VFFXX

THE VALUE

OF FRIENDS

Written & Designed by Jack Wilson

A Rocky Mountain

Real Estate Adventure

THE JIM

STANTON

STORY

STINGY BANKERS

DAYS OF DESPAIR

UPPITY WOMAN

THE VALUE OF FRIENDS

THE BULLY NAMED JEFF

JIM HOLDING HIS BAT

JUST REVENGE FOR JEFF

EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL

During a sometimes tumultuous life, Jim Stanton discovered the

incredible value of friends. They were a gift beyond measure,

more valuable than riches and gold. As he navigated through

both triumphs and turmoil, his friends became his saviors. They

helped him face the challenges that could easily damage or

destroy his life. His friends were his lifeline, guiding him

through every storm and pushing him forward even when the

journey seemed endless.

It all started when twelve-year-old Jim went to a new school in

Columbus, Ohio. He nervously stepped into the new school,

trying to blend in, but it didn’t take long for trouble to find him.

A group of bullies, led by an oversized thug named Jeff Knuckler,

cornered him in the hallway. Their demands were clear: his

lunch money today, and more if he had it tomorrow. Threats of

beatings loomed overhead.

For four days, Jim endured their torment, fear mixing with

anger as the bullying escalated. By the fifth day, he’d had

enough. Scared but resolute, he hid a small bat in his backpack,

hoping he wouldn’t need to use it.

Jim was feeling intense trepidation as he made the short journey

to school. He was worried that he’d have to endure another

confrontation with the thugs who were threatening to beat him

up. The moment he arrived, his heart sank. Jeff and his bully

friends were waiting, blocking his locker. Jeff stepped forward,

jeering and threatening, until his taunts turned to action as he

charged toward Jim.

In a split second, Jim backtracked and pulled the bat from his

bag. Fueled by terror and fury, he swung with all his might. The

bat connected with Jeff’s head — five devastating blows. Jeff

collapsed onto the floor — nearly dead — blood pouring from his

nose, mouth, and eyes.

Moments later, the school’s security guard rushed in, yanking

the bat from Jim’s grip. Jim was dragged to the principal’s office,

his hands still shaking. The verdict was swift: expulsion for a

week. Unbeknownst to Jim, the school’s administrators knew

that Jeff and his comrades had bullied many other students. But

their hands were mostly tied by red tape when it came to meting

out an appropriate punishment. This event triggered Jim’s move

to a new school, where he wouldn’t be attacked by a group of

dangerous bullies.

FISHING WITH HIS DAD

JIM RIDES HIS BIKE

The damage toll from Jeff Knuckler’s battle with Jim Stanton

was a monumental bloodbath. Jeff’s face bore the evidence — his

nose shattered, three teeth knocked out, and a deep four-inch

gash across his forehead. A level three concussion left him

barely able to stand, his vision blurred in his left eye. But Jim

Stanton never felt an ounce of remorse. Not for a second. Jeff

Knuckler was a stone-cold bully, and he got exactly what he

deserved. Jim knew the pain he inflicted wasn’t just justice — it

was long overdue. Jim’s parents feared retaliation, worried what

Jeff’s gang of thugs might do. So, they made the decision — Jim

was moving. A new school, three miles away in southwest

Columbus. A bus ride every morning wasn’t ideal, but at least

he’d be able to avoid the bullies who’d been torturing him.

The battle’s aftermath spilled beyond the schoolyard. Jeff’s

parents took their anger to court, filing a lawsuit against Jim’s

family. But the judge didn’t hesitate to shut it down. A worthless

case, he ruled. Jim had been acting in self-defense. End of story.

Jim walked away from the courtroom with his head held high.

No regrets. No apologies. No fear of Jeff Knuckler ever again.

Jim revered his father for the time and effort he invested in

their bond. His father introduced him to a world of recreation,

giving him a set of golf clubs, a top-tier road bike, and a tackle

box filled with possibilities. They explored Columbus together,

riding their bikes through winding trails, casting lines into

nearby lakes, and teeing off at the OSU Golf Course. Each outing

was an adventure, strengthening their connection and shaping

Jim’s lifelong appreciation for the experiences they shared.

