America 1982-Chapter 51 - 9: Return Trip

"Your Excellency the Governor, Mr. Prime Minister, today, our preliminary survey is about to come to an end. Thank you all for allowing us to spend a very pleasant two days in Kingston. However, there are some issues I’d like to inquire about, such as if we are indeed preparing to roll out a political simulation activity for American high school students this summer, as you previously proposed, how much money would it take for us, or rather your country, to cooperate with us?"

In a reception room more austere than the oldest meeting room of Lincoln High School, Tommy Hawk posed this question to the two leaders of the mini-state within the government building of Kingston.

Seeing Tommy Hawk look towards him first, the sixty-nine-year-old Governor, Allen Lewis, seated on the sofa, chuckled without speaking and pointed exaggeratedly at Prime Minister Madoff Compton beside him, reminding Tommy that he was only the nominal and ceremonial head of state, and that specific matters were handled by Madoff next to him.

"Mr. Prime Minister?" Following his gesture, Tommy directed his gaze towards Prime Minister Madoff.

Madoff Compton’s face was expressionless as if in contemplation, and it took him a few seconds before he cautiously spoke, "I’m still considering it, and perhaps I need to check the dictionary to understand better."

"You need a dictionary to understand what a summer summit is?" Dennis chimed in from the side.

Madoff Compton shook his head, "No, what a high school student is."

This answer left the four Americans momentarily dumbfounded. Seeing their stupefied expressions, Madoff laughed heartily, pointing at the stunned group, and said with a smile to the Governor beside him, "See? I told you I could give them a big surprise!"

Then, he said triumphantly to Tommy Hawk, "I know, on American talk shows, there are often Black performers using this kind of trick..."

"I know, I certainly do, Your Excellency. I just didn’t expect a country’s leader to use such a trick as well," Tommy Hawk recovered, realizing that the two Black elders in front of him had just played a joke on the four of them in tandem.

After his laughter, Madoff continued, "No compensation is needed. You’re helping us by making more people aware of this country, inviting them to visit, to travel, to understand our history. Why should we accept compensation?"

"I feel the same way," Allen Lewis also looked at the four people, "This is a good thing for Saint Vincent."

The other three showed expressions of surprise and gratitude, while Tommy Hawk was the first to frown, "No compensation? Why?"

"In the United States, after your President or Secretary of State or the like takes office, do they need to pay the country a sum of money monthly, or do they receive a salary from the country monthly?" Madoff asked with a puzzled look.

Tommy Hawk nodded, "Without doubt, of course, they receive a salary."

"Kid, in this respect, we are aligned with Americans, we are also human, not aliens, we follow the normal rules of human beings. So, no compensation is needed. I’m not joking, and we will pay a salary to the American high school students who take office, of course, not too much, just a commemorative coin of our country, which might not even buy a bunch of bananas," Madoff said to Tommy.

Sitting silently beside them, Principal Susan Ryan looked at the frowning Tommy and gently reminded him in a soft voice, "However, this is under the premise that you agree to help us with the fundraising for our secondary school, Mr. Tommy Hawk. Don’t forget your promise."

"I certainly won’t forget," Tommy Hawk replied to Susan with a perfunctory smile and then fell silent for a moment, lowering his head before looking up at Prime Minister Madoff, "Prime Minister, could we sign a letter of intent to outline the general framework? I hope everything about this summer camp is formal, not just a verbal agreement."

"Of course, no problem. The last time I signed a contract was a year ago. Draft the contract, kid; you do the drafting. I know that once a contract is signed, it must be honored. Don’t worry; we won’t ask for compensation," Madoff said seriously to Tommy Hawk.

Hesitantly, Tommy Hawk stood up, taking out the notes he had made earlier, "OK, I’ve roughly thought of some terms that could serve as an intention contract for cooperation between both parties. Afterward, I’ll return to the United States and ask the school to arrange for a lawyer to prepare formal documents, and then sign an agreement with your country."

Seeing Tommy Hawk’s demeanor, Ottelia furrowed her brows slightly, while Dennis and Pam appeared somewhat startled. Although their expressions differed, it was evident that they all felt Tommy was being a bit excessive at the moment. His behavior clearly indicated a deep distrust of the two elderly people before him.

"Of course, you can." Madoff, however, still wore a friendly smile and nodded at Tommy, "You’re doing the right thing, Tommy. A leader must have a spirit of commitment."

...

It wasn’t until Prime Minister Madoff, who had pushed his bicycle, waved goodbye and she boarded the plane home, without the presence of others, that Ottelia finally spoke to Tommy, who still flipped through the contract of intent:

"Tommy, I think the questions you asked in the meeting room were incredibly rude. What’s going on with you? You’re not acting like yourself."

"Miss Farell, I can tell you what’s normal. Just like this flight we’re on, the costs are low, so there is no airport service, no basic meals provided during the flight, only this terrible cup of coffee in front of me, because the airline isn’t going to operate at a loss, that’s what’s normal," Tommy Hawk said, his gaze firmly on the contract, then lifting his chin towards Ottelia to indicate:

"And what’s not normal is your godfather, and this Prime Minister Madoff. They give so much less than they get back. For instance, I have a question now; your godfather is a Princeton alumnus and the Director of Public Education for Rhode Island. Why didn’t he use a recommendation letter to get you into Princeton in the first place?"

After thinking it over, Ottelia provided her own answer: "I guess maybe at that time he was just a state senator, not yet appointed as the Director of Public Education by the Governor?"

"If he truly loved you as much as he seemed to in that situation, he definitely could have gotten you into Princeton back then. What’s different about you, in his eyes, from several years ago to now? Think about it, Miss Farell," Tommy Hawk said, shaking his head with certainty, and continued questioning.

Ottelia’s eyes shifted left and right, indicating she was pondering, then she looked back at Tommy and shook her head in confusion.

"It’s because Miss Farell now has American teenage student leaders like Dennis Hebers," Dennis Hebers said, turning around from the seat in front, taking off his eyemask.

"Dennis, please stay seated nicely during the flight; don’t make me remind you a second time," Ottelia said, disregarding Dennis’s teasing and instead reminding him to be safe.

Tommy Hawk, however, stared at Dennis’s face thoughtfully: "I think there was some truth to what Dennis just said."

"Right? I knew it was because of us..."

Ottelia stared at Dennis and said, "Sit down, Dennis, don’t flatter yourself."

Seeing Ottelia’s stern look, Dennis sat back down, but then turned again: "As Pam’s best friend, I want to remind you, Miss Farell, maybe you should pay more attention to the students’ mental state?"

"What’s wrong with Pam?" Ottelia, hearing Dennis’s words, wanted to stand up to look at Pam, who was seated next to Dennis.

"Pam’s fine; the guy’s sleeping soundly hugging Carly’s photo," Dennis said, dissuading Ottelia from her action: "I mean, Pam has a girlfriend, and as his best friend, I should congratulate him, but in reality, my conscience keeps reminding me I can’t do it, maybe I need counseling."

Meanwhile, Tommy Hawk slowly turned to Ottelia and repeated to himself, "There’s some truth to what Dennis said."