Chapter 32 - THE YOUNGEST APPRENTICE
The next name on the board was written carefully in Samuel's handwriting.
Evan Porter
Thomas Avery sat near the conference table with both hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, staring at the name as if it had opened a door to another lifetime.
"Evan was only seventeen when Martin hired him," Thomas said. "Too young to understand factory politics, but old enough to know when someone treated him with respect."
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
The young apprentice stood beside Martin Cross, grinning awkwardly, one hand resting on a toolbox that looked too large for him.
"My father gave him a notebook?"
Thomas nodded.
"On his first day. Martin told him, 'A good engineer writes down what worked. A great one writes down what almost failed.'"
Ryan smiled.
"That's actually brilliant."
Helen looked amused.
"Martin had a way of teaching without making people feel small."
Richard searched Evan Porter's name and quickly found a current address.
"He's not far. Less than forty minutes away."
Samuel checked the time.
"Then we go today."
Daniel hesitated.
"What if he doesn't want to be dragged into this?"
Thomas leaned forward.
"Evan spent his whole life waiting for someone to ask the right questions."
Daniel studied the old photograph a moment longer, then nodded.
They left before sunset.
Evan Porter lived in a modest brick house near a quiet industrial park. The garage door was open, and inside, a silver-haired man worked beside a dismantled motorcycle engine with the same concentration Daniel remembered seeing on his father's face.
When Evan saw Thomas, he dropped the wrench in his hand.
"Mr. Avery?"
Thomas smiled.
"Still taking things apart, I see."
Evan laughed softly, then noticed Daniel.
His expression changed.
For several seconds he simply stared.
Then he removed his work gloves.
"Martin Cross's son."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
Evan looked toward the open garage, then back at him.
"I wondered if this day would ever come."
Samuel introduced the group, but Evan was already walking toward an old cabinet against the garage wall.
"I don't have much."
He unlocked the cabinet and removed a small black notebook, its corners worn and soft from years of use.
"But I kept this."
Daniel accepted it carefully.
On the first page, written in his father's handwriting, were the words:
Evan, never be ashamed to ask why. The future belongs to people brave enough to question bad answers.
Daniel looked up.
May you like
Evan's eyes were wet.
"Your father changed my life before I even knew what kind of man I wanted to become."
