Here we are again for chapter 15 of the Advent of Smouse,
Revelation.
After dinner,
The family gathers in the lounge to hear Smouse's proposal to resolve the problem.
Martin Black is visibly very uncomfortable and disconcerted with the presence of Smouse and mentor.
Even though he has accepted their existence,
He's sceptical about their ability to find a solution.
But as there appears to be no other answer,
He is willing to go along.
The Melbourne office and city store are managing with the selected staff.
But the regulars are due back in the morning.
Reports from across the globe are still disastrous.
He slumps back in his chair.
Smouse perches on the arm of Perry's chair.
Mentor settles at Vera Black's feet.
Perry,
To her mother's embarrassment,
Is excitedly describing the new painting.
Smouse waits for her to finish and for them all to settle.
He starts by asking them about their observations from the morning visit to their neighbour's store.
To his surprise,
Martin Black sits up and is the first to respond.
He admits that he went back to the store on the way home to see how his computer was behaving.
Perfectly,
Not like the ones in his office.
And,
His wife prompts him,
What did you think?
He gives her a surprised look.
Well,
She persists.
It looked out of place,
He finally admits.
Sort of aggressive and.
.
.
His voice tapers off.
I thought the same thing,
She says.
That's one of the things I went to check on when we were there.
Do you think it's just because it's black,
Mum?
Ex is curious.
No,
It's not the colour.
It's more than that.
The whole store has a balance and a harmony in its furnishings and colour and Dad's computer doesn't fit in.
Ex nods knowingly.
Feng shui.
Even Smouse raises his eyebrows.
Feng shui mimics Perry.
Ex shakes his head in mock despair before explaining that he'd been talking to Taku about the shop's design while they were making the drinks.
It's to do with balance,
Colour,
Flow and energy.
It's the way the furniture is placed and where you sit.
The inclusion of plants and natural light.
The different sections are separate but part of the whole design concept.
I looked it up.
He addresses his father.
You could do that,
Dad.
It helps create a more harmonious workplace.
It's sort of peaceful.
He stops abruptly,
Suddenly aware of his own enthusiasm.
His mother leans across and pats him on the arm.
That's exactly it,
Ex.
I really noticed the natural light,
The colours and the plants.
That semi-outdoor area was lovely,
Very calming.
She turns to her husband.
What do you think,
Marty?
I did feel that,
He agrees,
But surely that's not going to help my computer's work.
Not by itself,
Mr Black.
Mentor lets the answer to his question flow into his mind.
But as a consideration for the future,
Martin Black nods thoughtfully to himself.
So what else needs to happen and how are we going to fix my immediate problem?
Peri takes a deep breath before she speaks.
Well,
Dad,
I've noticed that most of your staff,
Especially the computer technicians,
The managers,
The finance group and sales team are guys.
The only females are your secretary and the checkout girls.
Taku has a mix of both on the sales floor,
In management,
In the workshop and at the checkouts.
They work as a team too,
Not in competition with each other.
Taku seems to take a real interest in them and he got us our drinks.
He didn't make one of the girls get them.
Like X,
She stops suddenly,
Worried that she'd gone too far.
I don't see what difference that makes.
Her father's tone is sharp.
Peri's right,
Dad.
It's part of the balance.
X cuts in quickly to support his system.
Your guys are more aggressive,
Especially as you have a payment by result bonus system.
Possibly but really,
His father shakes his head.
Anyway it's too late to change my staff before the launch.
There was something else.
Vera Black changes the direction of the discussion.
When I went back into Taku's shop,
I felt something in the air.
Mouse smiles as she tunes into her memory.
Like music.
X suddenly sits up straight as he recalls.
That's right,
Mum.
And I noticed that Taku and the computer girl were whistling.
Both strain their memories to recapture the feeling.
Neither Peri nor her father has any idea what they're talking about.
Sam.
The name echoes in their heads.
Mouse smiles and Mentor sits up as each member of the family puzzles over the significance of Sam.
Sam?
What's Sam got to do with it?
Peri asks the question for them all.
They fix their attention on Mouse and when he just smiles and lifts his paws palms up on Mentor,
She smiles too.
And a gentle,
Barely audible sound of the earth and music flows through the room.
Music?
Sam?
X suddenly makes the connection.
That's it.
That's what it was like.
But more than that.
It was like the wind and water and Sam's clarinet.
He peters out and turns to his mother who is nodding in agreement.
His father and Peri stare at him in bewilderment.
Neither of them had heard any music.
Martin Black's patience is wearing thin.
This is getting them nowhere.
He starts to speak but is stopped by Mouse's strong,
Clear words.
Mr.
Black,
Your son is correct.
Strange as it may seem,
We think the subtle flow of Sam's music combined with his sounds of nature play a huge part in creating an ambience in his father's store that produces a harmonious environment that provides a friendly and positive experience for both his staff and customers.
He pauses momentarily but as Martin Black opens his mouth to respond,
He quickly continues.
With your permission,
We'd like to try an experiment tomorrow using Sam.
If it works,
We can set it up in your stores as a temporary measure and Tamari will create some hidden software to be installed in all of your current new computers until you have time to implement change.
As he and Mentor fix their gaze on Martin Black as he tries to get his head around the idea,
His mind spins,
Colours float behind his eyes,
The sound of wind reverberates in his ears,
The room seems to fall away.
For a moment,
Everything is a blur,
Then his vision returns and he sees himself and all his computers in sharp black against a bright light.
The computers start to slide away into redness.
He watches as one by one they disappear.
Desperately he grabs hold of the last one and finds himself staring into the eyes of a red devil.
Taken by surprise,
He almost lets go.
The devil seems to grow bigger as the seconds pass.
A fierce struggle ensues as it tries to take the last computer and Martin Black has almost given up when he feels strong.
Slim arms grasp him around his waist and a familiar voice whispers in his ear.
Don't worry,
Mr Black,
I'm here.
We're right now,
Black and white together.
The power of my music and all of the colours within us can overcome anything.
It's his young neighbour,
Sam Shiro.
As they pull together,
The devil becomes smaller and smaller until it finally disappears.
One by one,
All the computers reappear,
Now in black and white.
Sam dissolves into the white.
The sound of wind reverberates in Martin Black's ears as the computers transform into full colour.
The colours float behind his eyes and blind him.
Martin,
Martin,
Marty.
His wife's voice brings him back to the moment.
Are you okay?
He blinks and refocuses.
Martin's eyes are on him.
Suddenly his mind is clear.
He smiles broadly at her and assures her he is fine.
Then he turns to Smouse.
Tomorrow he says,
With Sam,
What time?
That is the end of chapter 15.
Join me again next time for chapter 16.
