"First off," Norman said as Xavier sat smoking, listening to his friend's plans "I want to keep this suite for a few more days. Now, first thing Monday morning I'm going to go look at any available spaces, maybe in Soho. I just need a small shop for all my new equipment! Maybe with a flat above it. Get rid of the answering service, have my own line upstairs and downstairs, maybe hire some young bird to answer the phones and help customers."
"You should install a wall of post office boxes, a lot of men have them so their wives do not see all the bills and bank statements. You could also do well to put in an automated teller." Xavier said trying to help his friend with ideas on how to grow his small business.
"Automated what? Teller?" Norman looked confused.
"It is a computerized machine that dispenses money to people, if they have an A.T.M. card from their bank. You would be paid a certain amount every month from the bank for letting them place the machine in your establishment. The more people use it, the more money you make." Norman had never heard of such a thing so Xavier explained that the Bank of America had the machine designed and built for the brokers on Wall Street on the island of Manhattan, who needed access to fast cash on weekends when the banks were closed way back in 1968.
"What, the coke dealers and prostitutes wouldn't take a check?" Norman asked laughing knowing just exactly what a man would need fast cash for on the weekend. He was absolutely correct.
The two men shared a laugh, then spoke of the new work van Norman wanted to buy. Now as he smoked more of the marijuana cigarette Norman's dreams and plans for wealth grew more in breadth, width and scope. Of all this, Xavier was well pleased to hear for he was glad to see his good friend did, indeed, have ambition. For ambition was extremely important to Xavier Antonio de la Rosa Diaz, who, when Norman had finished telling of his financial aspirations, began to tell of his plans for the sudden, unexpected cash.
"Have you heard of a company called I.B.M.?" Xavier asked as Norman shook his head no. "They are making huge advances in computer systems. No longer does one computer take up an entire room, they now are small enough to sit on a desk." Norman did not look too interested, mainly because he knew nothing of computers, or science, or the new modern age of technology. In fact, Norman was still amazed by the pager he had from the answering service that would beep to let him know to call the service operator. Nonetheless Xavier did his best to enlighten Norman. "Back in April, I.B.M. introduced the Apple II at a Computer Faire on the West Coast, in California, we have one at the University, but it's for upperclassmen only right now. From everything I have heard, and the promises from this company, I am absolutely astounded."
"What promises?" Norman asked as he inhaled off the smoldering spliff.
"They say in ten or fifteen years the computers will be smaller, faster and people will live in 'electronic villages' where you can do all your work from home, read newspapers, magazines, take classes, order clothes and food and such." Xavier said with a spark of enthusiasm, wide eyed, heart racing "And one day, you will be able trade stock on your computer, it's all done through the phone lines." Norman knew Xavier was working hard on his degrees in business and finance, and he was happy to see his friend get so excited about something. "So I have a class project for next year. Each finance student must invest in a company with our own money and manage the portfolio as if we were our own clients, and thanks to you! I now have more than enough to buy some stock." Xavier said as he reached over slapping Norman on the knee as he smiled.
"Wha'd'ya gonna invest in, then mate?"
"I.B.M. of course! They are the way of the future."
Now Norman knew nothing of stock, or price quotes, or capital gains, or puts or calls, but he had a great big, fat, pile of cash and he had a gut feeling to trust Xavier's intelligence in the matter, so he said "How much are the shares?"
"Well, it's an American company and on the New York Stock Exchange it was going for $28.00 a share at the closing bell on Friday.., that's about 18 or 19 pounds here. Why?"
"Look, if I give you, say a thousand pounds, how many shares would that get me?" Norman asked with a serious, clear eyed expression.
"You want to invest in the stock market?" Xavier said his mouth hanging open.
"Why not, what could be the harm, besides if I lose it all, then it was only a thousand pounds, not like it was really my money to begin with in the first place." Norman laughed along with Xavier who set his clever mind to the numbers, calculating the investment.
"52!" Xavier said "52 shares, that is what a thousand will get you." Xavier informed him assuring him I.B.M. stock would only go up, due to the companies computer engineering advances. So Norman went over to his new leather attache case and pulled out ten, one hundred pound notes handing the money over to his friend.