Jim built incredible endurance, cycling at least forty miles every

week. Living just four miles from the OSU campus, he ditched

the car and rode to class daily, pushing his limits with every

mile. His dedication transformed him into peak physical shape.

Jim reminisced about his years at Ohio State University in

Columbus, some of the best days of his life. His father, Bob, a

senior accountant at OSU, secured him a generous tuition

reduction. Living at home spared him housing costs, making

college much more affordable. In just four years, he earned a BS

in Business with a Minor in Finance, graduating with a 3.8 GPA.

Jim met Natalie Landers during his last three years at OSU, and

by graduation, they were inseparable. At twenty-three, they

married — a decision he would later regret. Natalie had the

figure of a model, standing five-foot-seven and weighing just

125 pounds. But after the wedding, she told Jim she wasn’t ready

JEFF’S HOSPITAL STAY

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

to work, preferring to stay home. Instead of finding new

pursuits, she indulged in extra-large pizzas, ice cream, pie, nuts

and mountains of potatoes. In just two years, she ballooned up

to 175 pounds, transforming from the sleek beauty he had fallen

for into someone he didn’t recognize.

Jim had married a different woman. Natalie was certainly not

the same — she had let herself go, refusing to change her diet or

exercise. It made him angry, since he had always stayed in great

shape and expected the same from her. Over time, he stopped

touching her — she was just too fat. An affair was out of the

question, but he couldn’t live like that. So, three years after their

wedding, he divorced her.

Jim landed a job as a purchasing agent for a small chain of auto

parts stores in Columbus, Ohio, in 1976. The pay was modest,

but the work was easy, so he stayed for three years. In 1979,

with help from his father, he secured a position as a scholarship

reviewer at Ohio State University. Thousands of applications

flooded in each year, keeping him busy. The job paid about

$3,000 more than his previous role, but more importantly, it

was steady work, and he loved working on the campus.

October of 1982 brought devastating news — Jim’s father was

diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms.

The holiday season became an unbearable ordeal, with too many

hospital stays and brutal chemotherapy treatments, harsher

than the disease itself. In those early days, medicine offered

very little hope. Seven months later, at just sixty-five, Jim’s

father passed away. When he died, Jim lost more than his father

— he lost his best friend. The weight of the loss was more than

he could bear.

Jim sank into a deep depression that never seemed to end. He

had always imagined his father living well into his eighties or

nineties — strong, healthy, untouched by illness. But in 1982,

reality shattered that belief. His father was gone, and with him,

Jim’s sense of stability. Grief consumed him so heavy that he

couldn’t even comfort his mother or sister. He drifted through

his OSU job like a sleepwalker, the world around him dull and

distant. A year passed in a fog, but then in October 1983, a call

from an old OSU friend cut through the haze. His friend had

landed a great job in Chicago’s south side and had heard about

an opening at Taylor Fasteners — a quality controller role that

seemed tailor-made for Jim. So on an impulse he called the

company and spoke with the owner George Taylor, who

JIM GETS DIVORCED

JIM’S SCHOLARSHIP JOB

JIM’S FATHER DIES

JIM GETS MARRIED

immediately hired him based on his friend’s recommendation.

After receiving Taylor’s offer, Jim moved to Chicago in 1983.

Fast forward to a South Chicago suburb during April of 1986.

Jim worked as a quality control technician at Taylor Fasteners, a

South Chicago manufacturer of nuts, bolts, screws, and nails.

His boss, George Taylor, was more than just a leader — he was a

trusted friend. Time and again, George offered Jim guidance and

support, proving his generosity went beyond the workplace.

Taylor Fasteners teetered on the brink of collapse during 1986.

Sales plummeted as demand dried up, and crushing interest

rates made survival nearly impossible. Rivals slashed prices to

unsustainable levels, tightening the noose. Desperate for a

lifeline, the company turned to the banks, but they found no

relief. The bankers were unyielding, unwilling to risk a single

dime. With no loans and dwindling resources, Taylor Fasteners

fought to stay afloat, clinging to survival against daunting odds.

While he was employed at Taylor Fasteners, Jim lived with

Angelica Foster, a high-powered real estate broker. They shared

a sleek condo in an upscale South Chicago neighborhood, just a

few miles from his work site. Despite her angelic name, Angelica

was anything but — demanding only the best in clothes, food,

cars, furniture, and vacations. No matter what Jim did, he never

measured up. He wasn’t handsome, he worked too little, he

didn’t earn enough, and he drove a car that embarrassed her.

