America 1982-Chapter 299 - 16: Wear More on Vacation

Sophia bit the straw of her juice pouch, surprised to see Tommy urging his maid of several years, Dorothy, to pack faster as he prepared to go on vacation with his bodyguard, Mr. Page.

’You rarely think of the word vacation, what finally made you decide to relax and take some time off?’ she asked.

’It’s nothing, you wouldn’t want to know. I underestimated Rick and those hardworking Black employees for the company, like Martin.’ Tommy walked down the stairs to Sophia’s side, took the juice from her, and took a sip, saying confidently:

’I guess, a woman like you would be up all night after hearing it.’

Sophia gave him a ’Are you kidding me?’ look, but she didn’t continue to press the matter and prepared to head to the study to pick out some books for Tommy to pass the time on the airplane, having become well acquainted with all his habits over the years.

’Er and Rick, they got a Black lead actor and director named Bill Duke for the movie "NiggerBoss," have you heard of him?’ Tommy stood at the stair railing, holding his juice, and said to Sophia as she was about to leave.

Sophia stopped, turned around and asked Tommy doubtfully, ’Wasn’t Rick planning to choose from young Black directors like Spike Lee, Leon Isaac, and Benjamin Bassett who hadn’t gotten the attention of major Hollywood studios? How did it change to Bill Duke? He’s not one of those nameless young men. Don’t tell me you don’t know the name. He directed the first six episodes of "Miami Tempest"’s first season, and he’s also an outstanding actor. So why would his interest in your Black series keep me up at night? On the contrary, I think that maybe because his fees are too high, you’re the one who’ll be awake tonight.’

’No, that guy’s quote isn’t high, a quarter less than white directors with similar achievements, but... he demanded more control during the shooting. You know I don’t care how much money he spends. Anyway, if there’s a serious budget overrun, Rick will be the first one I’ll have trouble with, and Rick knows it well.’ Tommy took another sip of his juice, his hands resting on the railing, looking over the opulent but empty hall as he spoke.

Then he turned and addressed Dorothy, who was packing his luggage in the hall and had followed him all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles:

’Dorothy, pack two dozen more underwear for me. In that godforsaken state of Georgia, even if I bring a bodyguard and I’m a man, without wearing a few extra pairs, I feel unsafe. I’m really worried about being dragged into an alley and harmed.’

’Yes, Mr. Tommy,’ Dorothy looked up at Tommy and answered with a smile.

Tommy laughed when he heard how she addressed him, ’Call me Tommy affectionately, or Mr. Hawk. Mr. Tommy?’

Dorothy was thirty-seven this year, from Colombia. Before working as a maid in the United States, she was a shop clerk. Her husband was a truck driver with a lovely daughter, a happy family of three.

However, in 1980, her husband was killed in a transport for the government forces. The insurgents robbed the transport trucks and slaughtered all the drivers hired by the government. They also sent threatening letters to the families of the deceased. Having lost her husband, and with certain locals eyeing their home, Dorothy eventually sold the house. She took her child and fled Colombia, endured countless hardships, and reached the United States, seeking refuge with a distant relative whom she had never met since birth in San Francisco.

She first cleaned beach litter in San Francisco for two years. However, after earning her wages, she didn’t spend recklessly but enrolled in a home economics course until Tommy needed to hire a maid, and she was recommended to him.

Tommy, though often a scoundrel, was very kind-hearted toward the destitute. He had a nanny suite in his residence that allowed Dorothy to move in with her daughter, and she didn’t need to prepare meals either.

This was why Dorothy willingly followed Tommy to Los Angeles. After all, it was hard for her to find another job where she could save all her salary and not worry about spending on living essentials.

Her ten-year-old daughter now attends a boarding school arranged by Sophia.

In her eyes, Tommy was the best employer in the world, and she was delighted to witness this young man’s life getting better and better, moving from a small villa in San Francisco to a luxurious villa in Los Angeles.

’Other maids in the community garden said that’s how they address their employers, affectionate and respectful.’ Dorothy said, folding a piece of clothing.

Hearing Tommy’s instructions to Dorothy, Sophia frowned, ’Is the safety that bad in Georgia?’

’That godforsaken place has a lot more Indians now, understand? Indian men should be castrated at birth. The men from that country are the only ones in my mind who outdo the Blacks. They don’t just ** women and men, they also ** goats, lizards, and even the damn dead pythons. Jesus could go to India to preach and leave with a big belly.’ Tommy said to Sophia with a serious face.

Seeing his expression and hearing the exaggerated words, Sophia felt this jerk was maliciously slandering other minorities. She gave Tommy a look of disapproval and steered the conversation back: