The Ten of Them: chapter 16

In our last chapter we discovered a treasure buried by our great-great-great-grandfather John Thurgood, among the gold and silver were several stock certificates from 1929. The fall of Wall Street that year brought about bank collapses and the start of the Great Depression. That led to our great-great- great-grandfather doing his best to safeguard is wealth for the family’s future. He buried a good portion of his wealth. But his death brought about problems in the family, which led to my great, great, grandmother leaving. Our great-great-grandfather died in the spring of 1932 before grandma’s sixth birthday. Our great-great-grandmother left here about six months later as best we can figure.


I made contact to my lawyers in California. They advised me under no circumstance that I am to permit companies to simply take the stock certificates. They suggest that the experts be allow to examine the stock only with one or more family members present, they heavily emphasize more. The lawyers feared, that the corporations. Fearing the loss of so much money would be willing to cheat, lie and steal to prevent that. They suggest that we get our own experts to verify the stock as well.

It took us a week to locate a competent lab capable of doing an independent analysis on the stocks, we hired them. A week later we had experts for us beginning the evaluation. The stocks were treated like evidence and were continually under video surveillance throughout the process. This particular lab works with several government agencies and was highly recommended, both for their technical superiority and credibility.

The companies were yet to provide experts to begin their evaluation. That worries me, I’ve read enough detective novels to know something’s up.

It only took fifteen days for our experts to determine they were genuine. They had an impressive amount of science behind their findings as well. They have even done DNA analysis on every piece of paper to determine who have handled the stocks certificates. They use trace skin samples from the documents. What they determine was no one outside the family had ever handled the stocks. Well not since 1929, and then they only found one DNA and from the genetic markers he was our great- great- great-great grandfather.

The lab informed me they’ve set a copy on to each of the companies in question. IBM was the first to agree with their findings. Each of the other companies, still have their experts take a look at our stock certificates. I wouldn’t allow them to leave with the certificates. The corporations wanted to call foul. I simply put them in touch with my lawyers. A week later, and a threat to take all the back dividend payments, all the way back to 1929 had them scrambling to negotiate. We agreed on the last four years of back dividend payments, and arrange a payment schedule.

I also have stock experts determine how many times each company split in the last eighty-three years. We needed to determine exactly how many stock we owned. Needless to say my estimation that I gave the family was low and if we combine our stock we easily could take a board seat on any of the three corporations.

Grandma left for home two days after we found the treasure. After a total accounting Kathryn, Sam, and I went to Grandma’s home for a visit. Information of this kind Kathryn and I wanted to give in person. I have to personally let Grandma know that the total was almost fifty-one billion dollars before dividend checks and taxes. Since the treasure wasn’t in a trust with most likely have the inheritance tax.

Grandma took the news well, laughing until she cried. She asks, “Have you told anyone else in the family?”

Sam giggles, “Daddy packed me in the car before he let me know.”

I chuckled and say, “No, I haven’t told anyone else in the family and only telling Kathryn and Sam once we were safely away from the house.”

Sam giggles, “I want to tell everybody how rich they are.”

I take a deep breath and look to grandma then back to Sam. I want to explain this in a way that Sam will understand. I wonder if there is a way to explain it so it sounds fair to a four-year-old who loves everyone in the family. Before I can say anything grandma says, “Sam, the way I was planning on dividing it not everyone was going to get some.”

Now confuse Sam asks, “It so much, why not?”

Grandma begins, “Well I didn’t know it was this much to start. I want to make sure you get some too. You did help find it. You’re after all my cousin, and family makes sure you are taking care of.”

Sam giggles again, “Mommy and Daddy are cousins too. They make sure I am taking care of. Mommy makes sure I brush my teeth and do all the right things. Daddy makes sure I have fun. They both help me learn new things, like math, science and geography.” Sam pauses for a second and with a giggle she continues, “Great Grandma did you know if we give everybody an equal share we would still be billionaires.”

Bright smile comes across Grandma Elizabeth’s face as she says, “That is the best idea Sam. Michael has so many children, compared to Maggie and George.”

Sam points out, “They are all my aunts and uncles and I love them all. They should get as much as everybody else. Great Grandma, Daddy is going to say he doesn’t want any, but that isn’t fair too. Everybody in the family should get the same.”

I point out to Sam, “Sam if I get the same as everyone else, Kathryn and I being married look like we get more. Besides that were already billionaires my beautiful Sam.”

