Revarsal of Fortune

To say that 18-year old Charlie Brisbane comes from a wealthy family would be an understatement. Four generations ago, his Great-Grandfather came to America penniless and alone. He arrived with a dream, and the tenacity to make it come true. Charles D. Brisbane the patriarch, Landed in New York Harbor, and like so many others, he wanted nothing more than a chance, just a chance to live the “American Dream.” 

When his grandfather took control of the company form his great grandfather, it had gone from a small business started with a $500 loan, to a company with cash reserves in excess of $2.5 million dollars. This may not seem like much money these days, but in 1946 it was plenty.

In 1976, Charles grandfather retired and appointed Charlie’s uncle and father as the President and Vice President. However, conflict soon developed between them. Charlie’s uncle was ruthless, much like all of the Brisbane men who came before him. Charlie’s father was the first Brisbane to see the good in people, regardless of who they are, and how much money they have. Charlie has grown up to be much like his father. This can only spell trouble, because honesty, kindness, and sympathy are not seen as positive traits to the Brisbane men. They are seen as signs of weakness and a great cause for concern.

Charlie’s father learned this valuable lesion when he fell in love with a coffee shop waitress. This put him in serious jeopardy of being cut out of the family fortune. He tried his best to get his family to look beyond her social status, and see the good qualities. 

Once he saw that he could not convince his family, he relented. He ended up getting married to the daughter of a wealthy businessman, and friend of the family. In the social circles that the Brisbane’s belong to, a wealthy girl like this is called a debutant. To the rest of the world, she’s just a stuck up, rich bitch. But in early 1986, this rich bitch got pregnant with Brisbane semen, and 9 months later she gave birth and became Charlie’s mother. 

The family mansion was one of the largest in the quaint city of San Marino, California. Charlie’s great grandfather built the mansion during the worst moments of great depression. This was the way of thinking for the Brisbane’s. Many people where out of work and starving during those years. Nevertheless, Charlie’s great grandfather was having a 25,000 square foot mansion built by artisans and craftsman from all over the country. 

In 1996, Charlie’s uncle was arrested for fraud. It was all over the newspaper and Charlie started to have problems at the private school he had attended. Once the word gets out that your wealth is in jeopardy, it will take you less than a second to count all of your friends.

His father was also suspected in taking part in the fraud but he was not arrested at that time. The company began to flounder and for the first time, money was something that the Brisbane’s could spend as if there was an endless supply. By the time that Charlie was in his last years of high school, things got real bad for the Brisbane’s. He had to leave private school and attend public school. His mother was very upset by this because she didn’t want Charlie exposed to “common trash” as she referred to all families valued below a million dollars. 

Charlie knew better then to bring home just any friend at random. He would have to have a ballpark figure of what the friend’s family was worth. His mother could be cruel, and has been cruel. Years earlier, when Charlie wanted to play with kids who did not meet his mother’s financial standards, she would verbally attack. Very often she would send little boys home in tears with a notes for their mother’s much like this.

“Dear Mrs. _________________

While my son Charlie act’s with the best of intentions, he often fails to see the harm in selecting playmates outside of his social, and economic strata. I’m sure that you and Mr. _____________
Will appreciate not having to suffer the embarrassment of having to explain to your son ________ the reasons why you are unable to provide the type of lifestyle that Mr. Brisbane and I have provided for Charlie. I am sure that the decision to allow your son, _____________ to come to the Brisbane Estate was simply an oversight. Therefore, I expect that no further visits will occur going forward.

Regards,

For this reason, Charlie was always careful when he developed a friendship with someone that he may later intend to invite home after school or over the weekend. When Charlie was in the 11th grade he became friends with a guy who’s dad was worth a bundle. He knew that his mother would approve of Chad. Charlie and Chad became good friends and as he suspected, his mother was fine with it. Charlie has always wondered what it would be like to have a brother, and in so many ways, Chad had solved that mystery for him. Charlie was the happiest that he’s ever been since leaving the academy. But as any Brisbane will tell you, happiness is often the calm before the storm. If one is not careful, he will be looking in the wrong direction when trouble arrives. Charlie was looking in the wrong direction. 

Without warning or explanation, Charlie was told that Chad was no longer welcomed in their home and he was forbidden to even speak with to Chad. Most 17-year olds on the brink of adulthood will have developed the nerve to demand an explanation, even from a parent. Charlie was different; he understood perfectly well that to question it would only solicit the reply. Do as I say, not as I do. The truth of the matter was that Mrs. Brisbane heard in the gossip circle why Chad was removed from private school. It was said that when a staff member found Chad sitting at a teacher’s desk, pale and moaning, she went to help Chad to his feet, but discovered another male student, under the desk with his mouth attached to Chad’s penis.

As if Charlie didn’t have enough problems, he couldn’t figure out why being away from Chad made him feel like crying. He was more sad then mad and that was not the way to be if your last name is Brisbane. Nevertheless, he’d honor his mother wishes and not speak to Chad even though they passed each other several times a day at school. 

Something was wrong, but Charlie couldn’t put his finger on it. It all came to a head one day after school as Charlie sat in a tree by the sports field. He was watching the La Crosse team practice when he saw Chad. He watched Chad take control of the game and noticed how strong his calves looked as he ran. The sun had made Chad’s hair a lighter shade of blonde and Charlie liked the way it looked, a lot. They must have Chad working out regularly, because Charlie was drawn to how fit Chad’s body had become in the short time that haven’t spoken. After practice, Charlie watched as the players headed for the shower. Half of them began to remove their team shirts in route to the locker room and Chad was among that half. Charlie closed his eyes and imagined the scene inside the locker room. He quickly put these thought out of his mind when his penis began to become noticeable on the exterior of his Dockers.

Something was happening to Charlie. He wanted to talk to Chad and feel that shiver and sudden need to inhale when Chad was close to him. He started to get teary-eyed as he sat alone in that tree. He couldn’t believe that he missed Chad’s friendship so much, or so he thought it was only friendship. He wondered if he’d even remember the sound of Chad’s voice? As much as Charlie could have used some worry free time to discover what all boys like him do eventually discover, it will have to wait. And thereby, putting an end to the destiny that had been predicted for Charlie and Chad. 

It’s not widely known by many, that everyday people face circumstances and make choices that change their destiny away from its predicted probable outcome. It was a predicted probability that Charlie would defy his mother’s wishes today and resume his friendship with Chad. Together, they where supposed to come to understand, and accept their sexuality as they fell deeply in love. But the continuum in this destiny will be altered in a few minutes, and thereby changed forever. Charlie is supposed to get down from the tree and go talk to Chad, but he doesn’t.

For this reason, Chad will not be killed on October 5, 2019 at 32 years of age. He will not be driving east on Foothill Boulevard approaching an intersection. He was supposed to not see a red light as he approached Sierra Madre Street. The delivery truck speeding south will not hit Charlie’s car, killing Chad on impact. Also, Charlie will not take his own life, three months later with a single gunshot wound to the head. There will be no note found next to Charlie’s body explaining that Chad’s death was his fault. He won’t have to blame himself for being too drunk to drive, which is why Chad was in the driver’s seat. This destiny is being rewritten as Charlie sits in that tree unable to shake an uneasy feeling that has something to do with Chad. 

Charlie can’t understand why he is crying as he sits in that tree looking at Chad. He’s supposed to climb down and walk over and talk to him. He wants too so badly and for a brief moment he decides to do exactly that. He climbs down from the tree, but the very second that his feet touch the earth, an incredible pain rips through Charlie’s head, and it hurts very badly. It’s better that Charlie feels it now as an intuition, rather then 15 years from now as a 9mm bullet being fired into the right side of his head. He knows that the pain is a warning of some sort. Brisbane’s always listen to instinct.

Something in his subconscious mind is screaming “Runaway! If you really love him you’ll runaway now! Go Charlie! Get the fuck out of here before its too late!” Charlie decided to choose another time to talk to Chad. That time will never come to pass. Charlie’s life will take a dramatic turn when he gets home from school today. He has just rewritten the future without the slightest clue.

Chad fades out of Charlie’s life forever. It is now an absolute probability that on a cold November day in 2059. Chad will die quietly at the age of 72. Charlie will enter Chad’s mind and occupy the last 2 minutes and 17 seconds of his life before he dies. Chad’s wife and two surviving children will be there at his side. Chad’s oldest son, Charlie died tragically in a traffic accident at the age of 32. He ran a red light and collided with a delivery truck killing him on impact. This is the downside of changing your predicated destiny, because someone else will always have to take your place.

When Charlie arrived home today, reporters are gathered in front of his house. He walked past them and went around the corner where he could climb over the wall by the guesthouse.

Charlie’s father was arrested at the company head quarters today. Police had discovered evidence that prove he helped his uncle try to cover up the fraud activity that sent his uncle to prison for 5-years ago. The family business was is bad shape. The unspeakable was now a great probability. For the first time ever, the Brisbane family fortune was in trouble. They found out soon after Charlie’s dad was convicted and went off to prison, that the family fortune had dwindled down to less than $2 million dollars.

The school year ended and Charlie became very depressed. He planned to seclude himself behind the walls of the family mansion, and never leave. He couldn’t take the whispers and people staring at him.
That plan didn’t last very long. The need for cash forced Charlie’s mother to fire the staff and abandon the huge estate. They could not survive if they continued to pay for the upkeep of the 16 room family mansion. Charlie’s mother found a wealthy movie producer who agreed to lease the estate for $25,000.00 per month. Charlie and his mother will be relocating to a much smaller house about 2 miles away. To the average person, this new house would be huge. It has 5 bedrooms with a bathroom in every bedroom. It also had a small guesthouse in the back, and at just over 4,500 square feet; it was more then enough for a mother and son. To a rich bitch like Charlie’s mother, it was a shack.