Starting Point Read Online Free PDF

clarified, for the benefit of everyone in the room, “When Boss asked me to take a look at the figures, it was my idea to bring you guys in on this. You’re a part of this business, so your input is important. Some ideas on how we can get some money, or increase our turnover and cash flow would be great.”
    “What the hell do we know about runnin’ a business?” Cody asked.
    “You’re on the floor with our clients every day, man,” I said. “Ask them what they like. What we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, what they want to see more of.”
    “Well”—Cody scratched his head—“Tressler made money from hosting fights…”
    Arizona looked around Jamaal and glared at Cody. “You lost your freakin’ mind, boy?”
    Cody’s eyes widened and darted to mine. “No, no, I didn’t mean underground fights, man. That’s not what I meant.”
    I gave him a smile. I know he didn’t mean anything by it. “Legal income. It can’t be illegal in any way, or the city will shut us down. And preferably an idea of something where no one nearly dies.”
    “I meant real fights, like a tournament or something, that’s all I meant,” Cody said.
    I nodded. “That could work. We’ll need more of a plan than just that though. Is that something you could work on, Cody? Get some ideas together?”
    The young man nodded. “Suppose. Just ideas though, nothing too special.”
    “Maybe we could set up a legit tournament or something,” Jamaal said. “Like a charity day or family day. I know that sounds kinda lame, but when I was a kid, I spent the holidays with my cousins and, in their town, they used to have these family days where they closed off the street and had these stalls and shit. It was so cool, for a kid, ya know. No one does that shit anymore.”
    “I like the sound of it,” I said, smiling at his enthusiasm.
    “What kind of insurances you think we got?” Boss cried. “We need to make money, not spend it.”
    I looked to Boss. “We’ll look into it,” I told him. “I’ll make some phone calls and see what has to happen. But it could be real good, for us, the club and the kids, ya know?” I looked back at Jamaal. “That could really work.”
    Arizona shook his head and smirked at me. “I’m gonna start callin’ you Mike fuckin’ Brady.”
    I laughed. “Just as long as we don’t sing those songs we used to at camp, right? Like Kumbaya.”
    The three men stared at me blankly, and I realised none of them would have ever gone to camp. “Never mind.”
    Boss laughed behind me and clapped his hand on my back. “Different world here, Elliott. You don’t wanna hear this lot sing anyway. Probably a good thing you’re half deaf.”
    I chuckled at him. “Yeah, small blessings, huh?” Then I turned to the other three. “Okay, so the plan is this—I’ll do some homework on having a community street day in conjunction with a tournament, and see just what’s involved. You guys talk to the customers, see what they’d like to have improved and have a think yourselves about where you want this place to go.”
    Cody and Jamaal practically bounced with excitement as they walked out, and Arizona stayed back for a second. He was smiling. “You do realise you just rounded us up and gave out orders like you’re still a cop, right?”
    Boss snorted, and I laughed. “Yeah, but the strategic planning and morale talks worked, yes?”
    He held out his fist, which I bumped with mine. “Sure did.” Then he sighed. “Don’t know what I’ll do if this place shuts down.”
    “That’s why we can’t let it get to that,” I said. “That’s why we’re acting now, so it doesn’t happen, okay?”
    The big man nodded. “Just lemme know what you want me to do.”
    “I will.”
    He got to the door then stopped. “You know, if you want me to work later every day, and run classes in the evenings as well as weekends, any extra shifts, I’ll do it.”
    I gave a nod. “We’ll see.” Then I looked at