The criticism never stopped. He often wondered why she hadn’t

left him, since their relationship was anything but happy. Sure,

she was stunning and a wild woman in bed, but her arrogance

and relentless expectations drove him to the edge. Everything

finally blew up when they went out to eat at an expensive

restaurant called The Cedar Grille & Lounge.

After finishing a $70 meal, Jim and Angelica left the restaurant,

unaware of the danger speeding toward them. A pickup truck,

with its headlights off, barreled through the darkness. Jim never

saw it coming until it was too late. The impact was brutal. Amid

the chaos, Jim realized Angelica hadn’t fastened her seatbelt.

The crash hurled her forward — her head slammed into the

windshield. A nasty gash split her forehead, blood seeping down

her face, trickling from her lips and nose. Jim pressed a

handkerchief to her head wound and then he asked, “Are you

okay?” She didn’t answer — she just kept screaming. When she

finally stopped, she turned on him with a venomous rant.

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

STINGY BANKERS

ARROGANT ANGELICA

JIM MOVES TO CHICAGO

NIGHTTIME CAR WRECK

Angelica screamed, “You bastard! How could you do this to me?

Are you blind? You want to ruin my life — is that it?” Her voice

cracked as she collapsed into uncontrollable sobs. Moments

later, flashing lights filled the night as an ambulance and the

police arrived. Paramedics shuttled Angelica to the nearest

hospital while officers surveyed the accident scene.

As officers documented the wreck, witnesses reported that a

pickup had been driving with its headlights off, its dark

silhouette blending into the pavement. Jim’s sedan had

cautiously pulled out of the restaurant parking lot, unaware of

the approaching danger. An officer questioned the pickup

driver, who admitted he had been driving without headlights on

and had consumed three beers earlier at a nearby bowling alley.

After speaking with both drivers, the police determined the

pickup driver’s negligence caused the accident. They issued him

a citation, effectively clearing Jim of blame.

Jim sprinted to a convenience store a block away, where a row

of pay phones stood next to the building. In 1986, before cell

phones, this was his only option. He grabbed the receiver and

dialed Randy Schiffler — his closest friend and a skilled

contractor. “I hate to bother you this late on a Saturday night,”

Jim began, his voice tight with urgency. “But I’m in a world of

trouble, and I really need your help.” Randy’s tone sharpened.

“What’s going on?”

Jim let out a groan. “I was in an accident right next to the Cedar

Grille. My car’s totaled, and they had to tow it away. The other

driver didn’t have his lights on, and the cops gave him a ticket.

It wasn’t my fault.” He hesitated, then exhaled. “Angelica was

with me. She got hurt with a cut on her forehead. Nothing life-

threatening, but it looks bad. And then she lost it. She’s blaming

me for everything. Says I should’ve seen it coming, should’ve

stopped. She’s furious. This whole thing’s a nightmare, and I

know for sure — I can’t move back into her condo.”

“Good Lord!” Randy exclaimed. “You weren’t kidding about

being in trouble. What do we need to do?” Jim exhaled. “First

things first. I need you to pick me up. Then take me to the

hospital — I have to check on Angelica. I know this is going to be

a brutal confrontation, but I need to deal with this right away.”

Randy didn’t hesitate. “Give me ten minutes. And don’t blame

yourself — this isn’t your fault.” Jim felt a wave of gratitude.

Having a friend like Randy meant everything.

RANDY SCHIFFLER

BANK OF PAY PHONES

AMBULANCE TRIP

POLICE INVESTIGATION

Randy pulled up to the restaurant in his Chevy pickup, where

Jim was already waiting. Without hesitation, they drove straight

to the hospital where Angelica was being treated. Inside the

lobby, Jim turned to Randy. "You don’t want to go there with

me," he warned. "She went crazy earlier, and I’m sure she’ll do

it again. Just wait here — I’ll be back as soon as I can."

Jim was extremely worried as he tiptoed into the hospital room

where Angelica was being treated. When he first saw her, his

stomach sank — her head was wrapped in bandages. Her

narrowed eyes burned with rage as she glared at him. Their

conversation was brief and explosive.

