Pulpmaster

Pulpmaster

Keeping the Pages Running

Devin Allers

“I call it the Book of the Self. It’s made from recycled paper,” Jasper said, as he slid the little black book across the table to the doubtful investor. “This isn’t worth my time bud, cool idea but just not worth putting ten grand on the table for. Goodluck,” Investor number sixteen stands and leaves.

“Dude you said it would be easy to get 10k. Investors don’t take little guys seriously man. Make a bigger offer with expansion in mind. These guys only see money,” Levi the project partner, replies.

Jasper the dutiful project founder replies “That would mean we lose more control of the company. Ten grand is all we need for this phase of the project. We’ve been through this Levi.”

“It’s not working can’t you see that. To be a businessman you got to make decisions like one. Especially during a pandemic” belts back Levi.

“I will not sacrifice the goal of the company for money”.

“You mean your goal? Whatever bro, I’m out!”

“Out?”

“Yeah, I’m done Jasper I have a job interview tomorrow.”

“Seriously!” Jasper takes a deep breath. “You know what, I’ve always said you have an out at any time. Soo…Goodluck on that interview Le,” Levi extends his hand towards Jasper and gives a look of grief and relief.

A few months Pass. Jasper and his wife Mel get ready for dinner one night.

“Hey Hun, have you talked to Levi?” Mel asks as they set the table for dinner.

“Ah yeah, he got the job.” Replies Jasper.

“How do you feel about that?”

“Come on Mel, you know exactly how I feel. Levi was an important key to the future of this company.”

“Did you tell him that?” She asked.

“No, unfortunately It’s too late for that.”

“You’re wrong Jasp, it’s never too late to tell your friends how important they are” Jaspers wife flashes back.

“I hate when you’re right, you know that?”

“I’m glad you can admit that” Mel said candidly.

The days moved on and Jasper kept pushing himself insane, trying to keep the project afloat. Then one-night Jasper came home late from work. Exhausted after putting the final journal that was on back log into its packaging. He came inside and slowly just collapsed onto the floor and fell asleep.

“Jasper! Jasper! Are you ok?” Mel yells at her husband.

Jasper fires back “Yeah! Yeah! I’m awake. Stop yelling.”

“Why are you on the floor?”

Jasper in a half laugh, “It looked comfortable, look I don’t know, I was just tired I guess.”

Mel slaps his arm saying, “It’s not funny Jasp, stop being weird. You’re freaking me out!”

“Things are starting to come together Mel. We are finally breaking even for once. I Need to talk to Levi; I need him to build the pulp wheel”.

Jasper calls Levi a few weeks later.

“Hey Levi! Congrats on the job. Sorry I didn’t call you sooner”.

“No worries man, it’s going good. The machines here are wicked accurate.”

“Hey, listen man, you were an important part of this project- “Stop! I’m not coming back jasper” Levi interrupts.

Jasper calmly replies, “I’m not asking you to come back as a partner but instead, a contractor. You are the only one I trust to do the job right. You’re the one that came up with the plans in the first place. Don’t you want to finish what you started? Also, dude we are finally breaking even.”

Levi slowly replies, “That’s a relief. Fine, ok I’ll do it. But how are we going to get the money for the materials?”

“Well I have one more investor to talk with. He is known to be hardheaded and a brute but is also known to give out small business loans. We need to make this one count.”

Jasper sets up a meeting with the final investor a few days later.

In the conference room of Mr. Tom Lawson, he asks Jasper, “So, what makes this journal so special? There are 1000s on the market right now.”

“Well Mr. Lawson, This journal is made from recycled junk mail and comes with precise instructions on how to use it. Please look at the first 2 pages” Jasper says as he slides the little black book across the table for the seemingly last time. “The instructions read as follows: Use these pages of this little book to change the course of time and alter history in the making. As you write on these pages forged by the hands of the pulpmaster; remember to write boldly, in detail and with a strong hand. Monsters will show their ugly face at times and then works of art flow through the pages, but the key is to keep writing through the tears both of joy and sorrow. The only rules to this book are to write with honesty, with flow, without judgement and write often as possible. To write as to fight for the next word. The body, mind and soul will profit. Now write!”

Tom asks, “Strong words. Umm so why do you need the ten thousand?”

Levi takes over, “Well to get ahead of production we need to build a couple machines, the pulp wheel and the paper press. All human powered with high output without the backbreaking labor of normal handmade paper, while keeping the pages artisan. These machines with produce 10x more than our current production rate. We are trying to create something sustainable while still being efficient. We just need the materials to do it.”

Tom asks intriguingly, “Wait, you’re telling me you are building it yourselves?”

Jasper proudly replies, “Yes, Levi is a machinist, a fine welder and he came up with the plans.”

Tom explains and slides the book towards Jasper, “Listen, this is a passion business and they don’t make money. I’m sorry, I like the idea, but I’d be basically handing you free money.”