Grandma sets me straight at this point. She says, “John Joseph Meyer you’re just as much family as anyone. You will get an equal part. If it was anyone else they would keep the whole thing. Don’t think we all know what you’re doing and why.” She steps forward wraps me in a warm hug and kisses me on the cheek. “We all know that the treasure truly is yours because you owned the land now. If you want to share with the family that’s fine, but there’s no way we’re letting you cut yourself out. You can do it equally or keep it all.”

I guess grandma made her decision and accepted Sam’s idea of sharing it equally. There’s no way I am keeping all of it. Grandma backing me I’m sure the rest of the family will agree to equal shares. Michael will because it sees his children getting what they deserve. Uncle George will because legally knows the decision truly rests with me. Marshall will not have a problem this way too. An idea hits me and I decide to push the point. I say, “As long as Sam decides who gets the shares.”
Sam giggles and names everyone in the family including Grandma Helen and Aunt Misty, when she gets to Aunt Alyssa she explains she is marrying Uncle George after all, and then she adds Joan and Johnny. Sam takes a breath and adds her Aunt MC she says, “We are all the family she has. If it wasn’t for us Michelle would be all alone.”

This gave each family member Sam named, over a billion, actually after taxes 1.2 billion. I tried to refuse again, but grandma wouldn’t hear of it. She said, “The money you and Kathryn have already, you worked for. This money belongs to the entire family which you are part of.”

The rest of the family agreed with that. I guess they always knew I would always have their back and nothing will change that. What my brother-in-law’s said, “If ever I’m in a fight I want JJ at my side.”

One of the first things that happened was a major shopping trip. We were ready for our annual shopping trip before everyone return to school, when I brought out the prepaid visa cards. They all laughed and handed them back, then they handed me one from each of them. Laughing Helen told me, “For once we get to have the fun of treating you.” I give each of them a hug and kiss. I was a little surprised to find MC there too, but like Sam said she is part of the family now.

They dragged me into several men’s shops and by the end of the trip I had a complete new wardrobe. The way the girls laughed and giggled they enjoyed dressing me in new clothes even more and buying for themselves. Of course they made Sam have me to try on things knowing I wouldn’t turn her down. By the end of the trip, I figured out the family knew Kathryn and Sam had me wrapped around their little fingers.

The interesting thing the Coach refused to quit his teaching position. His three sons and Maria remained in college. Michelle worked with my mother. Kara and Karen are still planning on going to high school and college. We decided not to advertise our wealth more than is already known. The only thing that they say when I asked them, “We’re doing what we love, Dad’s always said find something you love and work it that.” They usually added, “We do have the money now to pick and choose who we work for, and if we ever get tired of our job a long vacation.”

Thankfully Kathryn’s morning sickness didn’t last very long, but she has cravings, sometimes for some very odd things. That saw me driving very far to find what she wanted. That led me to getting a twenty-four hour drugstore in our little town. I got the current drugstore owner to expand his services, and build a new store near our mall.

Kathryn and I have a full-time job in homeschooling Sam, she loves to learn and is nearly finished the first grade material, another week and she should be done with the first grade.

We also help the family manage their wealth, helping them diversify some of the wealth from our massive dividend checks. Fortunately our little class helps a lot with this. Marshall and Misty help Uncle George. Kathryn and I help the Edwards and Sam.

MC keeps shaking her head at our luck. She asked once, “You think it’s karma? The more you help people more the universe just throws your way.”

Laughing I get a sense we’re actually not the only ones. I say, “Yes. The more I turn around and help others the more I seem to get in return. When I help others with no true expectation of pay or greater compensation for the help I give. The universe, or God, or the angels seem to place more in my hands. It’s like they’re saying you did so good so far let’s see what you can do now.”

The rest of the family seems to follow in my example in this. They each have picked several businesses to sponsor, and unlike so much of the nation our little town seems to be turning around. Even some of this year’s graduates that had moved away for jobs elsewhere have returned home and found work. We’ve even help a few of those individuals start new companies right here in our local community.

Mom’s project with the theater took on a new turn when she partnered with the local restaurants. Two of the restaurants were on the same block as the theater. What started as Mom giving discounts for those who eaten at the local restaurants, transformed into a dinner and a movie. Mom converted the balcony to a dining area. Ordering from the restaurant’s menus, you get your food served right in the theater balcony. It makes for a more interesting dining experience. That is quickly becoming a tradition with some of the young people, with many becoming regulars on their date nights.