“You need to move out and take your shit with you!” Angelica

shouted. “If you’re still there when I get back, I’ll call the police.

How could you do this to me?” Her voice cracked with fury. “I’ll

probably need plastic surgery just to fix my face. You and I are

history now, so get the hell out of here!”

Jim stood speechless, unsure of what to say to Angelica. Finally,

he muttered, “I’ll have everything out tonight,” his voice was

heavy with regret. He hesitated before adding, “And just so you

know, you should be yelling at the other driver — he didn’t have

his lights on and he was drunk.”

Angelica's furious voice echoed through the hospital room.

“That’s a piss-poor excuse, you idiot! You should have seen

him!” At the nearby nurse’s station, the staff exchanged uneasy

glances. Outbursts like this were rare, and Angelica’s rage was

unsettling. Jim stood in silence, absorbing the final sting of her

words before turning and leaving without another word. He

walked back to the lobby, where Randy sat waiting, calm and

expectant.

Randy glanced at Jim as he entered the waiting room. "That was

quick," he said. "No way I’m staying there," Jim replied. "If she

kept going on like that, they’d have her in a straitjacket. Let’s go

to her condo. I’ve got a lot more to do before I can regroup."

As they were driving from the hospital to Angelica’s condo, Jim

started to think that Angelica’s outbursts revealed the real

Angelica, unadorned by any social graces or compassion. So

even though it was a nasty night, he thought separating from

Angelica would turn out to be a blessing instead of a curse.

Fifteen minutes after they left the hospital, they arrived at the

condo that Jim shared with Angelica. Fortunately, Jim didn’t

RANDY’S PICKUP TRUCK

ANGELICA’S INJURIES

HOSPTIAL WAITING ROOM

JIM ENDURES A TIRADE

have much in Angelica’s place — mostly clothes, a few books,

golf clubs, fishing tackle, and his road bike. By 11:45 PM, they

had packed everything into the bed of Randy’s pickup. It was a

great relief for Jim to get that done. No more worrying about

being arrested or losing the last of what he owned. Gathering

his belongings marked the start of a new life for Jim.

They pulled into Randy’s driveway at midnight. His three-

bedroom house, modest yet beautiful, stood as a testament to

skill and hard work. Seven years earlier, he and his contractor

friends had built it from the ground up, working weekends for

next to nothing. By cutting labor costs and pooling resources,

they constructed their homes for less than half the usual price.

While others carried mortgages for decades, they paid theirs off

in months. Randy, sharp with money, owned his house free and

clear — just like most of his friends.

Once they were inside Randy’s home, he turned to Jim and said,

“Why don’t you stay here for a while. You’ve got a lot to handle,

and hotels and restaurants can wipe you out. You’ll need to call

your insurance and buy a car — and rentals will eat you alive.

We can play some golf, maybe go fishing. What do you think?”

Jim clasped Randy in a tight bear hug, his voice thick with

gratitude. “I honestly don’t know how to thank you enough. This

is a lifesaver.” A rare smile flickered across his face. “I’m

running blind right now,” Jim admitted. “This goes way beyond

the call of duty.”

As he headed to bed at 1:00 AM, his thoughts lingered on

Randy’s generosity — greater than anything he’d ever known

before. Since he was facing one of the most traumatic times in

his life, he felt like Randy was the best friend that he could ever

have, way beyond anyone else in the world.

The next morning after breakfast, Jim called his boss, George

Taylor. When George answered, Jim got straight to the point. “I

have some bad news. My car was destroyed in an accident last

night. Angelica was hurt and she’s in the hospital.”

“Oh my God!” George exclaimed. “I hope she’s not hurt too bad.”

“Nothing life-threatening,” Jim assured him. “But she has a cut

on her forehead, and it looks pretty bad. Since I don’t have a car

now, I’ll need a couple of days off to find a new one.

RETRIEVING JIM’S BIKE

RANDY’S HOME

PLAYING GOLF

JIM CALLS GEORGE TAYLOR

RANDY’S GENEROSITY

George Taylor’s voice was grave. “I hate to pile on you right

now, but we’ve been losing money, and none of my bankers will

help. The truth is, I need to let you go, Jim. You’ve been one of

my best employees.” He sighed. “But I can’t afford to keep

paying you. I’ll give you great reviews so you can find a new job

right away.” After a pause, he muttered, “God, I hate doing

this,” and ended the call.