"Listen I can put an order to sell when ever you want this back." Xavier reassured him, though Norman needed no assurance, for he had a good feeling about this deal having the utmost faith and fully confident in Xavier, whom he felt would never steer him wrong.
"You should install a wall of post office boxes, a lot of men have them so their wives do not see all the bills and bank statements. You could also do well to put in an automated teller." Xavier said trying to help his friend with ideas on how to grow his small business.
"Automated what? Teller?" Norman looked confused.
"It is a computerized machine that dispenses money to people, if they have an A.T.M. card from their bank. You would be paid a certain amount every month from the bank for letting them place the machine in your establishment. The more people use it, the more money you make." Norman had never heard of such a thing so Xavier explained that the Bank of America had the machine designed and built for the brokers on Wall Street on the island of Manhattan, who needed access to fast cash on weekends when the banks were closed way back in 1968.
"What, the coke dealers and prostitutes wouldn't take a check?" Norman asked laughing knowing just exactly what a man would need fast cash for on the weekend. He was absolutely correct.
The two men shared a laugh, then spoke of the new work van Norman wanted to buy. Now as he smoked more of the marijuana cigarette Norman's dreams and plans for wealth grew more in breadth, width and scope. Of all this, Xavier was well pleased to hear for he was glad to see his good friend did, indeed, have ambition. For ambition was extremely important to Xavier Antonio de la Rosa Diaz, who, when Norman had finished telling of his financial aspirations, began to tell of his plans for the sudden, unexpected cash.
"Have you heard of a company called I.B.M.?" Xavier asked as Norman shook his head no. "They are making huge advances in computer systems. No longer does one computer take up an entire room, they now are small enough to sit on a desk." Norman did not look too interested, mainly because he knew nothing of computers, or science, or the new modern age of technology. In fact, Norman was still amazed by the pager he had from the answering service that would beep to let him know to call the service operator. Nonetheless Xavier did his best to enlighten Norman. "Back in April, I.B.M. introduced the Apple II at a Computer Faire on the West Coast, in California, we have one at the University, but it's for upperclassmen only right now. From everything I have heard, and the promises from this company, I am absolutely astounded."
"What promises?" Norman asked as he inhaled off the smoldering spliff.
"They say in ten or fifteen years the computers will be smaller, faster and people will live in 'electronic villages' where you can do all your work from home, read newspapers, magazines, take classes, order clothes and food and such." Xavier said with a spark of enthusiasm, wide eyed, heart racing "And one day, you will be able trade stock on your computer, it's all done through the phone lines." Norman knew Xavier was working hard on his degrees in business and finance, and he was happy to see his friend get so excited about something. "So I have a class project for next year. Each finance student must invest in a company with our own money and manage the portfolio as if we were our own clients, and thanks to you! I now have more than enough to buy some stock." Xavier said as he reached over slapping Norman on the knee as he smiled.
"Wha'd'ya gonna invest in, then mate?"
"I.B.M. of course! They are the way of the future."
Now Norman knew nothing of stock, or price quotes, or capital gains, or puts or calls, but he had a great big, fat, pile of cash and he had a gut feeling to trust Xavier's intelligence in the matter, so he said "How much are the shares?"
"Well, it's an American company and on the New York Stock Exchange it was going for $28.00 a share at the closing bell on Friday.., that's about 18 or 19 pounds here. Why?"
"Look, if I give you, say a thousand pounds, how many shares would that get me?" Norman asked with a serious, clear eyed expression.
"You want to invest in the stock market?" Xavier said his mouth hanging open.
"Why not, what could be the harm, besides if I lose it all, then it was only a thousand pounds, not like it was really my money to begin with in the first place." Norman laughed along with Xavier who set his clever mind to the numbers, calculating the investment.
"52!" Xavier said "52 shares, that is what a thousand will get you." Xavier informed him assuring him I.B.M. stock would only go up, due to the companies computer engineering advances. So Norman went over to his new leather attache case and pulled out ten, one hundred pound notes handing the money over to his friend.
"Listen I can put an order to sell when ever you want this back." Xavier reassured him, though Norman needed no assurance, for he had a good feeling about this deal having the utmost faith and fully confident in Xavier, whom he felt would never steer him wrong.
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