By the time we got to the 'Innovation' department, we were laughing like a group of friends. It was strange sight to see because I was like 8, but these guys were fun. I found out that, the bald guys name was Harrison. He was one of Mr. Pierre assistant. His job description according to Mike, was to get yelled at when there was a document that on one wanted to bring to Mr. Pierre. He was also the guy that had to fire people, when it was needed and get stuff done on. Which much to my relief was all administration work. He supervised made sure people got reports completed by deadlines and all that supervisor admin. work.
It was weird looking at a big guy like him, working in admin but here it was. Mike and Frank both worked in the factories. With movements, shipments, supplies stuff like that. The only reason Harrison called these guys was because of me.
All of them knew each other, and when Harrison said he needed help getting me they came along. He had told me that the counselors and other staff didn't want to deal with me. So, it was them that showed up as backup.
We got to one of the doors, which said "Design room" on it. I looked at Harrison in confusion.
"We aren't going to Mr. Pierre office?"
"No kid. The big wanted to see you in the design room" Harrison opened the door and gestured me in.
I walked in to chaos. It was a large room, with a long table in the middle. The table had multiple people sitting in chairs and drawing pictures. Other people were in corners looking, pointing and discussing a pictures on a three-legged stand. There were other people leaving the chairs, going to a group and back again. Madness.
Then I heard his voice.
"NO! That isn't right. What are you trying to do here. It needs to be more friendly. You know SMILE."
I saw Leith in the sea of chaos he was standing over an employee, who was trying to draw something, but had his boss right over him. The poor employee looked beyond stressed out with a pencil in one hand, his other hand holding his head, and his boss literally breathing down his neck. Looking and pointing at his work. If that employee got anything done today, it would be a miracle.The man didn't have his complete suit on. No, this time he had on blue pants and a button up white shirt with the selves rolled to his forearms. A few more details and he would look like J.Jameson from spiderman the only thing missing was hair color and a cigar.
I still hated him but kept reminding myself that revenge is best served cold. Patience.
Harrison spoke up and said.
"Mr.Pierre Sir."
Lieth didn't even bother turning around from where he was. He was still standing over the guy, pointing at the his picture.
"WHAT! What Is it?"
"I brought in Max"
"MAX!" Leith showed me that fake ass smile as he walked towards me. Man I hated this guy. He finally got to me and put his hands on my shoulder. He turned around and said.
"Thank you Harrison, you can leave now."
"Wait..sir."
"Yes. Mr.Harrison what is it?"
"Max here has something he wants to say to you."
No..not right now, come on man. Don't do me dirty like this.
"What is it that you wanted to say Max. if this is about the contract then don't worry about it."
"N-no…I.I.want to apologize to you for yesterday on how I acted. I am sorry"
He grabbed both of my shoulders with his hands, and smiled.
"Perfect Max! Perfect! Thank you Harrison we can take it from here"
With that I couldn't even say goodbye to Harrison as Lieth led me through the chaos of people, and into the far back of the room, where the long table met the wall. At the table was a small chair for me, pencils, markers, and other stuff to draw whatever I needed to draw.
He helped me get seated into the chair, and said.
"Now Max. I want you to draw that pokemon we talked about ok. When you are done show it to the workers here and we will go from there okay champ."
He was going to walk off, but I reached out and stopped him
"Wait…Mr.Pierre sir" Go big money or go home.
"Yes, Max anything confusion or something you need"
"No…its. Well, the pokemon stuff. We never talked about it..and. Well I have a really big idea for it. And, I have a lot of other ideas to that would help kids out and bring smiles to their faces."
He placed his hands under his chin in a thinking pose, nodded his head a few times looked at me and said
"Alright Max, here is the deal. I am pretty busy right now and normally don't do stuff like this but for you I will make an exception. I want you to come with me into my office. There are a few people waiting for me there. I want you to tell them about your idea. Tell us why kids would love it, tell us everything. Act like we are kids and you are trying to sell something to us. I know you are a smart kid and I have high hopes for you. If you cant do it, no worries we can it later. This is a big mission. Can you do it."
"Yeah. I think I can do it"
"Perfect. Follow me and remember you got to sell."
"Okay"
On the walk back to the office, I thought about how to sell Pokemon. How to sell baby shark, build a bear, cartoons that I watched growing up. I thought about everything I could think of that would make me money. That would make someone want to buy it from me.
