This all seemed crazy on the surface but, I had now provided decent housing to all the military students and within their housing allowance. My orders had been to come up with a definition of the problems being faced and recommendations for solutions. I think I did that nicely.
After that crazy day, I left a father and son who were going out to celebrate with their families and headed back to The Meadows. There was a message from the Oxford Bursar’s office that the problems the military students were reporting were not within the purview of the University and that they couldn’t help.
Tomorrow I would arrange to get together with what I was beginning to think of as my cadre of Officers to arrange another meeting of all military students to let them know of the new housing possibilities. My luck they would say they would rather stay in their expensive pigsties.
I suspect when it all becomes public my name would be mud with both town and gown.
Chapter 20
During my run the next morning I was thinking about the events of yesterday. I started to calculate the number of purchases and economics when it hit me: I would be making a profit on the rental of Farmington Hall and the housing estate.
That wasn’t what I set out to do, and I didn’t think it would look good to any outsider. Even though the residents would be getting better conditions at a better price, I still could be accused of profiteering.
The more I thought about it the more nervous I got. By lunchtime, I was a wreck. Because of the time difference, I couldn’t get through to Jim Williamson until then.
I heaved a sigh of relief when he picked up his phone. I must have been hyperventilating a little because he told me to slow down.
“So Rick, you don’t want to be seen as taking advantage of the situation?”
“Not at all.”
“Okay let's do it this way, we will donate the properties to a trust fund. Jackson Enterprises will guarantee the loans but all monies will go through the trust. Any profits will be disbursed at the direction of the board of trustees.”
“Who would this board be?”
“There would be seven members consisting of Officers attending Oxford and living on the properties. There would be two US, two UK, and three from other countries. Each year the three groups would have a random lottery to select their representatives. That way there would be no entrenched group taking control.”
“This group would be responsible for setting policies in line with military practices. They would hire staff and ensure that the properties would be maintained and improved where needed. You would have no role in the operation under any circumstances.”
“Jim, how the heck did you sort all that out just now.”
“I didn’t, when I saw what was going on yesterday I contacted your parents. They have burned up the phone lines with the Pentagon and Whitehall to bail you out of this mess. Your heart was in the right place and the fundamental idea correct, but it would have been a public relations disaster for you.”
“I guess I will have to call home and eat some crow.”
“I’m afraid so, your Dad mentioned that he thought you had learned your lesson about making an urgent decision immediately and taking the time to think things through when you could.”
“Ouch, I did step in it. Thanks for your help, Jim.”
“No problem, boss, and don’t lose sight of the fact that the end result is a good thing.”
Wanting to hide and lick my wounds sounded like a good idea but I decided to get it over with. I did delay for fifteen minutes trying to calm down. I then called home. I was glad of the delay, Jim had called Dad and let him know that I had seen the error of my ways before they had to point them out to me.
It still wasn’t the most fun conversation I ever had. Not that Dad was mad, what bothered me most was how calm and nice he was. I thought he would be reading me my beads, but no we walked through the whole event.
His only remark was, “The guys with stars on their shoulders would have liked some input so they could have shared the glory.”
“I have a meeting set up with all the students, so maybe they could come and make the announcements?”
“That would smooth some feathers.”
“How do you think I should handle it?”
“Call your contacts at the Puzzle Palaces and see when they want to do it, the sooner the better.”
“You mean The Pentagon and Whitehall?’
“That’s what I said.”
“Okay, should I keep you posted?”
“Not my circus, not my monkeys, all yours, son.”
“Gee thanks, Dad, but seriously, thank you, Mum and Dad.”
“You are our circus and monkey combined, Rick.”
“As I said, thanks, Dad.”
At that, I got off the line. I was able to get through to General Sullivan, after a stilted conversation where I did my best not to say I screwed up, I let him know that I would appreciate it if he and the Air Vice Marshal could break the news to the military students.
He took it from there, contacted Air Vice Marshal Smyth, and called me back letting me know that I should arrange a meeting on Friday with all concerned. He and the Air Vice Marshal Smyth wanted to meet with me prior to the main meeting to make certain we were together on the project.
That was as close as the General came to say that I had been a Lone Ranger.
I arranged the meeting to be in the main dining room at Farmington Hall. I had some thoughts on renaming the hall
