.

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