Lawrence Arrendale II's childhood began idyllically. He was born into a well-to-do family and raised by loving parents. In his young life he never wanted for anything and never had any reason to believe that his situation would ever change. But his seemingly perfect life came to an end when he was nine years old and his parents were killed in a mysterious accident. Young Lawrence grieved the loss of his beloved parents and for the security of his sheltered life.
Young Lawrence was placed in the custody of his only remaining relative, his mother's estranged brother, Silas. Uncle Silas was a bachelor who was set in his ways. He liked his freedom - staying out all night, partying, meeting lots of women and gambling. Not eager to take on the responsibility of a young child, who would certainly cramp his free-wheeling style, he immediately sent Young Lawrence off to the best boarding school his late sister and brother-in-law's money could buy.
Although Lawrence was lonely for his late parents, he grew accustomed to his new life at boarding school and eventually was happy there. He did well in his courses and he made new friends who often invited him stay at their houses over school vacations when his Uncle Silas failed to show up, which was more often than not. He was secretly relieved when he didn't have to spend school vacations with his uncle and he was sure that Silas felt the same way.
Nine years after his parents died, Lawrence graduated from school at the top of his class. He wasn't surprised that Silas hadn't showed up for the graduation ceremony, but he was surprised when he found out the reason why. Silas had been murdered, his body found along the river, in the early hours of that very morning. Again, Lawrence made a visit to the family cemetary. However he didn't grieve much over his uncle Silas. After all, he didn't know his late guardian well enough to miss him.
After Uncle Silas's remains were dealt with, Lawrence went to talk to Silas's attorney to settle any of his late uncle's remaining financial matters. At first, Lawrence was shocked to discover that his uncle hadn't made out a will. But on further thought he realized that it shouldn't have surprised him. Silas wasn't the type to believe in his own mortality and he hadn't given much thought about his young nephew during his lifetime, let alone what should become of the boy if anything should happen to him.
The attorney had nothing but grim news for Lawrence. The fact that Silas hadn't made a will was irrelevant at this point anyway. At the time of his death, Silas had been deeply in debt. Not only had he gone through his own wealth, but he had even spent all of Lawrence's inheritance as well. There was nothing left.
Lawrence was too proud to let anyone know about his situation and immediately cut ties with all of his friends from school. Alone and penniless, he borrowed just enough money to live on until he could get on his feet. The only apartment he could afford was shabby at best and located in a bad neighborhood. He hated living there, but felt that he had no other choice. He convinced himself that he would have to tolerate it for the time being.
Vowing not to be like his deadbeat uncle, Lawrence immediately searched the papers to find a job. He made a few inquiries and was disppointed when he discovered that he was under-qualified for the only available jobs that he believed were worth pursuing. Finally he had to lower his sights and settle for any low wage menial job he could get, just to make enough money to survive and pay off his debts.
As the months passed Lawrence grew very depressed. Sometimes he felt so hopeless, like nothing in his life was ever going to get better. He was going to be stuck in this place forever, living in this dingy apartment, working at menial jobs, being alone. One night he took a good look in the bathroom mirror and thought, "Is this what my life has come to? Is this all there is?" The thought that those questions were true made him feel more discouraged than he had ever felt before. He reached into the cabinet, pulled out a large bottle of pills. He heard the pills rattling in the bottle as he started to twist off the lid. Then he stopped. Suddenly, changing his mind, he quickly put the bottle back on its shelf and closed the cabinet door and forced those thoughts out of his mind for good.
Somehow, he vowed, he would get through this.
The months turned into years and the years passed without much change. Lawrence was working for a local political candidate, passing out flyers to people walking by when he ran into an old friend from boarding school. He was mortified that anyone should see him this way, but there was no avoiding it.
"Lawrence? Lawrence Arrendale? Is that you? It's Hector, Hector Burgess, from prep school, we roomed together one year, like back in 7th grade, remember? What have you been up to since graduation?"
"Working mostly," Lawrence answered shortly.
"In politics, I see," Hector said, taking a look at one of Lawrence's fliers. "That's great that you're doing volunteer work like this. I should really take some time to get involved. It's hard to find time though with as busy as I am."
"I'm not exactly volunteering. This is my job," Lawrence reluctantly admitted.
"Oh . . . Well, seems like pretty easy work, huh?" Hector remarked briefly before going on to talk about himself, his college, his job, and his swell gal while Lawrence gritted his teeth in a hard grin, trying to disguise his jealousy. "Hey, Laurie, as I remember you were a bright guy, you really could be doing more than this with yourself. How would you like a job at the Townsend Corporation? I'm sure my boss would hire you."
Lawrence was interested, but reluctant to accept. He didn't want charity.
"You'll be doing me a favor," Hector insisted. "The old man's been looking for new employees. I'll be showing initiative, which might get me a promotion."
Seeing no sense in passing up a good opportunity, Lawrence agreed to go with Hector to talk to Mr. Townsend.
That afternoon Hector and Lawrence met with Arthur Townsend, founder of the Stuart-Townsend Corporation. Hector made the introductions.
"Mr. Townsend, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine from school, Lawrence Arrendale." As the two men shook hands, Hector got straight to the point. "It just so happens that Lawrence is between jobs right now and I think he would be a valuable addition to the company."
"Is that so?" Arthur asked, taking a seat and motioning for Hector and Lawrence to do the same. "Well, if the university prepared you as well as it did Hector, I'm sure you will be."
"Lawrence and I didn't go to the same university," Hector was quick to explain. "By school I meant prep school. But he did graduate at the top of our class."
"I haven't been to college yet." Lawrence mumbled, "Family financial problems."
Arthur nodded solemnly. "There are many self-made men who I greatly admire, that have never set foot on a college campus. What experience do you have?" Reluctantly Lawrence had to admit that he had almost no practical business experience and his list of recent occupations proved less than impressive.
Arthur looked thoughtful for a moment and then cleared his throat before speaking again, "There is one position in the company that I can offer you right now. We need a person to run a few errands around the office. Namely, a mailroom clerk."
Lawrence raised stifly from his chair, his face growing paler as he controlled his frustration and disappointment. "I'm afraid I must decline. I'm sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Townsend. Good day."
Lawrence walked stiffly from the office and towards the front door, without a glance at Mr. Townsend or Hector. A mailroom clerk! Lawrence was insulted by the offer. As he stomped through the lobby a group of women gathered at the receptionist's desk turned to look at him. He was suddenly embarrassed by his outburst of temper, and even more so as he found himself face to face with one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. She smiled at him, looking slightly amused, as she walked past him and towards Mr. Townsend's office. As he turned, following her movements with his eyes, Lawrence saw Hector walking towards him.
"Lawrence!" he called out. "I talked Mr. Townsend into giving you another chance. Look, I know working in the mailroom isn't the job you want, but you've got to start somewhere, right? Just think it over, alright? And if you've come to your senses by tomorrow morning, come by before nine."
Lawrence spent the walk back to his apartment thinking over the job offer and daydreaming about the young woman he saw in the office. The job wouldn't be so bad really if he could only get over his pride. When he walked to the apartment building and saw his trashy neighbors out front fighting again, his mind was made up. He had to get out of the rut that his life had fallen into. He had to make things better. He would take the job.
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