The Katapotis' Inheritance

Chapter 1—Shock Overload

Zena Katopotis was a librarian whose parents unexpectedly died one night in the home where she had grown up as a child. She was visiting with her beloved husband Peter and her two well-behaved boys, Remis and Azrael. Remis and Azrael were shocked when they found grandma and grandpa holding hands together in bed and still due to rigor mortis setting in. They had passed quickly and without incident, without pain or discomfort.

The two were quickly delivered to the mortician to be processed and given every care for what had been stated in their final will and testament. It would be a celebration of life and everyone in the Katopotis family would be invited. No one anticipated how many Katopotis would arrive, but it was almost more than the funeral home could hold !

Everyone was smiling, laughing and joking about how Mama Lavender and Papa Michael had lived their lives to the fullest. Their fondest memory was having the ‘Big Fat Katapoti Reunion’ back in the ‘old country’. It was absolutely ambrosial and divine. No one ever forgot their trip there and plenty of memories were flooding back as many of the Katapotis raised a glass of ouzo and shouted OPA to the long life of the Katapotis to come.

After the funeral, Zena began rifling through mama and papa’s things, wondering what to do with them. She came across a video tape of every highlight the two had savored together. One was about a black book that Micheal had kept. It was something only Michael had known about. Not even Lavender had a clue that Michael was keeping a black book. He didn’t disclose what the contents of the little black book were.

‘Why would papa keep that from us ? He never was secretive like that !’, Remis said, curiously, while they all watched together, sitting on the edge of the guest room bed. He adjusted his Lennon glasses and felt tears stinging his eyes. Azrael, the younger, was even more upset, and he was weeping. The two brothers comforted each other, and Zena spoke up.

‘I know we’re all a bit riled over this. Let’s put our heads together and start looking for Papa’s little black book. Perhaps we can solve this conundrum together.’, Zena said. With that, the whole family wiped their eyes and with new determination, went to sleep that night, pondering what Micheal had tried to keep covert right up until the day of his burial.

Chapter 2—The Attic

The family had looked everywhere until they ventured into the attic of the old, quaint home. It had been willed to them and it would act as a sort of ‘vacation destination’ to the Katopotis during the summer months, since the beach wasn’t that far away from it.

Up in the attic, the boys had located a key that they puzzled over what it was possibly for.

‘We’ve tried putting the key into everything we thought it could unlock.’, Azrael said, a bit of irritation under his voice.

‘I think it might work for this chest here. We didn’t give it a shot yet, Az !’, Remis added, astutely. He clapped a steady hand on his brother’s shoulder to reassure him. Azrael could be a little hot headed and impatient, but Remis always calmed him down. Remis borrowed the key and placed it into the lock. He heard the tumblers click and the safe was open !

‘This is like something out of Indiana Jones !’, Remis exclaimed, his eyes glittering in eager excitement. The whole family was awed when they pulled out the leather bound black book. On the outside it read ‘Michael’. Inside, there were accounts of stocks and bonds that Micheal had invested in over years and years. They were companies that weren’t even heard of but had become incredibly popular in the modern age. Micheal had a statement he had put in writing,

‘I am sorry I kept this so silent from all of you. I wanted to protect you long after I died. I haven’t been hale and hearty recently, but I am relieved since I put this safety net under you long before you were ever born. None of you will ever have need of anything. Use this money how you see fit. I have accounts that are coming to you forever. You can will them to your great grandchildren and the money will flow to them as well. Forgive me for not sharing this. I didn’t want anyone else to know. You know how crazy cousin Julian is and how much of a moocher he can be. Not really certain if Julian has changed his ways since then, but he was always asking me for money when he never really worked hard for anyone, expecting everyone to work for him while he makes a mint off their backbreaking. Enough of that though. As I said, use this how you see fit. I am certain you will make the right decision. Love Papa Michael.’, Zena read.

‘We’re trillionaires...That’s impossible ! All this time, we prayed for increase...Unbelievable.’, Peter stated in a very soto voce. He grasped his wife’s shoulders and then embraced her, kissing her. The whole family hugged, still in disbelief that this magnificent event had occurred to them. None of them would have to worry about Julian either. It seems that Julian had been a changed man since the last time they had their reunion. He had come to the funeral, but didn’t know about what had occurred. It was a prime time to open the line of communication with him, since he had gone through such drastic changes the last they met.

Chapter 3—Forgiveness

The moneys were divided properly into different accounts. Some of it even went to help philanthropic organizations. The last bit of it was given to Julian during a planned family reunion, this time, in stunning Japan.

It seemed that Michael knew that Julian wanted to turn his life around.

‘I had found another note in the very back of the book, almost when I thought there couldn’t be anything else. This surprised me immensely.’, Peter said, handing it to Julian. Julian didn’t understand why Peter was crying joyful tears.

‘I understand you have been through a lot. You underwent a bankruptcy, had to file 13 on your house and nearly lost everything after that awful battle with your alcoholism. But I saw you turning it around at our last reunion. You weren’t the frivolous spendthrift and manipulative little mooch I remembered you to be. I saw the eyes of a truly repentant man...’, Julian read. His blue eyes clouded with tears. It had taken him a long time to come out of the hole, but he had worked hard to come back up from the brink of absolutely nothing to become the CEO of a large tech company that was making strides in the world. He had been able to retrieve his marriage to his beautiful wife Amaryllis, and his children, Rose and Hyacinth absolutely adored him. They were healed, all due to the steps he took to become sober. Micheal had believed in him when no one else in the family would. Sure, some of them said they did, but Papa Michael had a feeling that only Julian could enact this change in his life.

‘We were wrong. I’m sorry !’, Peter said, tearfully. The so called ‘weird’ cousin no one understood was simply eccentric and eclectic. He had truly turned around. It was because of him, the family had been able to book their trip to Japan and see all the incredible sights, even in cherry blossom and wisteria viewing season when tickets had always sold out. To think the catalyst had been one singular black book that had rippled through all their lives and given them a boost, as well as transformed so many other people’s livelihoods; people they’d never see or meet.

Epilogue

Papa Michael Katapoti is a name spoken with reverence and joviality,

His fortune knew no end, but helped so many in need.

He believed in a troubled lad when no one else would,

Even the downtrodden can use trouble for good.

A secret isn’t always bad or wrong, so keep an open mind,

Because, who knows ? Your actions may help someone in kind.

This is what I learned from my Papa’s little black book,

So, never let fear override you,

Go on, take a look !

Zena Katapoti, Heiress, Philanthropist, Mother, Lover, Traveler

The End