Pelican

Toni was relegated to the back office in her later years, though still in her early fifties passing for 38. Management was no longer hiring mid career and the age gap became obvious. When there were thirty and forty somethings she could blend in. Hiring the young grads and millennials, made Toni look more like their mother than a co-conspirator.

"Hi Toni!”

"Hi Danielle, how are you?"

"I bought you a pear tree. Sorry for the loss of your Stepmother." Danielle breezed by on her way to the floor to see what Rene was working. This was an attempt to avoid awkward conversations about sadness and regret. A pear tree to symbolize both the love and separation when someone dies. A pair that has been separated. Pared down before all could be reconciled. Toni was filled with regrets. She realized how much her stepmother loved her, too late for her to reciprocate in a way that mattered.

"Isn't it exquisite?" Rene said as if she was giving a big reveal.

"Absolutely I can't wait until we get to go on the trip to test it. We just have to wait for the water treatment solution and we can book our our flights or should I say our tickets on the charter boat." Danielle situated the pear tree and gave it some water. She gave Toni a supportive look.

"Wait, what?" Toni said as she walked over. "I thought you were building respirators for COVID-19? I do not have a bill of materials for this item."

"We are on a special innovation project using the Raspberry Pi technology in a waterproof box coupled with a respirator type suction and also with a heating element to melt plastic and it will come out the back in a thin band which can be used in our 3-D printer. It is called the Pelican because it can hold quite a bit in this compartment,” Danielle explained.

"That sounds completely dangerous,” Toni replied.

"We tried it,” said René. “Here it is on YouTube. I tried it in my pool. We set up three plastic water bottles within six minutes and it made the strand within two minutes. We received approval from the innovation team and funding to take this out on open water and do some pilot studies in terms of effectiveness efficiency and timing. Once the trials are through it will go through our steering committee and solution review counsel. We do not need FDA approval until we add the solution to the water."

"Do you have a solution for the solution? That's rad." Toni said trying to sound young and hip. Instead she sounded like she was stuck in the 80s.

"You used to be a lifeguard right?" Asked Rene.

"I was a lifeguard in college and a medic in the Navy,” Toni replied, standing straighter.

"And now they have you working back here in the broom closet?" René teased.

"Why don't you come along with us when we test this pilot.” Danielle pleaded sympathetically. “Take a vacation. We will get some extra waivers for you to make it legit."

"That would go against my ethics." Toni replied.

"People don't worry about ethics anymore,” René retorted.

"I think with our country’s current events, ethical behavior will make a come back. Protect your values girls. Anyway, see if you can get me on your projects and we'll call it mentoring to revive our generational diversity in the workforce. I can keep a lookout for you and you will be free to do the task at hand which is testing the Pelican,” Toni offered.

"If you do get the commission to do the next part then let's take this to Panama sometimes you can team up with other boats. In case we need to do it as a joint venture,” René said.

"You are so corporate whenever you bring that up, but yeah, we're a small company. We are a start up with more freedom to connect and innovate than a Fortune 200. Don't let the big boys who are sponsoring us a.k.a. venture capitalists get you down. They are old fashioned. It is a good old boys network whatever that is. They like to hire the young people because we connect with them and are enthusiastic. Mostly, we don't question their direction,” Danielle continued, “at least I don’t.”

"They are not always right you know." Toni said quietly.

"A lot of times they are right.” René liked to defend senior leadership. “I think you have a chip on your shoulder. You grew up in a time when you had to fight with men. Today they make room for us. We don't need to fight so hard. I think they fight you because you have angry look on your face all the time."

"Resting bitch face?” Toni smiled. “Yeah, if I had a proper office with the door, no one would have to look at it."

"Bzzzzzz.”

"What's that?" Danielle asked.

"That's my Apple Watch I am reminding myself to go for a walk and get a healthy snack. I am trying to stay in top condition. We are going to be doing a lot of swimming. All exercises count to keep your lungs at full capacity. Toni if you do decide to come with us is your CPR license up-to-date?” René asked.

"Yes ma'am" Toni saluted Rene mockingly with respect.

It has been a long time since Toni was selected to do something important, new or cutting edge. She had fallen to the back of the pack. The setback gave her room to free up her schedule. She paid attention to what was going around her. Befriending these young career professional innovators and inventors was a step in the right direction. This adventure could possibly become a drop in the bucket in the fight for the planet.

If this concept works in a pilot form, think what it could be done on mass scale. Adding a neutralizing solution to offset the smell of the decaying plastic would allow birds to find real sources of food instead of mistaking the plastic for food and consuming it. Sea birds, pelicans in particular, are notoriously the hounds of the ocean. When other sea life notices the birds going toward the plastic as a food source; they soon follow. Birds cannot tell the difference between the decaying plastic and real food. This team built a process to remove the plastic and neutralize the scent it leaves behind in a safe manner. Once FDA approved, the team will replace what is left behind with actual food. Both the sea and Toni’s career will flourish once more; thanks to the Pelican Raspberry Pi device, affectionately named after the bird, Pelican.