MINI-STORIES FOR THE YOUNG AND NOT SO YOUNG Rollo was not your typical scion of millionaires. True, as a child he was an awful urchin who kicked his nannies in the shins and ran into their rooms to let mosquitoes inside their bed-nets. However, it is also true that he was exceedingly curious about People and Things. On this basis he got two degrees, one in psychology and one in environmental science. His parents, mostly his Papa, not knowing what to do about the contrasting attributes of Rollo, who was also an inveterate playboy, decided finally to send him on a tour of Africa, fondly imagining that from this spring-board he would be projected into a post with the United Nations. At first, Rollo seemed to bite the bullet. He had learned discussions with university folk all over the continent, visited the Sahara and the Serengeti and Equatorial Africa. But something did not seem right to him in all this. He looked more closely at the "other " people, infested by disease and dying of hunger, and he experienced a scathing shock. To put it more simply, Rollo "got religion". He told himself that Africa and its population would henceforward be the object of all his efforts and fiscal outlays. He realized that even with the capital available to him he would have to be very circumspect and strive to limit himself to minimalist endeavors. He therefore rejected out of hand the notion of converting old nuclear-powered submarines to water de-salinization plants. However, he decided to research wind patterns in all inhabited and uninhabited reaches of Africa and see if he could promote among his millionaire peers the idea of using wind-power to generate electricity in as many of these locations as possible. His next plan was to discover, study and drill the sites of African water resources to sufficient depth for potability, and to pump this fresh water to the surface for the home use of people and for crop irrigation, using the electricity obtained as per above. It was not clear whether such a plan would work all, but Rollo was not one to give up easily. He launched a campaign through potentates in his acquaintance to initiate programs at engineering schools endowed by them, making investigations for the plan a reality. Rollo was popular, and what is more, persuasive and very patient. By degrees he began to make headway. Even his father, who was at first skeptical if not appalled, ultimately agreed to support the venture. The study proceeded apace. Meanwhile Rollo set in motion an informal lobby for getting the United Nations to make famine relief a matter of International Law. This lobby was highly populated by Rollo's coevals of various persuasions, and, needless to say, created quite a stir. Rollo also developed his own situation. He courted and won a beautiful and fiery African Women's Advocate, who presented him with two lovely and talented children. He gained in stature and authority during this time. We wish we could report on the results of Rollo's enterprise, but that would be precipitate. Rome was not built in a day. We can only congratulate Rollo on his discernment, his energy, and his unceasing equanimity. From us , who are so inept and lacking in initiative, he deserves all our grateful thanks and praise. |