I don't want my parents' life

Aditi Horsburgh, 25, works as a PA in London

My dad works in the hotel industry, and that is a 24-hour job. He has always worked really hard. A lot of the time he could not take holidays or spend time with us. I appreciate what he did, but I don't want that to be my life. I don't want work to be so full-on that you cannot enjoy your family. I think my father's attitude came from the fact that he did not have much when he was growing up. I am in a different situation. My parents worked very hard to give me what I wanted, and I am really grateful for that. I know that if I want to carry on with that lifestyle I will need to work, but I want to find a balance. I did a degree in business studies at Bristol University. Then I went to India to work for two years before doing an MA in media in London. I was looking for a job and I got in contact with Portfolio, a recruitment and headhunting firm for senior executive appointments in the leisure and hospitality industries. They offered me a job as PA to the chief executive and I hope they will train me up to become a consultant.

Obviously I want something to pay the bills, but I am also interested in the work environment. I want to work close to home so I don't have to commute too much. I value my free time and I love to travel. The company I work for is quite flexible with time off. I am taking three weeks in the summer to go glacier tracking in India. Others have gone on three-month sabbaticals.

Unit 3.

VALUES

№1. Read the text. Check the Vocabulary list while reading the text.

One Man’s Family by r. Hardwick

The Farrel brothers, Roger and Paul, were eleven and twelve years old respectively when their father sat down with them and told them the facts of life in a straight from-the-shoulder manner. The facts of life, that is, as he, Horatio Farerl, saw them. He stressed the importance of position, of early goals, and the importance of letting absolutely nothing stand in your way in the unqualified pursuit of these goals.

“These things, Roger and Paul, are the life blood, the mainstays, the very heart of existence in this day and time. Success and integrity in that order, are the concepts to keep constantly before you. By these things a man is measured. Pick your target in life, set it high, and never let yourself be deterred!”

He stopped and looked down at his sons as if experiencing applause.

“I made all A’s on my report card, Dad,” Roger said.

“I know you did, son. And I am proud if you. What’d you make on your report card, Paul?” he said, with a sly grin.

Paul squirmed and avoided his father’s eyes. “I tried, Dad, I did the best I possibly could. Honestly. I am just not as smart as Roger”.

“Nonsense! If your brother can do it, then so can you! Next semester I want to see improvement, son!”

Paul hung his head and nodded. Roger stifled a giggle.

Paul Farrel did try harder. Yet the harder he tried, the more strenuous the effort he made, the farther he seemed to lag behind the accomplishment of his brother. And so they went through high school, Roger at the head of the class, and Paul bringing up a sorry rear.

The boys went on to the university, Roger, to the surprise of no one, became president of the freshman class. He amazed the professors with his grades and leadership qualities, while Paul struggled along like a young bull mired in quick-sand.

After graduation Roger and Paul were put to work in the family bank. They begun as tellers, it being Horatio Farrel’s intention to acquaint his sons with every phase of the operation before their installation as officers. Roger breezed through the simple chores and within a matter of months got promoted to Asst.Vice-President, while Paul still remained behind his teller’s bars, his face a display of perplexity to the banking public.

One morning a note was found pinned to Paul’s bed. It was addressed to his father and at breakfast, the elder Farrel read it.

“Dear Dad,

I have caused enough trouble for you and the bank. I have left town to make ny fortune on my own. I have also borrowed fifty dollars from your wallet and I will pay you back with interest at six percent as soon as I can. I will let you know when I am a success.

Your son, Paul”

Exactly one year later an envelope arrived in Hortio Farrel’s morning mail. In the envelope was a money order in the amount of fifty-three dollars.

After that, with the exception of a cheap card each Christmas, nothing was heard of Paul Farrel for nearly fifteen years. And then one morning an inconspicuous black sedan drove into the city. It was a Saturday morning, and the car, with its lone occupant, drove directly to the bank. The driver unlocked the front door at the bank with a key and stepped inside, closing the door behind him and locking it.

He walked with a brisk step across the empty lobby and paused before a door.

Behind the door Horatio Farrel, white-haired, bent, yet still with a sharp gleam in his eye and with no intention of throwing over the traces, sat at his desk.

The door swung open and a tall straight man entered the office. He was clad in a business suit that was both expensive and conservative.

“Paul?” said the old man, “Paul!”. He pushed the papers aside and came to his feet.

Paul Farrel strode across the deep carpet with cat-like sel-assurance, a trait Horatio Farrel did not remember in his elder son. Here, without a doubt, was a man who knew what he was doing and where he was going.

“It is you, boy! Why, it’s been… Tell me about yourself! I see you’ve done well, Paul. Are you in some kind of hush-hush thing, son? Secret work?”

“You might say that, Dad. I made it to the top, just the way you always wanted Roger and me to do. It was tough. There were times when I felt unsure of myself, felt that I couldn’t go through with it. But whenever I felt that way, I remembered the things you drummed into me, Dad. Drive a hard bargain and always stick to it once it’s made.”

“Wonderful! Wonderful!’ cackled the old man. “Now this business you have in town, what is it about?”

“It’s with you”.

“Business with me? What could it be?”

“This,” Paul said. He put his cigar in the ashtray with a steady hand and reached inside his tailored jacket. The hand came out holding a snub-nosed revolver.

“What…what are going to do with that…?” Horatio Farrel said his eyes glued to the gun. “Some kind of joke…is that it..?”

“Afraid not, Dad. I have to. This is my business, my trade.”

“But I’m…I’m your father! You can’t…”

“It’s nothing personal, Dad. It’s a simple contract, no more, no less. You know I couldn’t back out of a contract. Why, my reputation would be ruined. Now if you’ll just hold still.”

“Paul.. Paul, there must be some mistake”

The old man pushed his chair back from the desk and leaped with surprising agility. He dashed around the far side of the desk and broke for a second door, on which was lettered, Roger Farrel, Executive Vice-President. He reached the door, found it locked, and began to pound on it with his fists.

“Roger!” he screamed. “Roger, HELP!” Paul Farrel padded across the room behind him. Ho shook his head and as if explaining something to a child, he said, “Roger’s not in there. Nobody’s here but you and me. It was Roger who hired our firm. Roger wants to be president of the bank, Dad.”

Paul Farrel lifted the revolver, and very professionally squeezed the trigger.

Vocabulary

respectively (adv)– соответственно

stress (v) – особо выделять, делать упор на, обращать внимание

Eg. When she said “We need lots of money,” she stressed the word “lots.”

stand in one’s way – стоять на пути

unqualified – 1) не имеющий достаточной квалификации, не соответствующий требованиям, неправочный

Eg. It’s a judgment that you are unqualified to make.