20 June 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2773: we can’t import it
Generally speaking, the principles of the Ludlow Bubbly did not do business on Sunday, so both Capt. R.E. Ludlow and Sgt. Vincent Trent ignored a message that came in from where it was already Monday by Sunday night on their time, the sergeant and captain both texting back with the same note: “Will call you in our Monday morning.”
But not at reveille; at that time, the two men went through their morning rituals still inflected by their decades of military service and then Sgt. Trent walked over for some coffee after five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow had gone back to sleep after his warm milk with three drops of coffee in it.
“I'm just going to tuck him back in, and be right back – thank you, Sergeant,” Capt. Ludlow said as Sgt. Trent unpacked the scones he had brought with him for this conversation.
“So, Capt. Miyamoto has come through in Japan – they want the Ludlow Bubbly, but they are telling us 'we can't import it,'” the sergeant said as the captain returned.
“Part of that is Covid-19 – the supply chain is all kinds of messed up,” Capt. Ludlow said, “but also, the problem is, we're too small to get the necessary things shoved through.”
Sgt. Trent considered this.
“Our success has outgrown us, just like that,” he said. “We are barely keeping North America supplied, and by North America I still just mean 500 miles inland along the Eastern Seaboard.”
Capt. Ludlow sighed.
“Time to sell,” he said, “and let it level up the way it needs to.”
“I wasn't going to suggest that,” Sgt. Trent said, “but since you did, we can discuss it with my father-in-law and the workers. That's still going to take a good while to work out, though – in the meantime, I was thinking we could sit down with our company attorney and work out a licensing deal for the flavors they are interested in.”
Capt. Ludlow considered this.
“But that puts us back into the same situation, since they love Fat Tuesday but Dubois Spice Cabinet is small too and may not be able to find a way around the same hurdles to get the spice blend to them.They, too, are going to likely need bigger financial heft to get that done with us.”
“Yes, but no – where do most spices actually come from, Captain?” Sgt. Trent said.
“Ah – the light just went on in my head – of course – they will do better in Japan that we can!” he said with a laugh. “Spices are largely of the East!”
“Exactly,” Sgt. Trent said. “And if they nudge the blend for a Japanese palate – oh well, that's fine for them!”
“All right – let's talk with Capt. Miyamoto and Major Dubois, and then sit down and talk with our new friends. I would like us to loop your father-in-law and all the workers in soon, though – since we are struggling to meet demand in the pandemic, there is no way we are going to make it in the state we are in when the world reopens and demand picks up again. I named it for myself, having no better idea … but I am willing to let it go now, so it can do all that it was meant to do.”
“I wasn't going to press the issue unless I had to, Captain.”
“It was not for you to press, Sergeant. My ego is my problem, and God's project to get in line with His plan. There is another little person with my same name who needs me to solve my problem; I have to keep little snoring Robert Edward Ludlow III and the rest in mind all the time.”
“You know what is so interesting about being a family man?” Sgt. Trent said. “We are good soldiers. Dying for our country and family doesn't seem like a big deal. Dying to self daily to live for the family – that's a lot harder, but that's where God steps in with us to conform us to Christ.”
“Exactly, Sergeant. The daily duty is the hardest thing we'll ever do – but also, the most rewarding.”
“Exactly, Captain. Wouldn't trade it for the world.”