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Chase Dawson
Staff Reporter
As fall turns slowly to winter, it's easy to see why some races prefer to hibernate rather than suffer through the cold and dark of the arse-end of the year. Easier still, to translate this into the darkness of the kind of mental suffering some people go through, and just as simple to understand why those would rather regress into a childlike state than stand up and face what has happened to them. Which makes someone like Caroline Granger - a woman who in the past twelve months has had to deal with more than her share of misfortune and unpleasantness - more than a little formidable in thought and action. I caught up with her during a rare break in her busy work schedule, to see how she is coping with the stresses of her new position in life.
Ushered into the main office of the GrangerGuild Conglomerate by Brynne, Caroline's P.A. and one of the innumerable Granger cousins, I am pleased and surprised to discover that the new CEO of the Guild, while straightforward and not at all at home to being messed around, is more down-to-earth than any grand leader of a company I've ever met before. How many corporation leaders do you know who spend their lunch-break with a home-made picnic in front of the fireplace, rather than something more upperclass at a restaurant' Yet, when asked about this, Caroline simply laughs it off.
"It's something of a tradition in this office," she explains, gesticulating with a ham and pickle sandwich. "My grandfather, Humphrey, used to do this all the time - he'd have a picnic every day in here, and have a different grandchild or great-grandchild to share it with. He always says that in order to care about the big stuff, you need to care about the little stuff. amd you don't get much littler than a three-year old gumming on your sandwiches."
Humphrey Granger, former CEO of the Guild for an impressive forty-three years, stepped down in April this year in favor of Caroline herself, a move which took many of the older Granger cousins by surprise. The loudest of the objectors was Oliver Hudson Granger, Junior, who is currently awaiting sentencing on charges of fraud, embezzlement, extortion, and assault. It may be surprising to discover that it is Caroline herself who has pressed these charges through to their logical conclusion within the justice system.
"I can't talk too much about it, for legal reasons, but I can say that this punishment is long overdue," Caroline informs me in a sombre tone. In person, I get the impression that, given the option, she might not have taken this matter so far, which leads me to further wonder at what exactly Mr Granger, Junior, did to force her hand. "Humphrey didn't move against Junior through lack of evidence. Thanks to my employees here at GrangerGuild, when I assumed control, that evidence was located and passed on to the relevant authorities."
Something which does not seem to have upset the balance between the cousins, especially since Caroline was most prominant at the wedding of that same Junior's son, Oliver Hudson the Third, to Lady Piper Davidson two months ago. She assures me that the couple are still as happy as ever, eagerly awaiting the imminent birth of their first child. It would seem that even in a family as sprawling as the Grangers, family values can take a beating and still live to fight another day.
As awkward as it is to press such matters, I cannot let this opportunity pass without questioning Caroline on the troubles that have plagued the family itself over the past months, beginning with her own capture and imprisonment at the year's beginning, an experience that has clearly left its scars, both physical and spiritual. Out of courtesy to her, the name of her captor will not be mentioned in this article, although there are many in Rhy'Din who are aware of his identity. "There is still a lot about that time I can't talk about," she says in a muted tone, as though she has detached herself completely from actually feeling anything connected with that episode. "I know I am lucky to be alive, and that others in the family weren't forced to endure what I did. I behaved foolishly, which is what got me into that mess in the first place. I won't make that mistake again, nor will I let my family repeat my idiocy." Which, no doubt, makes the disappearance of Laura Granger, better known as Lola, doubly worrying. "You know about as much as I do right now," Caroline sighs. "Please, just let us handle it without press involvement."
Moving on, then, to the shooting of her cousin, Jonathan Granger, outside the Shanachie Theatre in January of this year, an event which left him with significant memory loss. "It was an horrific thing to come to terms with, that Jon had been attacked," she admits calmly. "To the best of my knowledge, the shooter hasn't yet been apprehended, but Jon seems to be recovering well enough. And since that time, a safety net has been drawn around our family. Something like that won't happen again without severe consequences playing out."
On the subject of Jonathan Granger's recovery, Caroline will not be drawn, adding only, "Jon's had a lot of problems in the past, and I think it is a credit to his courage and will that he is prepared to face his demons head on, and not be ashamed of them." She is clearly very proud of her famous cousin, and rightly so. Yet she has equal pride in every other member of her family, barring one only, and it is plain to see just why Humphrey Granger chose his granddaughter to succeed him in leading the company that bears their family name. I do not believe there is a single one of them that Caroline would not go above and beyond for, though on the surface, she does not appear to be the hero-type.