There was a good teacher I had in High School. He was an older man in his late sixties, who had founded three businesses and was very successful. Successful enough to drive a brand-new car, latest model sedan to school every day. He was my marketing teacher, and on the first day I asked him "Mr. Steve why does marketing matter? What does it mean to market something'. He wasn't insult by the question, nope he simply looked at me and said 'Marketing is selling. A business needs to sell to make money or its not a business. That is what the book says, by it's a little different in the real world. Marketing is getting customers to think they need your product. Someone who is good at marketing, wont push you or anything like that. No, Sir they will make you believe you need what they are selling. If you can get someone to believe they need your product than you already won.'
Just like he said. I need to get them to believe they need what I have. This company is desperate, they needed something new, something that would bring it up. I had answers to all age groups
We were right outside of his office, he looked down at me and said
"Last chance Max, are you sure you are ready to do this."
"Yes. I am ready"
"Good. Remember sell."
He opened the door, and walked in like he own the place, which was true I guess. On the left area there was a three older men in business suits. They didn't look happy when Leith came in the room, and really didn't look happy when they saw me enter behind him.
"You are late Mr. Pierre"
Leith not being bothered by it, walked towards his desk. He gestured me to follow, and to sit down on the chair I seat on yesterday.
"Sorry for being late gentleman. I wanted to have my genius here, work on a project of his. But he wanted to come and meet with us about his ideas."
"A child. Mr. Pierre.. what is this a joke to you."
"Gentleman, you know I do not joke about Playtime Co. This right here gentleman is Max Bell, he is one of the orphans right here in Home Sweet Homes. I know..I know he looks young, but don't let his looks or age fool you. This right here is a real genius. This kid has score top points in the high school grade class. You. Right here. Right now are looking at the new albert einstein. You are free to look at the educational reports, But I can guarantee you gentleman that Max here will be a super star. Now Max your ideas"
"Hello everyone my name is Max, and like Mr.Pierre said I wanted to talk to you about Pokémon, and what it is. If there is time after this I will talk about some of my other ideas too"
I sold them Pokémon, and what Pokémon are thankfully Leith had brought in Pickachu so it was easier to explain it. I told them how there were 150 monsters for kids to collect. How there is a card game to it, and how we could get a cartoon about the main character being a pokemon master and collecting all the pokemon. I told them that this didn't have to end at 150, and could be extended and continued.
I told them about Baby Shark, how it was a friendly baby shark and his family, and how there is a song to it. I didn't sing the song to them. I told them about build a bear. Telling them that instead of the workers making the toy here, the kids do instead. Telling them that the kids could choose the stuff animal, pick out its clothes, fill it up with stuffing with the help of staff worker and dress them up.
By the time I was done with saying those three things, those guys in suits looked more pleased and excited. I hoped this was a good thing. I told them that I had more story ideas but wouldn't be able to present them yet, which got them smiling and nodding their heads.
I felt pretty good and said
"Alright those are my current ideas for now gentleman but like I said I am still on the drawing board with some of my other ideas."
"Impressive Max, very impressive. My team and I will be coming by again let's say…hmm…three months from now. If you and Mr.Pierre here can get this product up and running. That means designed made for all of those Pokémon, and the everything else you said here. Well, then I will be looking at the youngest millionaire in history. But, remember I want all of that done in three months you hear me."
"Yes sir."
"Alright my associates and I need to talk to Mr. Pierre here. Privately. I want you to go outside and start working on those designs."
"On it sir."
I jumped off of my chair and made my way out of the room. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction.
THIRD POV
They watched as Max left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Pierre you were right. That kid is a genius, this Pokémon thing if it gets nearly half as big as I think it will. You are looking at some very happy investors."
"I agree, his other ideas..well honestly not as good are still worth something. And, he said he has more ideas, and stories. My friend you found the gold egg laying goose. And only 8 years old can you believe that."
"My son turns thirty this year, him and his wife has been married for five years and I still don't have a grandson. That kid reminds me of Elliot when he was here, God rest his soul. You can feel the passion in their voice and in their eyes. It was that passion that got where Playtime is today."
"Thank you all for saying that and believing in Max like I do. But, that three month deadline. Kind of pushing the little kid no?" Said Leith
"That thing, it means nothing. You got to give these young folks a time period or they wont do anything these days. Plus, I want to test the kid. See what he can do within that deadline"