The Zirconia Game

                                                          The Zirconia Game.

                                                                      by

                                                              Max Pozhitsky


        The New York City in the evening was living its the regular busy life.
         The street lights on the sidewalks guided people in the dark to different destinations. They were not looking at each other. Their wish was to finish everything by the morning.
         The crowd was more or less dense by restaurants. The restaurants in New York are open all night on main streets. It was the place where to meet old friends. In the restaurant the food was easy. The conversations were about how good the day was for them. Some people read the newspaper.
         The daily news reading in the evening kept people informed about the metro. They cared about their city.
         The Times Square was blinking with the neon advertisements on skyscrapers.
         Even in the evening cars were stopping and going frequently in the heavy traffic. It seemed normal for people to cross the street not only at crosswalks, but also wherever it was comfortable. The older citizens preferred the slow walk without crossing the street.
         The windows in skyscrapers were lit, while others were dark. In big companies staying after the work was normal. It was considered to be good to take the extra work and work even harder. The career promotions paid off as the good salary with bonuses. The co-workers respect was also important at work.
         It was customary to spend some time after work with friend at local restaurants. Later in the evening they would go home in the better mood.
         The woman in her thirties was walking out from the office building doors.
         The fresh air blew in her face. The long blond hair spread back over her shoulders. In her left hand she was holding the large envelop. She did not call taxi, instead started walking away from the office building. It was not long walk for her this evening.
         She stopped in front of the apartment building. After a little while, she punched in the security code.
         The automatic front door opened and she stepped inside. There was no elevator in the building, she slowly got up to the fourth floor.
         Nina Banoir knocked on the apartment door.
         She heard the soft noise behind the door. The door opened after few seconds. The woman in the white T-shirt and jeans smiled, letting the guest inside. It was the two-bedroom apartment. Nina went to what was the office following Mary.
         Mary turned around:
         - I was waiting for you.
        - The documents you asked yesterday from the import-export firm are inside the envelope, – she put the        envelope on the desk. 
        - You can stay with me before Brandon comes back.
        - I have the good news for you.
        - Alright, what is new at the firm? I am scheduled to go back to work the next week. As you already  know, all week long, I was working at the other downtown office. 
        - The firm is having the big expansion in overseas contracts.
        - I guess, year-end bonuses will pay for the hard work.
        - I have the forecast only for the next quarter in the envelope.
        - In the import and export industry customers remain for much longer time
periods, than in other industries.
        - I agree but older contracts need to be renewed. – Nina was smiling. Her co-worker was too optimistic. She even considered getting more documents when Mary stops by her office the next week. 
      - I want to tell you about Brandon.
      - You said that he is coming back later.
      - Brandon stepped outside to meet his old friends. We agreed that the social live is as important as the career. In addition to the family and career, it is still good to have friends. 
      - It is fulfilling to have different aspects in the life.
      - Even better, he got the promotion at the work.
      - Does he continue to work at the old real estate job?
      - Yes, he works at the same office.
      Nina Banoir sat down on the chair. Mary was standing in front of her. She wanted to spend the evening with the friend. Yet, she was tired after a long day. In the good company, she felt a little better. 
Mary looked at her:
      - Do you want something to drink? I can bring the Vanilla Coke. It is in the
kitchen. 
      - Sure.
      - Do you want the coke with ice or without it?
      - Yes, I want the glass of coke with the ice.
      Mary went to the kitchen. Nina heard the refrigerator door open. After some time, the refrigerator door closed. The noise in the kitchen suggested that Mary was coming back soon. She looked around, the bookshelves by the wall were stoked with different folders. 
      In the corner she noticed the computer desk. The monitor was on top and the computer was under the desk. On the other occasion when she visited her friend there was no computer. 
         Mary came in the room with two glasses:
         - I see you noticed our new computer. Brandon bought it three month ago. – She gave one glass to Nina. Then she moved to the computer, sipping the coke from the glass. Her friend with interest followed to the desk.
         - Is it Brandon’s computer or both of you share it?
         - Of cause, we both use the computer. As the family we do paper works faster and spend more time together. Sometimes, when I am home alone and bored, I play computer games.
         - This can be interesting, show me the games you play.
         - I don’t have too many games but I think the one simple game you might like. It is called the “Zirconia.”              -      - She turned the computer on and Nina sat in the chair by the computer.
         - Well, I want to know how to play the game.