The repercussions of the firebombing at the GrangerGuild Dyeing Workshop on Seven Crossings in June are still being felt, too, it seems. While the site itself has been repaired and business there has returned to normal, even the mention of the incident brings an expression of almost ancient sadness across the young CEO's face. Caroline clearly feels the loss of each and every one of the forty-seven casualties of that tragic day, not least the death of her own cousin's wife. Thanks to the efforts of the Watch and the guidance of the Governor's Advisory Council, the gang responsible for that atrocity seem to have backed off from their reign of terror for the time being, but again, out of courtesy to Caroline, this is not a subject I am willing to enter into in depth.
With the bad has also come the good, of course. New additions to the Granger family in the form of the artist, Ollie Granger's, new wife, and their soon-to-be-born child have brought a semblence of normality back to this busy little bloodline, as well as the burgeoning relationship Caroline herself is enjoying. Her mystery man has, indeed, been seen with her several times over the past few months, yet we at the Post have been hard pressed to discover any hard facts about him. Caroline herself is cagey when referring to her gentleman friend, and it is clear that while she is very much in love, she does not see that it is any of my business whether or not she is getting laid.
"Richmond and I are very happy together," she tells me through a dreamy-eyed smile. "Yes, I am living with him, and no, I'm not telling you where that is." Ah, but are there plans for another wedding in the near future? Caroline laughs heartily at the suggestion. "It'd be nice to think so, but I'm not gonna be tempting Fate. Go ask him if you're so interested."
As our allotted window comes to a close, I just have time to press her for a few details on what is to come in the life of this supreme Granger. Unsurprisingly, I don't get an answer that has much to do with herself at all.
"Well, just keep your eyes out," she chuckles, an engaging sound that somehow covers the fact that I am being escorted to the door. "There'll be a Frost King and Queen campaign starting up soon, as well as the hockey season getting into full swing" - this being, of course, a reference to Cian Granger, left wing for the West End Wargs, and the GrangerGuild's sponsorship of the Stars End Spacers - "as well as our hoped for involvement with the upcoming winter festival, being organised by Risa. You'll just have to stay tuned in to find out where the Grangers are going to pop up next!"
As fall turns slowly to winter, it's easy to see why some races prefer to hibernate rather than suffer through the cold and dark of the arse-end of the year. Easier still, to translate this into the darkness of the kind of mental suffering some people go through, and just as simple to understand why those would rather regress into a childlike state than stand up and face what has happened to them. Which makes someone like Caroline Granger - a woman who in the past twelve months has had to deal with more than her share of misfortune and unpleasantness - more than a little formidable in thought and action. I caught up with her during a rare break in her busy work schedule, to see how she is coping with the stresses of her new position in life.
Ushered into the main office of the GrangerGuild Conglomerate by Brynne, Caroline's P.A. and one of the innumerable Granger cousins, I am pleased and surprised to discover that the new CEO of the Guild, while straightforward and not at all at home to being messed around, is more down-to-earth than any grand leader of a company I've ever met before. How many corporation leaders do you know who spend their lunch-break with a home-made picnic in front of the fireplace, rather than something more upperclass at a restaurant' Yet, when asked about this, Caroline simply laughs it off.
"It's something of a tradition in this office," she explains, gesticulating with a ham and pickle sandwich. "My grandfather, Humphrey, used to do this all the time - he'd have a picnic every day in here, and have a different grandchild or great-grandchild to share it with. He always says that in order to care about the big stuff, you need to care about the little stuff. amd you don't get much littler than a three-year old gumming on your sandwiches."
Humphrey Granger, former CEO of the Guild for an impressive forty-three years, stepped down in April this year in favor of Caroline herself, a move which took many of the older Granger cousins by surprise. The loudest of the objectors was Oliver Hudson Granger, Junior, who is currently awaiting sentencing on charges of fraud, embezzlement, extortion, and assault. It may be surprising to discover that it is Caroline herself who has pressed these charges through to their logical conclusion within the justice system.
"I can't talk too much about it, for legal reasons, but I can say that this punishment is long overdue," Caroline informs me in a sombre tone. In person, I get the impression that, given the option, she might not have taken this matter so far, which leads me to further wonder at what exactly Mr Granger, Junior, did to force her hand. "Humphrey didn't move against Junior through lack of evidence. Thanks to my employees here at GrangerGuild, when I assumed control, that evidence was located and passed on to the relevant authorities."
