America 1982-Chapter 63 - 19
"I think it’s quite simple," David Schafer said as he sat at the conference table, munching on chicken nuggets. "Since the United States won’t honor their commitments, we can figure out a way to make the money back from them ourselves. I have an idea."
"We provide money laundering services and then grow marijuana on a large scale to sell to the United States. We could make the money back quickly."
Tommy Hawk shook his head, "No, David, that would be what really destroys this country. We need to consider solving this problem through legitimate channels. According to your plan, it’s the United States that owes this country money, it’s the United States sugar factory that’s evading taxes. But if you do something wrong, it gives the United States the perfect opportunity to break the contract. We can’t do the wrong thing. This country, which isn’t even as big as a rural town in the United States, has zero tolerance for error. It hasn’t done anything wrong, and the United States can already ignore the contract. If it really did something to harm the United States, guess what kind of revenge the United States could resort to?"
"What about newspapers? We could produce a bunch of newspapers, distribute them in the United States, and let the Americans know everything that’s happening here," Zoey suggested.
Catherine’s face was somber, "Or maybe we don’t need newspapers. How about we just take an armed force and smash the sugar factory, make a big scene? Make it so that the news reaches back to the United States and everyone knows about it?"
Stephen walked in from outside, "Uh... unfortunately, I just called and my grandfather hasn’t passed away yet. Otherwise, I would have been able to use the money to buy front-page headlines in all American newspapers and publish everything that’s happened here."
"Chris, what’s your take?" Tommy asked the young man in the cowboy hat, feeling that among these people, he was probably the only one who shared Tommy’s perspective, a guy who liked to study probability and numbers.
Chris shook his head, "I think we shouldn’t conflate things. The American sugar factory evading taxes and exploiting workers is one thing, the United States not keeping its promises is another. They need to be resolved separately."
"If the Americans knew our true identities, what do you think they would think of us? Do you think they would really care that we are the Prime Minister and various high-ranking ministers?" Tommy asked as he picked up an onion ring and tossed it into his mouth. Afterward, he wiped the grease from his hands and asked the others.
With certainty in his voice, David Schafer said, "Cut the crap, buddy. If they found out, they’d just laugh at us. Without a magnifying glass, they couldn’t even find this country on a globe."
"The tragedy that’s befallen this country is great, but to ensure we get plenty of attention, we need to turn it all into a comedy first. Trust me, Americans don’t care about the life and death of other countries. They only like to see what entertains them. They only want to see that Americans are the most superior beings on Earth, Americans who save everything." Tommy Hawk rubbed his face forcefully and looked at the others:
"We need to trample this country’s dignity severely, amuse the clueless Americans by giving them what they like to watch. Once we capture their interest, we then serve up what they don’t want to see."
"Comedy? A group of black people starting work with high-interest loans, Americans stealing the sugar industry from this country, refusing to honor the agreement to provide financial aid, how do you turn that into a comedy?" Kevin said, annoyed.
Tommy Hawk looked around at the few people present, "Has anyone been on a TV show before?"
"Me? To pad my resume, my father once arranged for me to host a school program on the Nick kids’ channel," Catherine said as no one else responded.
The Nick kids’ channel is a children’s TV channel established by the CBS television network of the Paramount company in the United States in 1979. Not only is it popular among teenagers, but many adults also watch the sitcoms and fun news programs produced by this channel, such as the famous "SpongeBob SquarePants," which is a product of this channel.
It’s quite simple for ordinary teenagers to appear on this channel’s programs to showcase themselves and add a touch of glamour; just pay the money. Though the TV station won’t directly take the cash to avoid any overt paper trail, there are plenty of middleman companies that earn their keep by recommending outstanding teenagers to the TV station and providing opportunities for elite American youths to appear on TV shows. As for how they split the profits with the TV station behind the scenes, the wealthy who can afford to get their kids on the show don’t care, and neither do the poor who can’t afford it.
"Your father really doesn’t mind investing in your education. When I first got first place in the state league, Nick Children’s Channel invited me to their sports variety show, and the middleman company wanted to charge my father five hundred bucks for publicity. Please, the top high school wrestler in New York has to give the TV station five hundred dollars just to get on camera?" Kevin said, astonished, after hearing what Catherine had said.
David Schafer asked Kevin, "So, did you go?"
"If I had gone, I would have already been bragging about it when that pauper asked earlier," replied Kevin honestly.
"Okay, Catherine, I need you to pique their curiosity. A group of American high school students ruling over this country in the Caribbean Sea, steering the backward and British-abandoned Black population on the right track. Let me know if there are any costs involved for them to come here and film the material; I’ll apply for promotional funds from Lincoln High School," Tommy Hawk said.
"To film the troubles this country is facing?" Catherine asked Tommy Hawk, giving him a rare look of agreement, her voice full of surprise.
"No, when you introduce it, blame all the problems of this country on the British. The Blacks here have no education, they’re poverty-stricken, they don’t even understand taxes, or education, or even what the Olympics mean. The saddest part is, they’ve been abandoned by England. Basically, describe this unfortunate country as an unlucky clown, and we’re the American high school students who happen to be helping these clowns, offering them a few jokes... Dennis! I’ll have Dennis help you; he knows what it means to exaggerate," Tommy Hawk said, taking a cigarette pack and tossing it at the corner where Dennis, who had his eyes closed as if napping, was sitting. Dennis looked up, bewildered, and Tommy told him:
"Help Catherine bamboozle the cameramen, journalists, or whoever else from Nick Children’s Channel. Anyway, you take orders from Catherine, and you can go out now to brainstorm the story to get them interested."
After Catherine and Dennis left, Tommy turned to Chris, "Do you think the Minister of Finance would agree to play the part of an illiterate fool in the eyes of the Americans?"
"I think if we have a way to solve the problems of this country, he might be willing to pay a price even higher than playing a fool," Chris replied, standing up and heading out, "I can teach him that now, or rather, in my eyes, he’s always been a fool."
Tommy looked at Zoey, "Have you tried calling the US embassy before?"
"I have. Some temp picked up the phone and dismissively told me that they would record my issue and pass it on to the Ambassador," Zoey replied with a sigh, "The tone made me really want to lose my temper."
"I know, I know. Just be patient a little longer, show your ladylike side in front of the camera, keep making calls and document them normally. I’ll give you the chance to lose your temper," Tommy said.
"That would be best," Zoey said as she stood and headed towards the door, "You wouldn’t want to see me lose my temper."
Stephen looked at Tommy, "Is there anything I can help with? There won’t be much I can do until after my grandfather’s funeral." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"Stephen..." Tommy looked at Stephen, "You’re the only one among us truly recognized by American society as an elite high school student. Although what I’m about to say may not be very kind to myself or the others, I still need to say it; all our clownish acts, all the farces, they are all for the final goal of sending you, with all your dignity, onto the stage in Washington. Get ready, buddy."
