Chapter 1 - Minor Delays
Chapter 2 - Telephone Tag
Chapter 3 - Alex's Plan
Chapter 4 - Unexpected Surprises
Chapter 5 - Presenting the Proposal
Chapter 6 - Setting the Plan in Motion
Chapter 7 - On Your Marks, Get Set...
Chapter 8 - Prepare For Takeoff
Chapter 9 - On the Right Track?
Chapter 10 - Clue #2 is Found!
Chapter 11 - Railroad Warriors are right on track
Chapter 12 - A Few Bumps Along the Way
Chapter 13 - The Bittersweet End

Chapter 4  

Unexpected Surprises
After momentarily starring at the email, Alex checked for a phone number on it. He located the number and anxiously dialed it. Two rings into the call and it was answered.

“Office of Barry Seedler, how may I direct your call?” the voice said.

Alex asked to speak with Mr. Seedler after advising of the email he received. The receptionist transferred the call immediately.

Barry Seedler was the president of the WALK station. The What America Likes to Know Network had gained much popularity after the craze of reality shows peaked. Viewers could get a heaping dose of reality TV, 24 hours a day.

“Barry Seedler speaking” Alex heard.

“Mr. Seedler, this is Alex Knight from Stay the Night Hotels. I’m calling in regards to the email you sent me.” Alex advised.

Excitedly, Barry replied.

“Yes, you’re the fellow who had the idea of the race to raise money for cancer research, right?”

“That’s me, but Mr. Seedler, I’m a bit confused, how did you hear about this? Nothing has been approved yet.” Alex questioned.

Seedler told Alex that he was called by Lara Hickerls and she told him all about the idea.

“Wow, really? But how does Lara know you?”

“She used to date my son, they would still be together however, he passed away just about a year ago—Leukemia.” Barry replied.

Alex’s first thought was “why didn’t Lara tell anyone she was dating a TV network president’s son? Guess I shouldn't have allowed us to drift apart for all that time”

Seedler continued, “Alex, if your idea is approved, I’d like to be considered to air it on WALK. Our ratings are very good and I’d be honored to show it.”

Alex was speechless.

“Mr. Seedler that is a most generous offer, however, I don’t think we’ll be filming the race. That sort of thing has not been thought of for our budget.”

The next words spoken by Barry Seedler were beyond anything Alex could have imagined.

“Alex, I will sponsor your efforts in this race as much as I can. I can provide you with camera crews and allot you space in our schedule. I am ready to help you with whatever you need. Alex, this is a wonderful idea and a terrific cause. WALK just wants to be a part of it.”

Alex could not thank Barry enough. He told him that they’d be in touch soon.

As Alex hung up the phone he couldn’t believe the progress he had made in just a few short hours. He was amazed at WALK’s generosity and couldn’t wait to add the filming into the budget proposal.

Alex looked over his paperwork and basically figured out that the most this plan was going to cost would be whatever the prize was going to be.

Alex did some work on the new dinner promotion and called it a day. He turned off his computer and collected his jacket. He was on his way out of the office when he bumped into his boss.

“So Alex, how’d your meeting with Leift go?” Giles asked.

Alex brought his boss up to speed and started to tell him about the overwhelming response to his idea in the travel community. He was careful not to mention anything about WALK just yet. He would wait for signed contracts before revealing that surprise!

Alex bid his boss goodnight and left for the evening. As he drove home, he couldn’t stop thinking about the race. He had so many ideas flowing through his mind!

Once at home, Alex sat with his laptop and began fixing up his document, perfecting it to present to the CEO.

As he put the plan together, read and re-read the proposal, he thought to himself how much work this whole project was going to be. Besides the amount of work, the amount of time it was going to take to pull it all together and say “GO” on the starting line was going to mean many early mornings and late nights at the office.

Alex didn’t care though. The cause he was embracing was well worth the time spent in gold. The thought of knowing he would be helping to raise money, money that would be spent towards finding cures and treatments to ease the pain and suffering endured by his family, friends and all stricken with the disease, was all he needed to get his ideas on paper.

The clocked chimed on the hour. Alex could hardly believe that it was 1am already. He got ready for bed and saved all his work. Tomorrow would be a big day for him.

Alex tried to fall asleep but the anxiety he was feeling was worse than that of a five year old’s on the night before Christmas!

Finally around 3am, he was asleep, thoughts of planes, trains and cars filling his dreams.

6:30am on the dot, Alex’s alarm clock went off. He snoozed it twice and eventually got out of bed.

He dressed up in nice khaki pants and a dress shirt. He wasn’t sure about wearing a tie and finally decided against it. He wanted to look confident and sharp, not overdressed and cocky.

After a quick bowl of cereal, he grabbed his things and walked out the door, ready to engage in the morning traffic jams.

Cars were actually driving and traffic was flowing at an unusually rapid pace. Alex reached the office at 8:35am. There was plenty of time to email Mr. Leift for a meeting and finish reviewing his proposal. So far, the morning was off to a great start!