Justin Davis, page 22
Justin told his curious friends what took place, though he spun the extra scholarship money into a story that concealed his poverty. Justin said that Hunter gave him a grant to be used at his discretion to further his career goals.
“Well, Justin,” Scarlet said, smiling, “the rich get richer. I’m surprised the Clays didn’t give that grant to a needy student. Anyway, I’m glad for you, and it is certainly an honor. And the Clays do help poor students. But you don’t need the money. The real news here is Senator Clay’s invitation to join the Youth Corps. That is amazing. What did you tell him?”
“I thanked him, of course,” Justin said, “and I told him I would speak to my family.”
“Speak to your family?” Scarlet asked, incredulous. “Justin, do you know what we’re talking about here? Tom, tell him.”
“If you have any plan to enter politics,” Tom said, “this will put you on top of the world.
“On top of the world?” Scarlet said. “That’s an understatement. Hunter Clay will be the next president of the United States. The Youth Corps will have extraordinary opportunities to serve the country.”
“You’re right,” Tom said. “Look, Justin, I’m personally not interested in a purely political career, but it seems that you do have interest in that area. The Youth Corps is a super elite group.”
Justin was speechless. “Tom,” Scarlet said, “tell him to do it.”
“To be fair to Justin,” Tom said, “I will say this. Senator Clay can offer you unlimited political and economic opportunities. But you have to be his man. He demands absolute loyalty from those who work with him, and certainly from the Youth Corps. You have to fully trust him.”
Justin knew that he could never really give up his own judgment and blindly follow anyone, no matter how powerful. But for now, how could he reject this golden opportunity?
Scarlet again urged him to accept the offer. Tom urged him to read up on the senator, and make sure he could join with a clear conscience.
Justin thanked his friends and, still somewhat dazed, made his way back to Oxford Hall, where he again explained it all to Luke. The two friends then busily researched Hunter Clay. The senator seemed to take moderate positions, though he also spoke grandly of the need to reinvent American democracy, to make America the first fully scientific Republic, with the best possible life for all.
He would think more about this later. For now, he dreamed of his date with Scarlet. When he took her out, he would do so as a respectable White Hall man. He owed it all to America’s most powerful couple, Senator and Dr. Clay!
CHAPTER 25
Justin eagerly bought semiformal clothes and fake leather shoes (on ethical grounds) for his evening with Scarlet. The other couple had to cancel for unstated reasons. Scarlet drove Justin in her luxury hybrid. With wit, laughter, and over-the-table high-fives, they enjoyed their vegan dinner. Scarlet liked the play more than Justin, but in her company, he was glad to endure it. If Mel respected Scarlet’s right to choose, and if Scarlet chose Justin, he would happily choose her as his partner.
When she dropped him off at Oxford Hall that evening, Scarlet was kind, merry, and formal, and they ended the evening with a most cordial handshake. It would not be easy to fully win her heart.
Justin soon had another serious concern. The White Hall Academy’s annual Parents Weekend fast approached, timed to coincide with peak fall colors. Justin sat with Luke on the emerald quadrangle by the bell tower. Luke asked, “Will your family come to Parents Weekend?”
“My mother is still not well,” Justin said. In fact, Star and Joey Davis yearned to come, and Justin longed to see them, but it was too dangerous to invite them. His White Hall friends would ask his family about life in Davis. Star Davis would try her best not to embarrass her son, but she lied poorly, and God only knew what Joey might say. It was not safe. Anyway, Star Davis still did not enjoy great health, so Justin’s excuse was not far from the truth.
Scarlet also enquired whether Justin’s family was coming, and he gave the same answer.
“I really hope your mother’s health improves,” Scarlet said. “My mom and stepfather are coming. It’s no consolation for you, but they both want to meet you. My stepfather, Randy, can be annoying, but he insists he just wants to meet you. You will be here, won’t you?”