         - The board is divided in four squares. You get the green circle it is one point and blue rhomb is worth ten points. If you click with the mouse on the red circle three times the game is over. The three shapes are blinking on the screen. You need to get the 100 points to go to the next level. 
         - The first level must be easy.
         - It has ten levels. The shapes are blinking faster with the each level. The game is called the “Zirconia” because the blue stone shaped rhomb gives the most points. The game purpose is to balance the stone without clicking on the red circle. You can listen to the game music or if you want, there is option to turn it off.
         Nina Banoir started playing the game.
         The four squares on the computer screen slowly blinked colored shapes. The game music did not bother her. She caught many green circles and some blue stones. Yet, it was not enough to go to the next level. Suddenly, she clicked on the red circle three times in the row.
         Mary was standing near the computer. She burst laughing.
         - You need to be careful not to click on the red circle. It says the game is over. – She leaned over the friend, closer to the computer.
         - I thought it was easy.
         - The first level is easy. However, the first time I played, I could not get past 50 points. You got 53 points. The best strategy is to concentrate on the blue rhomb, you earn ten points with one click. The green circle is only one point and just another way to finish the level in the less time.
         - I want to try again. – Nina’s eyes shined with the excitement.
         - Go to menu and press the game button. The game will load. You can play as many times as you want to play.
         Nina started the new game.
         She decided to concentrate on one particular square. The blue stones and green circles started coming in the game. She was careful not to click on the red circle. In some time, she reached the fifth level. The shapes were blinking too fast on the screen.
         Again, she had three red circles but in different levels. The game was over on the fifth level. Even know, the game was over, to reach the fifth level was the fun.
         Nina Banoir remembered one summer vacation she has spent in England with her family as the child.
         Her favorite game was somewhat different. She called it the “Garden.” The old tall castle were the family spent the summer was not far on the road leading to the green labyrinth. Right after the breakfast when her father read the morning newspaper, she would run on the road away from the castle. The labyrinth was huge and interesting for the young American girl.     
         The labyrinth was made with properly cut high bushes. The half entrance had the beautiful woman statue made with the white marble. Nina would slowly come inside the labyrinth. The right path had more different statues in corners. The wrong path had only wooden benches in dead ends.
         She playfully ran back and forth in the labyrinth finding the way out. The sun in the blue morning sky was always high by the exit from the labyrinth. The intricate paths system was known to her in about one month. On some days, she would find the right bench, sitting there for hours thinking about statutes. They were all different, together they were like friend to her, promising good games.
         The family preferred to stay in the castle all day. The mother liked to have the conversation with servants, the common people, who knew a lot about England. The father walked on the terrace, by the first floor, keeping himself in the shade.
         The people similar to her father who cared a lot about the history preferred to stay in the castle.
         The father could study the knight items for hours. Once, her mother mentioned how wonderful London hotels are with many little shops on the streets. He did not like the idea, it was too noisy in the city. Even know, the castle was big for one family, he did not mind paying to the museum society more than needed. The castle with pointed roofs, the knight painting on walls, the vintage furniture in rooms was his hobby.
         The castle survived old ages, many kings, and seemed to stand forever, making the Great Britain once again the great. In the old days, the knights held secret meetings, later they stayed in those many rooms. The servants kept, protected the castle for many generations. At first, they worked for kings, later in modern days it was for museums. The good service brought more tourists each year.
         Her father stayed in the castle like the knight. The English food, souvenirs from nearby towns, servants with English accent all was a lot of fun to Nina. He could talk for hours with servants in the evening about the history and old things he found inside the castle. They knew interesting facts and were nice to her family. He took pictures with the photo camera, as the things were expensive and important to the museum society.
         The whole summer vacation was the educational experience. On the weekends, her mother friends visited the castle. Nina missed the America, she happily run around the place, touching with her hands the furniture for the good luck. The modern times found its way to the castle with new visitors. They drunk tea, wore English clothes and talked about the America.
         The new visitors walked in the castle halls. Nina followed the company, her mother was leading the excursion. After the few month stay, she knew everything about the castle. They stopped by one portrait on the wall, it was the well dressed man. The knight in the older age gave the money to build great bridges in England.
         The iron knight in the shiny armor with the sword protected the exit from the hall. The stone floor made the loud noise with every step her mother’s friends made. The air outside on the terrace was fresh.
         The garden labyrinth was interesting, the flowers grew beautiful and not long walk from the castle.