We took a cue from that upscale renovated neighborhood. We’re not going to compete with the major discount chains. We’re going to provide what they don’t. Misty is taking over one of the vacant stores for an art studio and gallery. I was surprised at some of the local talent we have here in this area. I and MC use our influence to get several magazines to feature some of her art and others.

Our main Street started becoming like an open-air mall, some of the more upscale retailers moved into the old storefronts. We were able to save most, but a few are too far gone and have to be rebuilt in the same style architecturally as the old storefronts, we will rebuild two now and two more will be replace later. A notable high-end retailer wanted one a larger space took both buildings demolished the old and rebuilt new ones in the same style match the rest of Main Street. The amount of upscale retailers our little town quickly become a destination for shopping. We were closer than some of the major cities to a lot of people and we now provided nearly everything that you could get in one of the major cities. Our local mall actually is expanding as well, adding several new department stores on its edges.

We figured out which one was grandpa’s old grocery and we were able to save it. I think great grandpa doesn’t mind, it now holds a new clothing store, one of the upscale ones you would find in any high-end mall. It seems to fit right in with the store, and Kathryn and I actually get a good feeling when we shop there. One of our returning classmates is running the store, with us as his silent partner.

Michael to help his construction crew purchased one of the dilapidated farms at the edge of town and subdivided into very large lots for upscale houses. We are far enough away from the major cities of the area for him to create a weekend retreat community, not a major tourist trap but a great place to have some fun on the weekend. As long as we don’t let it get overly large we should be would keep a fairly good demand up and bring in some much needed dollars to the community.

Michael’s construction crews are busy building those and the homes for Marshall, Misty, Joan, and MC. Johnny, Joan and Alyssa are moving in with Uncle George in his home in town. The judge has a very large home and they can stay until Joan’s house is finished. Construction has begun on their houses. MC’s house is first under construction then Marshall’s and Joan’s.

Daniel is very busy nowadays; architecture weekly featured him and the floor plan of MC’s house. Several of the lots have sold and he is designing homes for our future residents.

One thing we seen, after doing some advertising suggesting this is a great place to spend your weekends, our three bed and breakfast inns now completely booked for months. Rumor has it two more are in planning to open in the near future.

Foot traffic on Main Street during weekends has gone up drastically; even if people can’t get a bed to stay overnight they’re coming for a day. The Marina is completely full, and plans to expand, considering it only had twenty-four slips this is a very good thing. People keeping their boats here mean that they will return several weekends a month for the entire summer.

Mary’s and Bobby’s restaurant is seeing progressively more profit and now they supporting lunch and a movie on Saturday and Sunday. They had hired an extra cook and more wait staff just for the weekends. The weekdays are still fairly slow, but that might change some of the B&Bs reporting their getting bookings for weekdays.

George and Alyssa had decided to use the boat house for their reception after our insistence. They chose September twenty-second first day of fall for their wedding. That will shortly be here. I’m not looking forward to losing Alyssa; she has quickly become part of the family. We may have to hire another person to take over her duties when she’s gone. It’s not like she’ll be totally out of our life, but Mom so busy with the theater she has little time to do some of the things Alyssa took over.

Marshall and Misty are here most days. Misty and Kathryn fix lunch and we trade when we find one too profitable to ignore. Most days we spent with Sam, like I said Sam is almost finished the first grade of her homeschool.

At the pace Sam is keeping with her schoolwork she will be graduating high school around her tenth or eleventh birthday. I insisted that she takes a week or two off between grade levels. I wasn’t sure what we can do, during those weeks off with Sam. We might just hang around the house, or take a small trip to let Sam experience some of the things she actually learned about.

The school year approaching and I will be training self-defense at the high school. When I talked to the administration about my classes I was to instruct, they requested I start doing two class periods a day. One for a beginner’s class and a second advanced class, I should be able to do that. I talked to Kathryn about it and she agreed. It was definitely something that was required and I can provide easily.

Like us swimming laps when we started doing our Karta again Sam joined in on those also. Her young body stretched easily as she caught onto the steps and movements of the exercises quickly. Sam picked up martial arts as quickly as she picked up swimming. Sam can easily go through the steps that would earn her third belt if I trained that way. Sam had the knowledge her body only lacked the size to allow her to do most throws. She did have speed on her side and her small fists left a few bruises on me before Sam learned how to pull her punches.