Justin planned to spend Parents Weekend deep in the hills, where he would not suffer by seeing happy, whole, respectable families. He didn’t want to even hear the festivities. But he could not refuse Scarlet. He knew that she could only invite him to meet her parents with Tom’s permission, and Justin took it as a most pleasing honor.
Scarlet and Justin agreed that before heading for the hills, he would join Scarlet, Tom, and their parents at Saturday brunch, since their parents were leaving Saturday night. As Tom’s friend, Mel was also invited.
The day came, and hordes of luxury cars paraded onto campus. White Hall bustled with proud parents. The administration, faculty, and staff were out in full force, with their unique White Hall blazers. With kind words and smiles, they answered questions, gave campus tours, and of course graciously accepted gifts for the school endowment.
As Justin walked to the brunch, he thought of his mom and Joey. He called them and spoke for a minute. That helped. He thought of his dad, and for an instant, the old pain washed away all the new charm of White Hall. He still needed justice for his dad. That need did not go away. Even White Hall could not cool that fire.
This family day was bad for him. Peals of laughter and live music pursued him on the path. Parents Weekend was in full swing. He would leave after brunch and return when the music was over and the family bliss had ended.
Tom and Scarlet’s mother and stepfather, Linda and Randy, perfectly matched Justin’s image of Palm Beach snobs. Impeccably stylish, tan and healthy, they exuded casual arrogance, as if they stepped out of the pages of an airline magazine article on Palm Beach glamour.
As the brunch conversation unfolded, Justin saw that suspicion, not kindness, sparked Randy’s interest in him. If Scarlet subtly probed Justin, her stepfather dug out Justin’s life like a human backhoe.
With a gauzy veneer of smiling curiosity, he asked Justin to confirm what he heard about “your fascinating life in Davis.” Randy was so sorry about Justin’s father, and the family’s subsequent financial collapse. He actually said that. And he sincerely hoped that Justin’s mother would find more satisfying work. It must be wearing on her to clean other people’s houses. And was Justin quite sure that it was safe for his family to live in an old trailer? Those old trailers were firetraps.
“What are you talking about?” Scarlet shouted. “What do you know about Justin?”
“My dear, calm down,” Randy said. “Justin lives in a very small town, and anyone can just call the local Dollar General store, or the Shop and Save.” He pronounced these names with thinly veiled disdain. “In fact, you can call any restaurant or hotel or gas station in Davis, and everyone knows the Davis family very well. I’m a bit surprised that you would ask such a question.”
“What is your purpose?” Justin said, his face white, his heart stopped.
“My purpose, whether Scarlet agrees or not, is that she go out with a boy on her level.”
Burning with shame and rage, for himself and his family, Justin shot to his feet, almost knocking over his plate of bagels and butter. Controlling his desire to flip the table onto Randy’s head, and not even saying goodbye to his friends, he stormed away, not seeing or caring where he went. He walked till he was stopped by people shouting his name from behind. He turned and faced Tom and Scarlet, who followed him for some distance.
Tom looked embarrassed. He put his hand on Justin’s shoulder and said, “I apologize for Randy’s malicious behavior. It is none of my business, nor his, where you and your family live, or what your mother does, and I really don’t care. I care about you.”
Tom brought Justin back to life with the kindness of an older brother. Scarlet, shaking with anger, waving clenched fists, cursed her stepfather and said to Justin with real compassion, “I am sorrier than you can imagine. I’m too angry to speak. Forgive me for ever inviting you to meet that disgusting person.”
As Justin was trying to articulate his gratitude, Scarlet suddenly turned her anger on Justin. “Why didn’t you tell us the truth? You must think Tom and I are so shallow that we would judge you by your family’s income. I thought you knew us better than that.”
“Scarlet is right,” Tom said. “Why didn’t you just tell us the truth? I also believed that we all knew and trusted each other. You didn’t directly lie, but you allowed, even encouraged, us to think a certain way. That’s why I suggested going to your estate.”
