Greg and Lorenzo

(Part 1) [This week's "as the Pegasus Flies"] Reader's Digest was growing and expanding fast. International editions, ads in the magazine, the purchase of the Guest House, and now French, German, and Italian versions of Condensed Books, set to debut in the new year--1955. Lorenzo accompanied Greg, Condensed Books senior editor, to work as an interpreter while Greg put together the first edition with their Italian colleagues. Sitting in first class, smoking a cigar and sipping champagne, Lorenzo said to Greg, "I left Italy almost two years ago with nothing, just a dream of finding my lost love Ethel in a magical place called Pleasantville. Now, I have all this." He gestured with his hands--spilling some champagne--as if he owned the airplane. He was also embellishing the story a little, or maybe it was just the alcohol talking, but he wasn't broke when he came to America. He had $50,000 cash with him, $10,000 of which was later stolen by Margaret the mail clerk (in the very first As the Pegasus Flies story.) "The American Dream," Greg said to be polite, though he was really thinking about all the beautiful Italian women he'd heard so much about. He was looking out the window, picturing all the babes that awaited him below. Why would Lorenzo ever leave Italy!? Was he crazy? Lorenzo was still blathering on about his great new life in the U.S. when suddenly it got a little more interesting. "...so that's when I sold all my furniture and took off for America, leaving my wife behind." Greg turned to Lorenzo. "I thought your first wife died?" Lorenzo looked worried. "Oops. Don't tell Ethel, okay paesan?" "Okay," Greg said, thinking, Maybe this won't be just a boring business trip after all.

(Part 2) Both Greg and Lorenzo nodded off during the long plane ride. After the in-flight meal and the drinks, sleep came easily. Greg dreamed of money, for some reason, jumping in piles of it like kids would jump in a pile of leaves during Autumn. The dream was so vivid, he could actually smell the dollar bills. Of course, this was just Lorenzo's cologne intruding on Greg's unconscious mind. When Greg woke he was momentarily disoriented; then he looked around and remembered where he was. It was a red eye flight and Lorenzo was still asleep, as were most of the other passengers. Greg thought of the work ahead of him, the important task he was given of launching the condensed book series in Italy. He was hoping for a promotion and a good raise when he got his next review. He had his eye on a little house in Pleasantville selling for $12,000, not too far from work. He was close to affording it too; an increase to three thousand five hundred a year would put him mentally at ease, at least financially. Then all he'd have to do is find a woman to share his new home with. He didn't have any delusions of bringing a wife back with him from Italy. But just the fact that he was ready, he was open to all possibilities was a good sign. His star was on the rise, he could feel it. He was confident and optimistic; nothing could go wrong now. Suddenly the plane jerked and dropped violently as it hit an air pocket. Lorenzo woke and grabbed Greg's arm. The plane jerked again, causing several bags to come crashing out of the overhead compartments. Once again the plane dropped. "Madone!" Lorenzo yelled, "We're all gonna die!"

(Part 3) Many things become apparent to you the moment you are faced with death. Everything becomes clear. Important things. For Lorenzo, he realized just how much Ethel meant to him. He'd have to end things properly with his Italian wife Maria, get a divorce and make it official. Ethel was his first and true love. He'd do this for her. When the plane landed—safely—in Rome that morning, Lorenzo said to Greg, "I need to go to Napoli right now." Greg said, "But we should check into the hotel. We have a meeting this evening." Lorenzo said, "We have plenty of time to drive there and back." "What's in Naples?" Greg asked. "My wife Maria." Lorenzo ran out of the airport and began flagging down taxis. Greg, struggling after him with his suitcase, said, "Shouldn't we at least drop off out luggage first?" "No time! I saw the light when I thought we were going to die. Life is short, I have to do this NOW!" A taxi stopped and Lorenzo hopped into the back seat. "Do what?" Greg said, jumping in after him. "Ask Maria for a divorce." Lorenzo gave the driver the address and the taxi took off, driving wildly through the streets of Rome. Greg had never seen anything like it. Soon they were out of the city and the roads became more country-like. But the driver didn't slow down; he smelled money and wanted to get his customer to his destination quickly. Before long they stopped in front of a small, cute stone house with a nice vegetable garden in front. Maria had great tomatoes! Lorenzo told the driver to wait, then hopped out of the car and went inside. After he'd been inside for a while, Greg began to look at his watch. What was taking Lorenzo so long? Finally Greg got out too, and approached the house. The front door was open and he could hear Lorenzo and Maria talking. Lorenzo said, "My cousin is a lawyer, he can get all the paper work done fast." "So, I'm guess I'm not your little braciole anymore?" Maria said. That's the moment Greg walked into the room, the moment that everything that went before ceased to matter. Maria turned to look at Greg. Their eyes met. She was the most beautiful woman Greg had ever seen. The legendary Italian thunderbolt struck both of them at that instant. Without taking her eyes off of Greg, Maria said to Lorenzo, "Where do I sign?" "Uh, well, I don't actually have the papers yet," Lorenzo said, and turned to look at Greg. Lorenzo, well he knew the look of the thunderbolt when he saw it. Maybe everyone would end up happy. He said, "Maria, this is Greg. Greg, Maria." Greg had the moment of clarity that Lorenzo had had on the plane. That little house in Pleasantville didn't seem like such a good idea after all. A stone cottage in Napoli seemed a whole lot better.

(Part 4) [The conclusion to this week's "As the Pegasus Flies"] Greg and Lorenzo made it back in time for the meeting that evening. Their two Italian colleagues, Gianni and Luigi, took them to a local restaurant that kept the food coming and coming. After the antipasto and two bottles of wine, the three Italians slipped comfortably back into their native language, making Greg feel a little left out. He excused himself and found a phone booth in back, went inside and closed the door. He called Maria and after several minutes of baby talk and kissy sounds, they made plans to see each other the next day. When Greg returned to the table, Lorenzo said, "There you are! We were just about to do a shot of Sambuca to honor our great company!" Lorenzo poured out four even shots. "Reader's Digest, she is known around the world. May her name live forever!" Lorenzo raised his shot glass, and the other three men followed. Then they all downed their drinks. In halting English, Gianni said, "Everybody loves Reader's Digest. They smile when they hear who I work for." Luigi didn't know English at all, but Lorenzo translated. He said, "Other companies would kill to have such a global brand name." Lorenzo poured out four more shots, and they toasted the great name of Reader's Digest. The entrees arrived, followed by salad, then dessert. Espresso and a bottle of port wine ended the night. The next day they got to work, closer now, having bonded over the meal and drinks. When Lorenzo and Greg left at the end of the week, they left knowing RD was better for their efforts, stronger, a new series of condensed books launched in Italy. The company was growing and they would be part of it, rewarded for their efforts. On the return flight to New York, Lorenzo was happy, the divorce paper work filed, the rest of his life with Ethel ahead of him. Greg knew his life was just beginning. There was much to do. Sell his furniture, give up his apartment, transfer to the Italy office, buy an engagement ring...

February 22, 2010—Foliomag: RDA reportedly was expected to announce a new corporate name around the time of its emergence. An RDA spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment about a name change.