Mauricio writes...
Story 45 - The six-million-dollar vase... that I didn’t accept
Mauricio writes...
Story 45 - The six-million-dollar vase... that I didn’t accept
As I wrote in the previous story, I went to Japan to collaborate with the Sanrio company in implanting its worldwide licensing. I took Horacio strips to be published in their magazine, I created products, I summoned my top final-art technician, Alice Takeda, to come from Brazil to help in Tokyo. And eventually we watched the incredible growth of the Sanrio network from those first two stores to thousands around the world within a few years.
In Tokyo, the day came when the president of the organization called me for a meeting in his “secret room.” I went, accompanied by my interpreter, Mrs. Senda.
It was a spacious room, furnished with oriental elegance with walls of decorated wood paneling. President Tsuji, always dressed formally, greeted me effusively and thanked me for my collaboration and the enthusiasm I had shown toward his company.
Then, at the touch of a button, the paneled walls began to move. As they slid open slowly, they revealed shelves full of beautiful, richly decorated vases. Tiny beams of green light in front of them showed the type of security that kept them protected: photoelectric cells.
A second button touched by President Tsuji turned off those “alarms” and permitted him to approach the shelves and take a vase in his hands. And he brought one over to me, saying it was a present for the good service I had rendered to his company.
As I held the vase he had handed me, my interpreter translated his last sentence: It was a very valuable Chinese piece from the Ming dynasty, worth some six million dollars.
I nearly dropped it. In a matter of seconds, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind:
What would I do with something so precious? Take it to Brazil? And keep it where? It would have to be hidden someplace in a vault. Or leave it on view, within reach of a broom handle or a distracted feather duster? I couldn’t sell it. It was a present. I couldn’t give it to anyone. That would be an affront. What should I do? Refuse it right away.
And that’s what I did. I thanked him sincerely and explained that I did not yet have a place in Brazil worthy of a treasure such as that. When I had a big Monica’s Park with a Japanese sector, I would plan a place for the vase to be on view. But until that day came, I asked that it be kept in the safety of that fortress.
He accepted my temporary refusal, put the vase away and closed the wall panels. My interpreter praised my attitude, saying that I had done the right thing.
And that’s how it was left. Until now I also believe that I avoided great problems by refusing to take it. Otherwise I would have become a baby-sitter to a vase worth six million dollars. Can you imagine?
How did so many highly valuable vases end up in the president’s secret room? Find out in Real Story #46.
Mauricio de Sousa
|
E-mail 
|
