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  Cameron, immediately thought of Morgan, his son that Sharon had adopted out. In an instant Cameron knew that if he was successful, it would lay the foundation for his son to find him if he wanted.

  When Cameron was not engaged in his court room duties, he was in the law library researching laws on adoption in every state. About two months into his research, he found it. It was just a tiny passage in Minnesota formulating possible first steps to allow a child to find his or her biological parents. Cameron showed the judge what he had found. Shortly after, the judge designed a local court rule that was approved unanimously by the superior court judges to allow children through a confidential intermediary to locate the birth parent. If the birth parent wished to meet their child they were put in contact with each other. If the birth parent said no, a period of two months must pass and the confidential intermediary must recontact the birth parent to see if they would like to meet their child. If they say no a second time the records would be forever sealed. Similar steps were outlined for a parent to search and meet their child after turning twenty-one. This court rule would become to be known as the Tacoma Adoptive Rights Movement. Eventually it would spread all across the country. The warm-hearted judge indeed had found a way to impact so many people by helping birth parents to locate his or her child and a child to find his or her birth parent(s).

  The judge thanked Cameron for his legal research.

  Now it was time to focus on his next career step.

  Cameron had received an offer to work in the prosecutor’s office which would be an excellent step to serve the public and a major step if one wanted to pursue a career in politics. Then there was “the” law firm. Cameron had received an offer from one of the largest law firms in town. He could come on board as an associate working on a variety of legal fields for five years. After five years, he would have to make partner and would have a defined specialty. The salary for this position was high. Then there was an offer from a Fortune 500 corporation that Cameron had never heard of before.

  Two days before his interview, he went to visit the corporation and looked at the executives walking to and from the elevators. The first thing he noticed was they all wore navy blue suits with white shirts and no handkerchiefs in their lapel pockets as Cameron liked to wear. His focus was on Gold Key No. 4 that provided that one must dress for success and interview looking exactly like the person doing the interview.

  During Cameron’s interview, the corporative executives said, “Young man, based on the stellar feedback we have received from Judge Boudin, if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and travel around the world for two years and learn every facet of our corporation from the ground up, we will make you a junior executive of our corporation with a sling shot opportunity to rise to the top of our corporation. And yes, we will pay you double what big law firms are paying.”

  Michelle and Cameron agreed, “the gates of opportunity had opened and Cameron knew his next steps.”

  Cameron agreed to accept the position with the corporation with one caveat. He asked to delay his start date as he had planned to take Michelle on a little trip. Actually, it would be a six-week vacation with Big El and Susan traveling from the Netherlands, down to Italy, and eventually Greece, and Turkey.

  The company approved Cameron’s request and within days after saying goodbye to his favorite judge, Cameron and Michelle were with Big El and Susan in the Netherlands.

  Chapter 9

  Big El and Cameron’s Reunion

  Eel sandwiches, veal, escargot, roasted chicken, fine aged cheese, and pale lager were some of the tasty treats sampled by Susan, Michelle, Big El, and Cameron. Johnny Walker and Jack Daniels flowed smoothly throughout Europe. They were on the vacation of a life time. The weather was perfect, and never rained, which was a nice break from the weather at home. Susan and Michelle got along well and were becoming great friends. It was one big party after another, only the cities changed. From Amsterdam to Rotterdam, they took boat rides along the water canals, listened to music near the famous red-light bars, and slept in a small room advertised as a room where Bach had slept. The smell of legalized marijuana was especially prevalent around the bars. It was a festive time with young and old playing with six-feet chess pieces in the downtown square bazaar. Museums, massive marinas, and historical sites were in most cities just around the next corner.

  Susan and Michelle were attractive Americans, turning the heads of locals and tourists. As the slight wind rustled the leaves in the park, their short shorts were like a strong head wind, turning the men around to gather another glance at the lovely ladies.

  Big El and Cameron were so in love with their wives. “Without a care in the world, I wish these days would last forever,” said Big El. “Being in love is what life is all about.”

  There were so many highlights on the trip. Big El laughing and diving for coins with all of his clothes on in Trevi Fountain in Rome. They walked inside the largest amphitheater ever built, the Coliseum in Rome, where they could imagine gladiators entertaining audiences of the Roman Empire. Cameron and Big El kissed their spouses inside the Blue Grotto, rode donkeys up the rugged terrain of Santorini, and bargained with vendors for silk rugs in Turkey and Greece. They bought magnificent jewelry, fine clothes, and leather shoes in Florence. Their spouses peered at Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery. They laughed at Cameron as he negotiated with a Turkish vendor who was selling a table cloth. The vendor wanted $100, and tried to speak in every dialect known to man to tell Cameron how much he wanted. Cameron responded in gibberish frustrating the vendor. English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese languages were tried by the vendor again. Cameron talked gibberish so loud and threw the table cloth on the table of fabric. He handed the vendor $20 who accepted the money gladly to get Cameron to leave his shop. They rode in a decorated taxi on the Island of Rhodes in Greece. The taxi driver claimed that he had given a ride in his taxi to President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline in the early 1960s. He even pointed to a picture of them standing beside his taxi.