Jim sat frozen, stunned into silence by George’s news. After the

night he’d endured, this felt like too much. When he finally

spoke, his voice was shaky. “I understand why you need to do

this,” he said. “I know things have been hard for you. You’ve

been a great boss, and you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll

find something else. We’ll just move on the best we can.”

Jim ended his call with George Taylor and stepped into the

living room, where Randy sat on his sofa. “How was your call

with George?” Randy asked. Jim shook his head. “You won’t

believe this. George has been losing money, trying to borrow

from several banks, but no one’s willing to help. He can’t pay

me, so the bottom line is — I just got fired.”

Randy’s eyes widened. “You must be kidding! How could this

happen to you?” “I have no clue,” Jim replied. “I’ve lost almost

everything. I need to figure out what to do because this is more

than I’ve ever had to deal with.” Without another word, he

turned and walked into the bedroom where he’d slept the night

before.

Jim sat on the bed, his mind spinning with relentless, crushing

thoughts. In less than twenty-four hours, he had lost almost

everything — his home, his car, his job, and his girlfriend. The

sheer weight of it was unbearable. He couldn't grasp how his

life had unraveled so fast, how disaster had swept through and

left him with nearly nothing.

Jim’s thoughts were drowning in a sea of defeat. The idea of

starting over felt unbearable — too many disasters, too much to

handle. Moving forward seemed impossible. He searched for the

courage to push ahead, but it wasn’t there. All he wanted was

sleep, an escape from the relentless weight of his suffering.

Sunday passed in a blur of panic. His mind, overloaded and

exhausted, couldn’t find a way out. No strategy made sense.

Shame kept him from reaching out to Randy. His life felt like a

gigantic failure, and admitting it was more than he could face.

JIM GETS FIRED

TOO MUCH PAIN

TOO MANY LOSSES

NEWLY UNEMPLOYED

STARTING OVER AGAIN

Jim squandered his entire Sunday, lost in a world of indecision

and regret. By Monday morning, he realized that doing nothing

would be a terrible choice. So he resolved to tackle his problems

head-on. As he assessed the damage, he realized recovery could

stretch for months, maybe even years. His first step was calling

his insurance company to report his totaled car and Angelica’s

injuries. Much to his relief, the claims agent proved to be

accommodating, prioritizing his case. His policy covered a rental

car, and by late afternoon, Hertz delivered a new Toyota to

Randy’s home.

Then Jim moved on to applying for unemployment insurance.

He drove to the nearest unemployment office on Tuesday, where

he was approved for a $700 monthly payment. Then he

contacted his insurance company where his claim’s agent valued

his seven-year-old Toyota at $3,200, prompting him to search

for a replacement car. With that budget in mind, he visited

several used car dealerships on Wednesday but found their

prices were too high for the age and mileage of the vehicles.

Jim and Randy were lucky to be living in the South Chicago

suburbs, since it was infinitely better than living in the city of

Chicago. In 1986, the city suffered an unprecedented total of 747

murders, more than two every single day of the year. Chicago

became the murder capital of the USA, a disastrous trend that

continued for decades. This ugly fact became the impetus for an

epic transformation that would enrich their lives forever.

Jim couldn't believe Randy's generosity. Late Wednesday night,

after a long day at work, Randy turned to him and said, “You

can stay here as long as you want.” Shaking his head in

disbelief, Jim managed to smile. “You can’t imagine how great it

is to get an offer like this.”

He was ready to accept, but there were a couple of strings

attached. “I’ll be getting $700 a month from unemployment,”

Jim explained. “I’ll pay you $500 every month until I find a new

job and a new place to live. And I will buy all the food and do the

cooking. I’m not a terrible cook, so this should work out fine.”

“You certainly don’t need to pay me,” said Randy. “Not in this

situation, because you have way to much to deal with right now.

“I am not a freeloader,” said Jim. “I’ve always stayed on top of

my finances, and it will not be a burden for me to do this. And

one more thing you should know is that I saved up quite a bit of

money while I was working for George.

RANDY’S GREAT OFFER

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

JIM’S RENTAL CAR

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

MURDER CAPITAL OF THE US