“And that’s why I suggested you take me out to an expensive place,” Scarlet said.
With emotion he could barely contain, Justin said, “I didn’t tell you the truth because for me the truth was humiliating. Scarlet, I sincerely felt that you deserved much more than I could offer. Who was I? A destitute young man who could not afford to take you anywhere beyond a nature walk, or even accompany you and pay his own way. Somehow, I thought that if you felt half the shame about me that I felt about myself, you would not want to be seen with me. If I offended you in thinking that way, then I beg your forgiveness. But this is all so new for me. I’m so different, so out of place, so embarrassed about my situation. Yes, I was weak. I lacked the courage to declare openly that I grew up like all of you, but I lost everything. I lost my father, my home, my respectability. Everything was taken away. I’m sorry. Forgive me.” Justin could not contain his tears, which only added to his anguish.
Scarlet and Tom stood in silence, moved by Justin’s agony. Finally, Scarlet said, “Justin, you read those spiritual books, and spiritual people don’t care so much what others think. Even I know that and I’m a sworn materialist.”
Justin laughed at this through his tears and confessed that he was not really very spiritual. “There was a time when I thought I might pursue a spiritual path, but I guess I failed.”
Tom said gently, “Justin, come what may, most important is that we be honest with each other.”
Scarlet added, “Tom is right. I do admit that had I been in your situation, I would have been strongly tempted to conceal the truth. But I would not have concealed it from my real friends, and I thought we were real friends. Justin, I would not have exposed you to public embarrassment and I will not do it now. Tom and I have trusted you. We revealed to you extremely sensitive facts about our own lives, facts that we would never want to be generally known. But you did not trust us as we trusted you.”
Justin had no answer. Shame colored his face.
“Yes,” Tom said, “in the future, be completely honest with us. We must be able to trust you.”
Scarlet agreed and insisted, “You must swear that you will never deceive us again.”
Justin swore. She then playfully punched him in the shoulder and said, “Let’s forget about this. Take your walk in the mountains.”
“Yes,” Tom said, “take your hike. When you go up the mountain, keep checking your compass. It’s confusing up there. Stay away from the ghost house where that most feared Stonie lives. The house is actually less than a mile from campus, so be extremely cautious.”
“Yes, I will. Scarlet told me how close the house is to White Hall.”
“The owners of that estate died years ago, and the property is trapped in a Bleak House lawsuit. It’s against the law to even step on the property. I know you understand.”
“Completely,” Justin said. “Count on me.”
“I do. Now we have to get back to our mother and evil stepfather.”
Justin repeatedly thanked them from his heart, and the friends parted. He was grateful. He was miserable.
His wearied mind turned to another grave concern. He must reply to the illustrious Senator Clay. If Justin joined the Youth Corps, he would forfeit some of his freedom, but he would gain the greatest opportunities. He would end the family’s disgrace, and the poverty that threatened his mother’s and brother’s health.
He must give Hunter an answer. He called his mother and explained the situation. She asked him what he wanted. He wanted to help his family, to make them healthy and happy. And he would not stop until he achieved his goal. She thanked him with much love, but urged him to think about it, and do what he felt was best. “It was very kind of Senator Clay,” she said, “to come all the way from Washington to honor your father at the funeral.”
“Yes,” Justin said, “and if I don’t accept now, I may look indecisive or even ungrateful.” The fiasco with Randy, which Justin did not share with his mother, was just a sample of what his mother must experience every day. He could not bear to think about it. He told his mother that he must do all he could to help her and Joey, and that he would be all right. He would take care of himself.
“I know you,” Star said, “and I see you want to do this. Hunter Clay has so much influence. He could help your career enormously.”
Justin took this as permission. He had another powerful motive that he could not share with his mother. He and his family might well be in danger, and Hunter Clay was probably one of the few persons in this world that could protect the Davis family. Back in his room, he nervously called Senator Clay’s secretary and declared his wish to join the Youth Corps. She thanked him and said that a member of the Corps would contact him soon about his candidacy. He thanked her.