         The mother with her friends would watch Nina run inside the labyrinth. They enjoyed the view from the outside. She was somewhat English and not afraid to be free. The garden protected her from everyday errands. The lucky little girl, this time, would not sit on the marble benches, quickly ran back to her mother.
         The childhood memories were powerful. Once, she made a wish before coming inside the labyrinth to have good friends same as her mother’s visitors. In the garden she sat on the bench, thinking that good friends are better than all the world riches. Everything else will follow later in the life. She came out from the labyrinth with the satisfaction on her face.
         The whole company later went back to the castle were her father waited to hear latest news about the America. The girl held her mothers hand, watching adults. They talked how economy was coming out the recession. The currency market was favorable for the strong dollar. Again, her mother’s friends were talking more about the shopping.
         The father called the gardener to look at the labyrinth, concerned about the uneven bushes growth. The gardener was glad to help the next day. The royal plants were peaceful in the afternoon.
         Nina Banoir turned around looking at Mary:
         - I want to watch you play the game.
         - Lets change the places.
         - You are more experienced with the game. – Nina was now standing by the computer. Mary sat down, starting the new game. She noticed that Mary was not using the computer mouse but was quick with “arrows” and “enter” buttons. The square frame moved over the game board.
         - I am using the keyboard. In this way, I can collect blue stones faster. The waiting time is shorter for me.
         - It is true.
         - Sometimes, I take the mouse pointer for the rhomb.
         - By moving the square you see better.
           - The green circle shows where to expect the stone.
         - It is interesting to know.
         Mary was more and more involved in the game. The excitement was evident from her facial expression. She was looking less at the friend.
         - It is late, Brandon is coming back soon.
         On other occasion, Nina Banoir met two of them on the weekend. The young people liked to discuss the economy. The newspaper business section was the necessary reading for the better job promotions in the future. The economy was strong. However, living expenses were rising in the cost.
         The one company was earning good money with innovating products. As soon as other company learned about the first company profits, they would overcharge for the raw material. The innovation company takes new expenses to customers as higher prices for the final product.
         The new small electronic devices were making the life easier by increasing the time spend with the family through the increased productivity.
         The good friends were sitting on the restraint patio. The people strolled by on the street, many were holding phones. Nina noticed Brandon’s mobile phone on the table. The thing was small but had many futures. The calling, camera, mp3 and ready Internet connection worked with the stylus stick.
         The stylus stick was in his hands. He played with it to draw everybody’s attention to the latest model. The premium price was not important. The many phone features made one device that was still cheaper then buying separately the phone, camera, and computer. Nevertheless, Mary did not feel comfortable with such a small phone that required the stylus stick.
         Mary’s phone was slick and with buttons. It did not require the stylus stick. The Internet connection was available at the home. Once, she mentioned that the price was not the case, it was her habit to use the good old keyboard. At work, some people considered buying the better mobile phone with the time.
         The many existing telephone companies were at the competition for the market share. They promised easier to use phones and even more capabilities with the time. The constant technological research was important to the growing economy.   
         The right timing for overpriced product definitely brought huge profits.
         The corporate money never stayed very long in the bank. The new luxurious offices were the must, proving the management righteousness. The move to bigger cities was sometimes considered as more offices needed more people. The corporate representation in more cities promised new markets without middlemen. The growth was good for the corporate stock.
         The investment in land was the bright future. In the past, companies tended to stay with the own specific business. The company name often was associated with the quality product. The constant investment in other cities real estate included new land, offices and even large-scale construction projects. All this happening from overpriced products in stores.
         The greed in the market to make money turned to the real estate. The corporation slowly found themselves selling offices to other companies. Later, having money in the bank, building new offices. It would happen so fast that new cities could not meet the business expectations. The workforce did no realize such businesses coming from other places.
         The competitors other better product brings the old product price down. The company now realizes that the real estate operations are their main cash income. The good old business needed the restructuring process. The real estate in the beginning was never their intention. It was important to go back to the quality product to survive in the marketplace.
         The company from manufacturing industry no longer leases the offices. The quick cheap sale and going to the city where they are expected to do the business is the corporate policy in the restructuring process. The money is now invested in the new technological research. The real estate projects are not important anymore. The management is trying to save the money on the office space to stay in the business.
         The city visited in the past is more beautiful with the new offices. The actual property management company that bought the new space eventually leases it to the best bidder. In the deliberate process, the city can meet the actual business demands.
         The economic formula exists for the best product price to prevent overspending in a corporation.