  “I am going to take you to Mrs. Kennedy’s favorite shop if you would like,” he said. Michelle and Susan left the coastal shop each with an adorable black laced head scarf.

  Michelle was so lucky as she would often find a dollar here a dollar there, and even $30 on the ground. She was like her own cash machine with money found nearly every other day. She always put the money towards dinner or entertainment for everyone. She said, if she found any identification she would turn it over to authorities.

  The girls were so cute in their sexy short shorts. Big El and Cameron laughed as the girls drove the Italian men crazy. They wanted to pinch their butts but they did not dare with Big El and Cameron nearby.

  The big highlight, of course, was returning to Big El’s and Cameron’s Italian villa in San Sabina. Michael, their dear friend, and landlord, had removed the servicemen staying in the villa for a week to allow Big El and Cameron, and their spouses to stay in their old beautiful villa. With family and old Italian friends, Marina, Michael’s spouse, prepared a 20-course meal that started at 4 pm and continued well beyond midnight. Miguel brought out his aged, foot stomped grape wine along with bottles and bottles of delicious and tasty Italian liquors. Before every entre Michael made a toast. He hired an outstanding band that serenaded everyone with festive Italian music.

  “Life together with you both is exciting and enchanting. I am so happy to be together again,” said Michael. They raised their glasses and said in unison, “Ogli Ahgla,” their magic words saying that life is better than okay. They drank the wine and laughed loudly.

  Sadly, they said their good-byes to Michael, Marina, and their Italian friends.

  On the train ride to Naples, Cameron asked Big El, “were you a little nervous about the mob learning that you were back in Italy?” Cameron remembered when Big El, years ago sold bottles of liquor and cigarettes to the Mafia with a promise to return with more merchandise. Big El told Cameron of the hand guns and s
hot guns that were aimed at him until the consulary smiled and said he knew he would return and not disappoint him. Years passed by and Big El never returned with the promised liquor or cigarettes.

  “Yes, especially, last night when Michael’s guards were drunker than us. I definitely kept an eye on cars entering our streets. I was prepared to pay a penalty, however, but not with our lives.”

  “Big El, you are the one of the bravest men I know, definitely one of the craziest.”

  They arrived safely in Naples but were lost finding their way to the airport. Big El said, “I will go find a taxi if you stay and protect our wives.” Big El was gone less than thirty seconds when a gang of Naples thugs circled Michelle, Susan, Cameron, and their luggage. Cameron told the girls to circle the luggage, pointing to a nearby corner of the train station and he would circle them. There were five men getting closer and closer to Cameron. Cameron was not going to let them have the luggage or the girls. Closing in, Cameron shouted in Italian “vai fuori di qui!,” get out of here! Cameron began to kick his legs with such power that it sounded like “Whack, Whack, Whack.” The men were shocked at Cameron’s kicking skills. They stayed just outside Cameron’s kicking zone. Cameron stared fiercely into the eyes of the man closest to him and then screamed, “No!” The thug lurched forward to attack Cameron. In less time than it takes to blink an eye, the thug was rolling on the ground in excruciating pain. Cameron had hit him hard in the throat but did not kill him. The other thugs tried to steal some of the luggage but the brave girls would not let them and when Cameron came to their aid, the thugs, having seen what Cameron did to their leader, took off running. Eventually, the guy on the ground crawled and then ran away.

  “Cam,” said Michelle, “nice moves honey.”

  Big El returned with a taxi as Susan hugged him and told him what had happened. “That is why I left you with Cameron,” he said smiling and winking at Cameron. Looking back from the taxi window at the corner where all the action had occurred, Big El and Cameron noticed that the men had returned to the site with more men.

  At the airport, they were told there were no more seats on the jet. They all needed to start work and if they did not catch this plane, they would be late for work. Eventually, Big El and Cameron met with the President of Alitalia Airlines, who after listening to their pleas, issued boarding passes to them. Let’s just say that Big El had a Cop’s badge and Cameron had a Sheriff ’s badge. They rode first class, thanks to the President, which was the only way to fly!

  Chapter 10

  Cameron in Corporate America

  After two years in the field, working at company sites around the world, Cameron sat in the Boardroom with four other candidates who were vying for junior executive positions within the corporation. If selected, one’s future salary would be bench-marked from the bidding that was about to take place. Each candidate would stand and the bidding would begin on the salary a department or division would pay to hire the individual.

  Cameron had met the other candidates:

  1.Drew was extremely bright, handsome, and articulate man. He stood six feet two inches, had brownish blonde hair, and brown eyes. He had a masters degree from an impressive Ivy League school. Not only would he go on to excel in business, corporate business, he was well connected to the Chairman’s family.

  2.Sally was so gifted she spoke five languages and also had a masters degree. She was married to a stay at home husband, which was rare in the 70s. She said she enjoyed being the bread winner and taking care of him.

  3.Bill had a master’s degree and excelled in a new field called operation systems, or the early study of computers. He was a walking genius.