So, he was merely a candidate. He overstated his status to his mother. Thirty minutes later, there was a knock at his door. He opened it and was startled to see the Knight Brad Branley, who was scheduled to be Knight president after Tom graduated. Justin invited him in. Brad strode in and sat in Luke’s chair. He said, “As you may know, Justin, I am a member of the Youth Corps and I work closely with Senator Clay. I’ve come to speak to you about your candidacy for the Corps. You are a candidate, right?”
“Yes, I am,” Justin said, certain that Brad came at the senator’s order.
“Good. Naturally, we want to know you better, and we want you to know more about us. Does that make sense to you?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Good. We want you to visit Clay Campus and see a little of what we do there. Is that all right with you?”
“It would be an honor,” Justin replied.
“Excellent. The campus will send a car for us. I will go with you as your guide.”
Elated at this prospect, Justin profusely thanked Brad and asked him to convey his gratitude to the senator.
“I certainly will,” Brad replied. “I’ll let you know the day and time of our visit. That’s it for now.”
He rose, walked to the door, turned, and said, “One last thing, at White Hall, Senator Clay only accepts Knights into the Youth Corps. At other schools around the nation, he accepts students only from the most selective student groups. I think you know what that means.”
“Yes, I do. My candidacy for the Corps depends on my being accepted by the Knights.”
“That is precisely correct,” Brad said coolly. “Good luck, Justin.”
Without waiting for a reply, he left the room.
Justin had stood when Brad stood up, and he remained standing, trying to understand what just happened. He was thrilled at the invitation. He was amazed that Senator Clay would send a car for him. That a future Knight president, and current Corps member, would come along as his personal guide was also wonderful. But this last wonder Justin had to attribute to Hunter’s wish to investigate him further.
Justin sent a text to his mother and brother with a moderate version of what just happened. But that moderate version was enough to enflame the hopes and imagination of Joey, who in rapid fire sent back text after text with questions, hopes, congratulations, and speculations. His mother expressed herself with more cautious joy and congratulations.
With all this, Justin forgot about evil Randy. He still wanted to escape, not to nurse his wounds, but to savor positive events. He packed a water bottle, compass, and energy bar. He picked up the book and almost put it in his backpack. But it was too heavy for a long trek. He put it back on the shelf. Next, he proudly put on his White Hall windbreaker and cap, both powder blue and gold, and even indulged in a moment of self-admiration in the mirror.
He headed for the door, but it suddenly opened, and Luke entered with his parents. Justin had promised to meet them in the evening, but now impromptu introductions took place, and all expressed their joy at the sudden meeting. Luke explained that he thought Justin would be gone by now. Justin smiled and explained that he had had an unexpected visit, but was delighted to meet Luke’s parents.
Luke’s father, Dr. Matthew Tester, taught physics at Cal Tech in Pasadena and also worked for NASA at the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Like his son, he was serious but friendly. Luke’s mother, Claire Tester, had authored a well-known series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New England. More outgoing and talkative than her husband, she was delighted to hear that Justin’s mother was an aspiring novelist. “I must meet her someday,” Claire Tester said. “Send her my sincere greetings and let me know if I can help her in any way. I mean it.”
These were welcome words. Justin promised to convey her message. Luke’s parents then suggested that they all go hiking together. The Testers were enthusiastic trekkers and preferred the quiet mountains to the noisy events on campus. “Unless, of course,” Luke said, “you want to be alone, Justin.”
Justin did prefer to walk alone, but Luke was his friend, and his parents had shown him kindness. He could not refuse them. He told them how happy he was to have their company. So, it was settled. The whole party walked to the west, up to nearby Sugar Hollow Reservoir, a mirror lake ringed by wooded hills and backed by Blue Ridge Mountains. Clear water columns rushed over the reservoir dam. Dr. Tester took pictures, but mercifully did not ask the others to pose in them.