Something which does not seem to have upset the balance between the cousins, especially since Caroline was most prominant at the wedding of that same Junior's son, Oliver Hudson the Third, to Lady Piper Davidson two months ago. She assures me that the couple are still as happy as ever, eagerly awaiting the imminent birth of their first child. It would seem that even in a family as sprawling as the Grangers, family values can take a beating and still live to fight another day.
As awkward as it is to press such matters, I cannot let this opportunity pass without questioning Caroline on the troubles that have plagued the family itself over the past months, beginning with her own capture and imprisonment at the year's beginning, an experience that has clearly left its scars, both physical and spiritual. Out of courtesy to her, the name of her captor will not be mentioned in this article, although there are many in Rhy'Din who are aware of his identity. "There is still a lot about that time I can't talk about," she says in a muted tone, as though she has detached herself completely from actually feeling anything connected with that episode. "I know I am lucky to be alive, and that others in the family weren't forced to endure what I did. I behaved foolishly, which is what got me into that mess in the first place. I won't make that mistake again, nor will I let my family repeat my idiocy." Which, no doubt, makes the disappearance of Laura Granger, better known as Lola, doubly worrying. "You know about as much as I do right now," Caroline sighs. "Please, just let us handle it without press involvement."
Moving on, then, to the shooting of her cousin, Jonathan Granger, outside the Shanachie Theatre in January of this year, an event which left him with significant memory loss. "It was an horrific thing to come to terms with, that Jon had been attacked," she admits calmly. "To the best of my knowledge, the shooter hasn't yet been apprehended, but Jon seems to be recovering well enough. And since that time, a safety net has been drawn around our family. Something like that won't happen again without severe consequences playing out."
On the subject of Jonathan Granger's recovery, Caroline will not be drawn, adding only, "Jon's had a lot of problems in the past, and I think it is a credit to his courage and will that he is prepared to face his demons head on, and not be ashamed of them." She is clearly very proud of her famous cousin, and rightly so. Yet she has equal pride in every other member of her family, barring one only, and it is plain to see just why Humphrey Granger chose his granddaughter to succeed him in leading the company that bears their family name. I do not believe there is a single one of them that Caroline would not go above and beyond for, though on the surface, she does not appear to be the hero-type.
The repercussions of the firebombing at the GrangerGuild Dyeing Workshop on Seven Crossings in June are still being felt, too, it seems. While the site itself has been repaired and business there has returned to normal, even the mention of the incident brings an expression of almost ancient sadness across the young CEO's face. Caroline clearly feels the loss of each and every one of the forty-seven casualties of that tragic day, not least the death of her own cousin's wife. Thanks to the efforts of the Watch and the guidance of the Governor's Advisory Council, the gang responsible for that atrocity seem to have backed off from their reign of terror for the time being, but again, out of courtesy to Caroline, this is not a subject I am willing to enter into in depth.
With the bad has also come the good, of course. New additions to the Granger family in the form of the artist, Ollie Granger's, new wife, and their soon-to-be-born child have brought a semblence of normality back to this busy little bloodline, as well as the burgeoning relationship Caroline herself is enjoying. Her mystery man has, indeed, been seen with her several times over the past few months, yet we at the Post have been hard pressed to discover any hard facts about him. Caroline herself is cagey when referring to her gentleman friend, and it is clear that while she is very much in love, she does not see that it is any of my business whether or not she is getting laid.
"Richmond and I are very happy together," she tells me through a dreamy-eyed smile. "Yes, I am living with him, and no, I'm not telling you where that is." Ah, but are there plans for another wedding in the near future? Caroline laughs heartily at the suggestion. "It'd be nice to think so, but I'm not gonna be tempting Fate. Go ask him if you're so interested."
As our allotted window comes to a close, I just have time to press her for a few details on what is to come in the life of this supreme Granger. Unsurprisingly, I don't get an answer that has much to do with herself at all.
"Well, just keep your eyes out," she chuckles, an engaging sound that somehow covers the fact that I am being escorted to the door. "There'll be a Frost King and Queen campaign starting up soon, as well as the hockey season getting into full swing" - this being, of course, a reference to Cian Granger, left wing for the West End Wargs, and the GrangerGuild's sponsorship of the Stars End Spacers - "as well as our hoped for involvement with the upcoming winter festival, being organised by Risa. You'll just have to stay tuned in to find out where the Grangers are going to pop up next!"