America 1982-Chapter 471 - 87: Jeff’s Speech

Diamond Veterans Exclusive Nursing Home, in the corridor outside the activity hall.

Martin helped Jeff put on the baseball cap, then swept a soft brush across Jeff’s cheeks a few times, making sure his face looked tough as nails, before admiring his handiwork with satisfaction:

"You look like the United States Department of Veterans Affairs should hire you as the official spokesperson for veterans, very solid."

Jeff stood before him, his muscular body stretching the camouflage T-shirt Tommy had deliberately bought a size too small to almost bursting point, his entire persona exuded aggression and an unwelcoming, fierce demeanor.

"Martin, are you sure... this script is appropriate to read to the elderly? It’s got more profanity than all the swearing I’ve done in over thirty years," Jeff said quietly as he moved his arms, constricted by the tight sleeves.

Martin snapped back, "Shut up! Jeff, don’t question me! What you need to do later is to recite this speech filled with more profanities than any black neighborhood to those few dozen World War II veterans with all the emotion you can muster—don’t let it down, cause that is... that’s what I stayed up all night writing."

The fact that boss Tommy had actually written the speech and was willing to give Martin the credit was puzzling, but he didn’t think it was a bad thing. After all, as a campaign manager, he always needed to show off something impressive to prove he wasn’t just good for stealing Trojans at Costco.

"I’ve read it many times over, and every time, I’m still moved. The emotion in this script could almost spill out; it’s so touching. So Martin, your father died on the battlefield too, right? If you hadn’t experienced it yourself, you definitely wouldn’t be able to..." Jeff, speaking of the speech Martin had prepared for him, wore a look of deep admiration on his face.

"I’ve fucking explained it many times, my father wasn’t in the military, and he didn’t die on the battlefield. He died because when driving..." Martin glared at Jeff, cutting off his flattery.

Jeff had been singing praises since the first read-through, so Martin wasn’t getting any pleasure from it anymore. He now craved the shock and awe from other audience members after hearing it to satisfy his vanity.

Jeff’s gaze sincere, he asked Martin, "What happened to him while he was driving?"

"Do you have to be this nosey?" Martin shot Jeff a disdainful glance. "Can’t I have some privacy?"

"We’re friends; Zack, Allen, and I can talk about anything. Allen even told Zack and me his biggest secret—that one time he wanted to figure out what a blowjob would feel like, which was better. So, he went to the Florida zoo, secretly smeared something on the golf club, and let goats, giraffes, zebras, and whatnot lick it..."

"Hold on! Hold on!" Martin’s eyes widened, "Dude, living with you three for three days is a bigger eye-opener than fucking spending thirty years in the ghetto! Shit... Free blowjobs at the zoo? Just what did Florida do to raise three geniuses like you guys!"

"If this secret isn’t enough to trade for your father’s story, I can share my most important secret. I..."

"I can’t listen anymore; I don’t want to hear it; I’m a black man who knows shame!" Martin stopped Jeff from going on, lowered his voice resignedly, "OK, I’ll tell you, but keep it to yourself."

"Of course," Jeff promised earnestly.

Martin hesitated and then, in a lowered voice, said, "Once, he got high while driving, jerking off as he drove. A cop pulled him over—a female cop on a horse. My old man, busy with one hand, rolled down the window, and just as he reached the climax, he sees the cop’s face leaning in... So, not only did my father give her his driver’s license, but he also gave her face some... other stuff. Then he ended up in jail for vacation on charges of indecent exposure, humiliation of an officer, assault on an officer, sexual harassment of an officer, and a bunch of other crimes."

"I...wow, I...I’m trying to say, sometimes when I’m stressed, I also intentionally stay in the car late into the night and occasionally do that, but it seems... unlikely to spray that far," Jeff’s eyes widened as he asked skeptically.

"That’s racial talent, man; what else do you think that bastard used to give me a bunch of half-brothers and sisters?" Martin said, "Now keep your focus on the speech; can we please stop talking about my father?"

It was a bit later that Tommy stepped out of the Diamond Veterans Exclusive Nursing Home activity hall with the manager, a man in his forties. Following Tommy’s introduction, the manager shook hands with Jeff, giving a perfunctory smile, "Considering the food donation you made to our facility, you’ve got roughly thirty minutes, Mr. Raven."

Jeff looked towards Tommy, who nodded at him, "Go ahead, just confidently read the script to those old soldiers, no need to go off-script."

"I will," Jeff nodded earnestly, took a few deep breaths, and after Martin checked his makeup again, he took the speech in hand, turned, and confidently pushed open the big doors of the activity hall, heading towards the podium.

"Politicians have come to places like this seeking support before, but almost every one of them could give an off-the-cuff speech. Too bad, though, even with their smooth delivery utterly off-script, they hardly raised any money; after all, these old soldiers here don’t understand politics, don’t care about politics—it’s all in vain," the manager said to Tommy, smiling.