Page 24 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04
Chapter Nine – Struggle
Mary Alice ElizabethWeston served as the Director of Philanthropy for the Burlington Eastern Santa Fe Railroad, which she simply referred to as the company.Upon taking the role five years prior, the philanthropic budget was a mere five million that was stretched to its limits giving to organizations that were already well funded.Her first job was to pull back the giving for a year, investing one million in emerging markets and green companies, which doubled the funds in the philanthropy accounts.By the end of the year, the five million had doubled and now five years later, Mae Weston oversaw an annual budget of nearly a billion dollars.The sheer amount of funds in the account placed a bullseye on her back because no one believed a woman who looked like Mae could sufficiently manage such a large fund.
However, Mae managed the fund with ease.Of the 102 counties in Illinois, in her second year in the role, the company had adopted one school from each county.A much-needed list was provided, and the company had made it happen for each school.Bookbags, school supplies, and books for local libraries were included in the giving.At properties near the railroads where no one wanted to live, Mae began an initiative of community gardens which took off in Illinois.In rural areas in the state where kids didn't have access to Wi-Fi, the company came into community centers providing internet services, and she became the toast of the company.
Mae was smart.She kept a low profile and was rarely seen and seldom heard from unless needed, which also provoked the ire of those jockeying for her job.Mae remained quiet, creating a book scholarship fund for the children of employees attending college and majoring in anything related to train science.
The third year, the philanthropic efforts expanded to Texas, centering on efforts in Fort Worth, the headquarters of the organization.Mae's philanthropic efforts supported the vagrant, especially women and children, who were often found in train stations trying to use the facilities or even find a well-lit place to sleep.This approach to helping the unhoused drew more backlash, and Mae volunteered to leave the position.
The CEO wouldn't accept her resignation, and instead placed her in the spotlight, cheering her efforts.His attempt at solidarity only increased the target on her back, and as she entered year four, the bloodhounds were after the fox.
“I don't see why she gets to pick and choose where the money is spent,” Laura Fishburn whined.“Does she even have a team, or is it just her?”
Clyde Walker, the CFO and overseer of the fund, cleared it up.“She has a staff of seven.Any dispersal of funds is cleared not only by me, but by the COO, and the CEO.Ms.Weston has done an amazing job.”
Laura Fishburn's jealousy only grew when she saw Mae in the train yard, climbing aboard a diesel engine that she was actually driving.It was now a personal vendetta against Mae as Laura rallied others to her cause.People Mae never heard of were being rude to her, giving her dirty looks and being snide for no reason.The job she had once loved, she currently hated, and arriving back in Chicago, she appreciated the peace of having dinner at a table with a man while listening to music.
There was no unnecessary talking or arguing over semantics like with her family each Sunday over dinner.A quiet life seemed ideal compared to the hell of walking into a building where it seemed everyone hated her guts for giving away money.
Sighing deeply, she parked her engine in the train yard, inside its barn.She made her way to the parking lot, finding her car with scratches down the sides, deep scratches made with a key into the black paint.At this point, she didn't even feel like being bothered with filing a report as she backed out of her assigned parking spot heading home.
On her way, she called Thom.The sound of his voice instantly made her feel better, although she was going home alone to a takeout dinner she would eat in front of the television.She had several shows she planned to watch over the next few days to decompress, and her voice was tense when he answered.
“I made it home,” she said.
“Sounds like something went wrong,” Thom said.
“An asshole keyed my car.Now there are deep scratches all over it, and I'm just, anyway, I'm home,” she said.
“Okay, I enjoyed your visit.You've given me lots to think about on ways to move forward with my ideas,” he said, pausing.
“Listen, Thom.I am going to text you my address,” Mae told him.“I don't feel like the coy game of texting and waiting a day to text back.Friday night, you have the choice of a deep dish and a pasta side with a salad and a red.Or I can do white or red meat with a starch and green veggie.You tell me.”
“Deep dish,” he said, smiling at the directness.
“We aren't going out either,” she told him.“It is a four-hour drive for you.The week is already sucking, and I have to go into the office tomorrow to more than likely coming face to face with the jack hole who vandalized my car.I want to end the week with some more of the quiet dinner with music and sexy time on the couch.”
“Sounds like a plan.I look forward to seeing you on Friday.Do you have an ideal arrival time for me?”
