***** Vol.3 Chap.42 A strange request *****
Deep within, Frank felt Mark can be trusted. He turned to Mark with imploring eyes.
“But what I really want to talk to you this morning is something else.”
“Go ahead.”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“You know I will do anything.”
“Yes, that is why I am asking you. Mark, you are the only one I can trust right now. You are the only one I can depend on.”
“Well, you can always count on me.”
“Thanks, I appreciated that. Mark, I am planning on visiting my home country.”
“Egypt?”
“Yes, how long I will be gone? I really don’t know.”
“That is nice. I wish I can go to Egypt sometime.”
“It is a beautiful country with lots of history and mystery. I sincerely hope that you will get a chance to visit there.”
He paused then continued. “I wonder if you would house sit my apartment for me while I am gone.”
“Sure, I will be happy to do that.”
“It could be months because I don’t know what I will do yet.”
“No problem. I am not sure I can afford your rent, though.”
“You don’t have to pay for anything.”
“Well, that is generous of you. Thank you.”
“No, thank YOU. My pay for the next year will automatically be deposited electronically into my account. I have the signature card for the account and I am adding you to the account. Here, sign here.”
Frank handed Mark the bank’s signature card.
“Are you sure you wanted to do this?”
“I don’t want to bother with sending you money every month. It is ok to me putting you in charge of my account.”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
“Well, I will not fail you.” Mark signed the card and handed it back to Frank.
“Use my account to pay for any incidentals. Rent and utilities should be automatically deducted from my bank account.”
“Will do.”
“The school should deposit my paycheck directly to the account, at least for now. With the savings, you should be able to survive temporarily for a while.”
“I don’t think there will be any problem.”
Frank took another bite of the salad, and Mark finished the rest on his plate.
“Excellent salad. I am going to get more.” Frank said.
“Me too.”
They both got up and filled their plate again.
“Mark, here is my personal email account if you need to contact me. This account is for you and you only.”
“Can do.”
“Under no circumstance are you to give out this email account.”
“Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir.”
“If you need to contact me, send a message to this email account. Eventually, I will find time to reply to you somehow, though it may not be immediately.”
“It sounds like you are going to disappear.”
“I really don’t know what I am doing.”
“What about the mail and the newspaper?”
“It is up to you whether you want to continue the newspaper subscription and the cable for the apartment. I will pay for them if you find them useful.”
“Well, thanks. I will quit the newspaper, but I will keep the cable.”
“That is fine. Don’t worry about forwarding my mail. Open all my mail at home. If it is a bill, pay it. In the meantime, cancel all my society memberships.”
“All?”
“Yes, all my memberships. If there are any charges on my credit cards, please pay for them from my account.”
“No problem, boss.”
Frank took another spoonful of his minestrone soup. He was spooning the soup in and savoring every swallow.
“I have one last request, Mark.”
“Sure.”
“Here is the power of attorney allowing you to act on my behalf. I don’t envision that you need to use it. But just in case, I am empowering you to act on my behalf in any matters. I trust you will be careful with this and be responsible for your actions.”
“Dr. Abdulcizi, are you sure you want to do this?”
“It is probably nothing, and I am not expecting you to have to use this. But in case there is anything unexpected coming up; you will be empowered to act on my behalf under my direction, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Well, that is about all. I am counting on you, Mark.”
“You can count on me.”
“Thank you, Mark.”
“Dr. Abdulcizi, I don’t know what to say. But I have to say that you have never wronged me throughout the past six years and I still and will forever hold you to the highest esteem, regardless of what others may say.”
With teary eyes, Frank replied with gratitude, “Mark, thank you. Thank you indeed. You don’t know how much what you just said meant to me.”
They both sat in silence for a while.
“Oh, before I forget, here is a copy of the key to the apartment. I will leave first thing tomorrow morning and the house is yours.”
“Gee thanks. Do you need a ride?”
“No, I will call a cab. Thanks for the offer and thanks for the program.”
“Anything else I can help before you go?”
“Everything is under control. I’ve got a few errands to run, so I am going to leave first.”
“I am done as well.”
Frank paid for the lunch and shook Mark’s hand enthusiastically for the longest time outside the restaurant. They parted, both almost in tears.
They had a good working relationship for six years. To the point that Frank almost treated Mark as a son. Frank knew he could implicitly trust Mark after observing and working with him for so long. Mark had depended on Frank all these years. Now, it is Frank’s turn to depend on Mark.