         The prices can be raised for the profit. However, most consumers are on the budget. The money spend in one industry will prevent the consumer spending in other industries. The stores do not want to carry the product that is not selling well, with the time, the product selection is smaller in stores. The one industry cannot provide for all markets.                   
         The company concentrates on one product. It takes main resources from other products. The best, the most expensive product is proudly presented to the market. At first the whole company is working in one direction, then the people as the consumers spend a lot on one particular product. The other companies shut their doors as the business is too slow.       
         The people move to different cities seeking better paying jobs. In the global economy, the foreign corporations take over highly skilled workers and newly available markets with better prices. The upper management is foreign doing everything in the city their own ways. The foreign workers migration is part of the global economy. They seek better price on natural resources.
         The only left head domestic corporation with wrong pricing policy is trying to adopt to the different economy. It stayed as the only domestic corporation left by the superior product knowledge. The corporate culture with the time becomes foreign and at last closes down the domestic business. The citizens keep working at the newcomers company, going to the stories, having the family live as nothing is really happened with the industry. The crime rate is not rising, the only difficulty is cultural differences.
         The city needs to have the commercial, industrial and residential zoning to provide to a public. The place with only warehouses is the weak city. The expensive goods require well protected warehouses. It is in best interest to do the liquidation, keeping many warehouses without factories are not cost effective. The factories are very important in measuring the real economic growth.
         The cities do the right zoning for the people. The businesses usually like to build the shopping malls. It leads to unnecessary products being sold in wrong cities.
         The foreign natural resources are the good way to get the market in a new country.
         The native working people are involved in the final production. The foreign company is happy about the final product quality, with the time making natural resources reserves. The many small batches are more expensive to transport then one large shipment. The demand for the particular product can change at any time. The natural resources reserve protects from demand fluctuations in the market. 
         The new country sometimes has the necessary natural resources. However, the foreign company is not always in the natural resources explorations industry. The people are mostly involved in the manufacturing sector. The supplier can bid for lower price and can even come from the third country. Hence, the cheap resources can bring even more foreign companies.
         The foreign currency is worthless in the new country. The natural resources can give the larger market share, the currency issue is solved when the final product is sold in stores. Later, banks can help with the currency exchange. The natural resources from the manufacturing country do not give the opportunity to the third country to further survey the new market. The competition is costly when the third country can come up with the better product.
         The manufacturing industry is the one who give the direction to the economy. The raw materials have a little value, the customers want the final product with technology like mobile phones. The technology can make the live easier and more productive. The people’s dependence can open new domestic markets. The increasing demand gives bigger profits and more investment in the technological research.
         The new markets are difficult to get for the quality issues. The local people have their own quality benchmark that is different from the foreign company. The cheap prices is the good way to the new market. However, building factories with local workers gives the deeper quality knowledge. Once the quality issue is solved, the better price increases profits.
         The global economy is important in finding specific markets for a new product. The local customs knowledge is the opportunity for the business. The new countries sometimes like the foreign natural resources investments and reserves for the future.       
         Nina Banoir was deep in her thoughts when she heard the door open.
         She turned around looking at Brandon. Mary was still playing the computer game. He greeted Nina, slowly approached his wife, put his hand on her shoulder. She stopped playing the game, smiled, got up and gave him a hug. The early morning sky in the window was gray.
         Brandon started telling game friends about his co-workers he met in the restaurant. He was full of the energy and did not seem to be tired. Nina never met them but Mary knew somebody he was talking about from his work. Later, the conversation was about how happy he was to get the job promotion. Mary told him that only Nina Banoir visited her after the work.                         
         Nina Banoir joined the conversation telling that she learned the new computer game. He had to admit that he played the “Zirconia” game before. His favorite past time was to watch sports on the television. However, Mary was very excited about the new computer that he agreed to spend time with her. After counting points, they would decide who is the better player.
         She wanted to get back to the work early to prepare the office for the new day. Mary and Brandon had something to talk about alone. She hoped it was good news for her friend.
         The streets were not very crowded in the morning as it was the time to open different stores.
         She passed by the restaurant on her way to the work. It was not very busy. The time interval between the night life and the shopping was used by the city to clean streets. She was not very hungry even after playing the game with Mary. The game was interesting way to spend time with the friend.
         The mind after the intellectual effort as it happens with games takes up the glucose. The convenience store was across the street. She decided to buy a good candy instead of eating the real breakfast.