  4.Paul also had a master’s degree in finance. Cameron and Paul would spend many hours talking about stocks and bonds.

  It should be noted that Cameron was the only Attorney and the only black man to have ever been invited to be tested for a junior executive slot.

  The bidding started. It was intense. Management thought this was one of the best crop of candidates in years so they increased their bids in hopes of selecting an individual to join their team. It was fast and furious. All five candidates were selected for a junior executive position within the corporation. What was amazing is that Cameron and Drew broke the bank on bids received on their starting salary from the corresponding divisions that they soon would be working, They each received double the starting salaries as the other candidates and all previous candidates. Cameron heard later that when the Chairman learned of the high salaries, he canceled the program. Five years later the program resumed with a standard pay scale range.

  Cameron and Drew told each other how much they were offered. Drew would be starting his career in the product assembly division as a section manager. Their bond would last throughout their careers. Cameron thought Drew was a great friend. He was honest, sharp, full of integrity and introduced Cameron to fine wine with oysters and clams.

  The Law Department had outbid the Finance Department for Cameron’s Services. Nearly a year and a half into the junior executive program, Cameron worked for the General Counsel who asked him to meet with the Director of Public Affairs. The Director said, “Cameron we have a very difficult situation brewing in Congress. They want to expand the safety laws, that if approved would stop all of product production for six months to a year. We want you to research the entire issue and see if there is a way we can stop or kill this proposed legislation.”

  “Absolutely,” said Cameron. “What is your time table?”

  “Three weeks tops,” said the Director.

  NU Law School’s legal research and writing program more than prepared Cameron for this moment. At first, he thought the assignment seemed daunting if not impossible, but it was relatively easy once he discovered the standard on what congressional legislation could and could not do. Specifically, legislation that sets standards was permissible, while legislation that mandates performance standards was not permissible. Congress proposed action was, therefore, statutorily unenforceable.

  Two weeks later, Cameron met with the General Counsel where he delivered his fifty-page memorandum crushing Congress’s attempt to mandate performance standards on the company. Cameron’s memo was not anti-safety but a report on how Congress was not following its own rules.

  Two months later, working in the field, Cameron received a call from the General Counsel. “I want you to know that the Director of Public Affairs used 100% of your memorandum in Congress. I am pleased to let you know, that we won and the issue is dead. Great job Cameron. I look forward to seeing you back at Corporate.”

  Cameron was not completely surprised when the law department outbid every other division for his service, but he was very pleased by how much they set his starting salary, yearly bonus, and stock options.

  Sitting in his mid-size corporate office in 1980, Cameron was the first and only black employee. Affirmative action had no bearing on Cameron’s hire. Race was obviously an issue, otherwise there would have been more blacks and people of color long before Cameron. Some people could easily fail in a hostile employment environment, but not Cameron. The creed of the Tuskegee Airmen of being the best, pushed Cameron to succeed. Cameron believed success in the corporate world would motivate him to be the best.

  “Cameron, you have a natural talent for working on legislation. I have a position that I think would be perfect for you,” said the General Counsel. “Would you be interested in being our company lobbyist in Washington State?”

  “Absolutely Sir, when do I start?” Cameron laughed to himself as he had zero idea what a corporate lobbyist did.

  “Great. I will send a few letters to other big corporations, letting them know that I have assigned you to work with them in Olympia. Good luck Cameron. Keep me posted on your progress.”

  The very next day, the Director of Employment Relations walked into Cameron’s office and said, “I hear you have been asked to be our lobbyist in Washington State. Are there any issues that you may not support
?”

  “Yes Sir, I will not support anything illegal and I will not block or oppose racial progress,”

  “Anything else?” inquired the Director.

  Cameron knew that the corporate senior executives wanted to know if they could count on the first black man in their corporate facilities to be a team player. “Yes. I pledge to give 200% effort to support the mission of the corporation,” said Cameron.

  “Thank you,” said the Director as he left Cameron’s office.

  Cameron sat in his chair wondering if he had just thrown a wrench in his lobbyist position.

  He learned the answer two weeks later when he met with the most powerful business lobbyists in Washington State. They all met at an exclusive mens golf club near Wenatchee, Washington. It was 1980 and no women or minorities could be members or play golf. The lobbyists were shocked beyond belief when Cameron entered the room wearing his three-piece suit. They wore golf attire. Clothing wasn’t what shocked the men, it was the fact the Cameron was black. Men that entered the room after Cameron sat as far away as possible from Cameron. After the morning business meeting, the lobbyists adjourned to eat lunch and then play golf. Given this was the first meeting with the lobbyists, not one person invited Cameron to join them for lunch or to play golf, even if it was at a different golf course. It should be noted that Cameron had learned that the lobbyists liked to play golf following their business meetings. He had borrowed his mother’s old golf clubs. Cameron as a teenager used the clubs to play a round or two. He was not a great golfer. He was not even good. He did have his mother’s 1950 set of golf clubs in the trunk of his car had anyone invited him to play.