have maybe six months, maybe nine."
Leapman stared at him. There was still no indication that some kind of black humor was intended. "But that's not possible."
"Precisely what I said to the doc. I have my faculties. I can read the paper still, eat a good meal, take a woman to bed when I want, and I don't disappoint I'm not the biggest in that department, but what I got is in working order. He said fine, some people aren't so lucky. They languish and droop. At least I was going out in style. I said I didn't believe him. He asked if I wanted to bet I said okay, Doc, fifty bucks I'm still alive for Thanksgiving. I thought I was on a sure thing, but he suggested we put the money in a bfown envelope and leave it with his receptionist because he didn't want to trouble my executors. That really brought it home to me, Michael. My executors. He meant it." Manny exhaled, vibrating his lips. "I called off the bet."
"You should get a second opinion," said Leapman, trying sincerely to be helpful while he assessed what this grim news would mean for his own prospects. He believed the story.
"More tests, more bad news." Manny groaned at the prospect. "No thanks. I'd rather spend my last days on earth profitably, robbing banks while I have my strength left." He turned to a woman behind a fruit and vegetable stall. She must have overheard the last statement, because she was goggle-eyed. "Ignore me. I'm in shock. How much are your pineapples, ma'am?" He chose one and felt it for firmness. "Do you buy many pineapples, Michael? They can look fine outside, like me, and when you put in the knife, they're rotten. No offense," he told the woman. "I'll take this.one."
They reached the end of the market and made their way back down Delancey Street. "Still, this isn't all bad for Man-flex," Manny remarked altruistically. "We can do with a change at the top."
Leapman's flesh prickled.
Manny went on smoothly. "My shares will pass to Davey. He'll have a controlling stake, and he'll be fine."
"For Chairman, you mean? David?" Leapman tried to sound casual, but the shock couldn't be stifled.
"I can't put it better than Shakespeare: some guys are born managers, some achieve management and some, like my son, have it thrust upon them."
"The market won't like it," said Leapman, impervious to Shakespeare.
"Davey taking over, you mean?"
"Your going." An answer more tactful than honest.
"What choice do I have?"
A pause. "Fair point."
"He'll need your support," Manny said.
"He can depend on it."
"And the know-how. You have a grasp of the business. He doesn't"
"Of course I'll help any way I can." Michael Leapman was functioning on autopilot. The news of Manny's illness was bad enough. The prospect of his son taking over the Chairmanship was beyond everything.
Manny shifted the pineapple to his left hand and rested his right on Leapman's shoulder. "Thanks, Mike. You don't have to tell me the sharks will be circling, but I have confidence in the boy. I like the way he's shaping up. As a matter of fact, I called Rico last night. Davey's doing a great job in Milan, and that isn't easy, closing down a plant"
It was a skill that might soon be required nearer home, Leapman thought cynically. "Have you told him?"
"Told him what?"
"This terrible news your doctor gave you."
"Not yet It's not easy over the phone."
"You'll wait, then?"
"Davey doesn't need to be told at this stage. Maybe not at all."
Frowning, Leapman said, "But you just told me. Surely you owe it to him. He needs time to adjust"
"Weren't you listening just now?" said Manny. "About management being thrust upon him? It's better he doesn't have time to think about it. Knowing Davey, he'd look for an out"
Leapman didn't pursue the point Maybe Manny was right from the company's point of view, given the staggering premise that David Flexner had to be installed as the next Chairman. What was the point in getting steamed up about David's sensibilities when his own had been ruthlessly trampled
Leapman stared at him. There was still no indication that some kind of black humor was intended. "But that's not possible."
"Precisely what I said to the doc. I have my faculties. I can read the paper still, eat a good meal, take a woman to bed when I want, and I don't disappoint I'm not the biggest in that department, but what I got is in working order. He said fine, some people aren't so lucky. They languish and droop. At least I was going out in style. I said I didn't believe him. He asked if I wanted to bet I said okay, Doc, fifty bucks I'm still alive for Thanksgiving. I thought I was on a sure thing, but he suggested we put the money in a bfown envelope and leave it with his receptionist because he didn't want to trouble my executors. That really brought it home to me, Michael. My executors. He meant it." Manny exhaled, vibrating his lips. "I called off the bet."
"You should get a second opinion," said Leapman, trying sincerely to be helpful while he assessed what this grim news would mean for his own prospects. He believed the story.
"More tests, more bad news." Manny groaned at the prospect. "No thanks. I'd rather spend my last days on earth profitably, robbing banks while I have my strength left." He turned to a woman behind a fruit and vegetable stall. She must have overheard the last statement, because she was goggle-eyed. "Ignore me. I'm in shock. How much are your pineapples, ma'am?" He chose one and felt it for firmness. "Do you buy many pineapples, Michael? They can look fine outside, like me, and when you put in the knife, they're rotten. No offense," he told the woman. "I'll take this.one."
They reached the end of the market and made their way back down Delancey Street. "Still, this isn't all bad for Man-flex," Manny remarked altruistically. "We can do with a change at the top."
Leapman's flesh prickled.
Manny went on smoothly. "My shares will pass to Davey. He'll have a controlling stake, and he'll be fine."
"For Chairman, you mean? David?" Leapman tried to sound casual, but the shock couldn't be stifled.
"I can't put it better than Shakespeare: some guys are born managers, some achieve management and some, like my son, have it thrust upon them."
"The market won't like it," said Leapman, impervious to Shakespeare.
"Davey taking over, you mean?"
"Your going." An answer more tactful than honest.
"What choice do I have?"
A pause. "Fair point."
"He'll need your support," Manny said.
"He can depend on it."
"And the know-how. You have a grasp of the business. He doesn't"
"Of course I'll help any way I can." Michael Leapman was functioning on autopilot. The news of Manny's illness was bad enough. The prospect of his son taking over the Chairmanship was beyond everything.
Manny shifted the pineapple to his left hand and rested his right on Leapman's shoulder. "Thanks, Mike. You don't have to tell me the sharks will be circling, but I have confidence in the boy. I like the way he's shaping up. As a matter of fact, I called Rico last night. Davey's doing a great job in Milan, and that isn't easy, closing down a plant"
It was a skill that might soon be required nearer home, Leapman thought cynically. "Have you told him?"
"Told him what?"
"This terrible news your doctor gave you."
"Not yet It's not easy over the phone."
"You'll wait, then?"
"Davey doesn't need to be told at this stage. Maybe not at all."
Frowning, Leapman said, "But you just told me. Surely you owe it to him. He needs time to adjust"
"Weren't you listening just now?" said Manny. "About management being thrust upon him? It's better he doesn't have time to think about it. Knowing Davey, he'd look for an out"
Leapman didn't pursue the point Maybe Manny was right from the company's point of view, given the staggering premise that David Flexner had to be installed as the next Chairman. What was the point in getting steamed up about David's sensibilities when his own had been ruthlessly trampled
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