24 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2657: looking to retire

Image by MonikaDesigns from Pixabay

“But Sarge, I don't get it – I mean, Ludlow is 58, but you're what – 44? Why are you looking to retire from a business that may be worth $10 million and more in a few years? The Ludlow Bubbly is hitting, Sarge – and we need Black ownership in businesses like this!”

Sgt. Vincent Trent, retired from the Army after 23 good years of service, restrained a sigh.

“It's not just that you can't explain some things to civilians,” he said to his father-in-law, Thomas Stepforth Sr. “It's also that you can't explain things to people who only know the life of employees who live to consume.”

“Well, he did put a word in for us owning our own stuff,” Mr. Stepforth said with a smile.

“But only in terms of what he thinks someone else should do for racial pride, not what he plans to do himself,” Sgt. Trent said.

“But Vincent, you weren't supposed to peep game like that,” Mr. Stepforth said, and the two men chuckled grimly.

“You are far wiser than I was at your age,” the older man continued. “Money, and the thought of how much you can have in the future, can be the worst taskmaster to which a free man chooses to enslave himself. Yes, the Ludlow Bubbly certainly can be worth $10 million and more in the future, but what would you have to give up?”

“Time with my wife and children, who already had to do without me being as present as I wanted to be during my Army career,” Sgt. Trent said. “Melvin and Vanna are making their own money, and my pension is enough for Melissa and the little ones. But the main thing is, I know what my orders are in terms of being a husband and father, and I know the Lord will equip me with whatever I need, so I don't need to hang on with anything that will impact my keeping the main thing the main thing.”

Mr. Stepforth smiled.

“I wish that I had understood, at 45, what you do, Vincent. I admire your clarity of mind, and I admire you doing what you had to do to get your family back together on the right footing without ever losing that clarity. There is a real sense in which I am learning from you.”

“Well, like the Apostle Paul said, 'follow me as I follow Christ,'” Sgt. Trent said, “and besides, they told me I'd never get rich but dig in a ditch, so as an Army man –.”

Mr. Stepforth cracked up laughing.

“ – I can make do with anything as long as I have a shovel,” the sergeant said, with a smile.

“You managed to dig up a whole billionaire's daughter and have him admiring you for doing it not only once, but twice!” he said. “You're pretty good with the shovel, Vincent! Now I'm still going to get a higher exit valuation for the Ludlow Bubbly than I would if it were just Capt. Ludlow, you know that, right?”

“Of course,” Sgt. Trent said with a laugh. “You plan to spend your pocket change any way you want – it's all right with me!”