Jasper hands the book back and says, “Ok just take this and try it for a week. Write down anything that comes to your head and I mean anything.”

Tom says “Haha, you sure are determined. Fine hand it here. If you don’t hear from me in a week then that means ill pass. Don’t hold your breath.”

Jasper firmly places the little black book it his hand and says “Thank You for your time Mr. Lawson” then walks out of the room, Levi at his side.

Levi in disbelief says, “Sorry bro, what now Jasper. He didn’t seem too convinced.”

“No, he didn’t. We’ll try crowdfunding, I guess. I’ll look into it tonight. It will just take longer than expected.”

Levi waves and says, “Ok ill got to get to work, keep me updated.”

“See ya later Le”

Jasper goes home to tell his wife.

Mel cries to her husband, “Jasper, what are we going to do? You said it will get easier soon. My salary alone is barely covering the mortgage, not to mention all of your medical bills.”

Jasper replies, “I just need a little more time Mel”

“Time is one thing we don’t have! Anyway, I need to go to work. Maybe at least freshen up that resume and find a job with insurance.”

He says in a somber, “I’ll think about it, ok I love you. Have a good day” then he kisses her goodbye.

Jasper heads to the shop to meet Levi. As they were checking the space for the pulp wheel he says, “She just doesn’t understand how important this ‘one thing’ is to me man.”

Levi in a tough love voice replies, “Well dude, what did you expect from marrying an ambitious real estate lawyer. She expects results and you don’t have any.”

“Yeah maybe you’re right, I guess I should start looking for jobs”

To his friend, Levi says, “you tried going for your dreams man, most people can’t say that.”

“Yeah I guess” jasper says as he shuts off the lights and heads home to his wife.

Over a late dinner Jasper says to his wife, “Mel, so I found a few jobs online to apply for. One’s at a cardboard plant.”

Mel excitedly reacts, “Oh my god, I’m so happy. Oh, but you don’t seem so happy about it?”

Jasper replies, “Come on babe, I spent 3 years straight without stopping-once and now I have to work for some corporate yahoo until I die. It’s going to take a while to get used is all.”

Mel- “Yeah I don’t see that happening anytime soon.” Buzz, buzz jaspers cellphone rings. “Who could that be at this hour?”

He takes the phone, “Oh its Tom Lawson’s office-Hello, this is Jasper McConnell.”

“Hey Jasper, Its Tom Lawson. Can I come by your shop sometime? I would like to see your operation.”

“Oh of course, how about tomorrow morning at 8?”

“Perfect, see you then”

“He wants to meet at the shop tomorrow!”

“Well looks like you might get your wish after all.” Jasper kisses his wife as she eats her ice-cream.

He immediately calls his friend, “Levi, meet at the shop at 7:45. Lawson wants to visit.”

Jasper wakes up tired from not sleeping well, but excited enough to overcome it. He arrives at the shop early and takes it all in for a minute while he waits for Levi and Mr. Lawson.

Levi arrives promptly at 7:45.

Jasper greets him with “Hey Levi, thanks for coming.”

Levi replies, “No problem, where’s Mr. Tom?”

“Be here at eight. Listen, Levi, this has to go well. I-I don’t have long.”

Levi asks in concern, “What do you mean!”

Looking down Jasper says, “I just got the test results back, they say I only have a few years left.”

With a buzz at the door Jasper invites him in. “So, this is it Tom. 3 years of work.”

Tom looks around and says, “You make 200 of these books a day by yourself with these basic tools. I can’t imagine what you could do with a couple machines. So how does it all work?”

Jasper eagerly replies, “In so many words, we receive drop-offs of unwanted paper here, we shred it, soak it, then turn it back in to pulp with these rollers, add more water, screen out the pulp in the desired shape and size, press it, dry it and assemble it into a book.”

He asks, “so what are your plans for the future?”

“First, we need a wheel to make the screening process faster and easier for one person as well as better press, then we eventually want to create different sized notebooks with different covers, such as leather crafted by local shops, hemp from local farms and of course recycling more paper from the community.”

Tom asks pointing at some plans posted on a board, “What’s this here?”

Levi chirps “Oh, that’s an area where we want to build where people can come in and workout with some specially made cycles and create energy for the shop. Then here is an article on how to convert paper pulp or wood pulp into energy.”

Tom replies in wonder, “Wow! You guys are mad or brilliant. Listen Jasper, I made some big business changes this week and I have your little black book to thank for it. I wrote in that journal about my business and what I didn’t like about it. Especially how I let my managers treat my people.”

Jasper says, “I’m glad you were able find a use for it.”

“Ha-ha, it costed me a lot of money, but for the better in the long term. I’m willing to give you twenty thousand dollars, and I mean 100% for free.”

“Mr. Lawson, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say thank you, give me some more books and keep this place going”

Jasper looks at Levi and back to Tom, “Seems more than fair to me Tom, Thank you.”