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Chapter1

To my son, Neal,

I don’t know if you reot this idea into your head that you could fly You used to clis – boxes, trees, ladders - and jump off with your hands spread out and your eyes closed Youoff the roof She got so worried that she made ht you could fly, you toldit so that I would sit and talk to you for a little while

I realized then, that where you were concerned, I was guilty of neglect I knew that as a father, I could have done better, but so a business out of nothing, you think you have all the tiht I would live forever, and I figured that there was plenty of ti what I had been doing and eventually, you stopped juet my attention I think you realized it wouldn’t work anymore

I’ to justifyat the tih business, then one day I could hand it over to you and George, and you boys would never have to want for anything the way I did growing up I wanted to secure a future for both of you, I wanted you to have a safety net I want you to know that this business that I built fro, became what it is today, because of you and your brother The two of you were the driving force behindhours and the endless rove Brothers’? This cos, my sweat and tears, but e

Find so you love to do, son It doesn’t matter what it is It doesn’tcompletely different It doesn’tat all Do it because itof yourself Lean on your brother when you need to, but let him lean on you too, and remember to always look after each other

Love,

Dad

Neal read the letter one last time before he put it back in its envelope and into the top drawer on his writing desk He walked back into his expansive living roo late He switched on his flat screen and stared at the television without really listening The noise crowded out his thoughts and he was grateful for the distraction

He was starting to worry about his brother, when the doorbell finally rang Neal picked hie was dressed immaculately in his navy blue business suit Neal reift from their father Still, his face orn and tired

“You look like you’ve had a bad day,” Neal observed as George walked in

“Not bad,” George clarified, “just long”

The brothers walked to the sofa where Neal had already laid out their takeout e kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his collar He fell onto the sofa with a loud sigh and signaled to Neal to pass him his dinner