America 1982-Chapter 29: Father’s Slight Abnormality

Bessie’s foster family was located in the residential district at the heart of Providence, surrounded by tranquility and lush greenery, adjacent to a park and the Providence River.

The house, with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, boasted an English architectural style. In addition to a garden and a swing set, the backyard had a small pathway leading to the riverbank. On summer days, the family could row their boat on the glistening waters and go fishing.

When the Hawk family trio—Tommy, his father, and brother—arrived, Bessie had already dressed up in the same pink Betty Boop outfit as Tony and was holding a Diaper Gang stuffed toy. Accompanied by her foster mom, Monica, and two pet dogs, she waited outside, excitedly waving at the Hawk family’s pickup truck.

As Tony and Tommy parked their car in the public space, they couldn’t help feeling slightly embarrassed. Looking around, not a single vehicle in the entire residential district resembled their blue-collar favorite, a powerful pickup truck with dual purposes. In its place were luxury SUVs with surfboards on top or yachts hitched to the back. Without any external reminder, they could merely step out of their truck and immediately sense their profound mismatch with the surrounding neighborhood.

When Colin Hawk stepped out of the vehicle, Bessie shouted loudly, "Daddy!"

She then ran over like a sprightly, sunny deer and leapt into the comforting arms of her father!

Colin Hawk lifted Bessie affectionately, raising her above his head and spinning in place, "Bessie, my precious daughter! How was your week?"

"She insisted on wearing the Betty Boop outfit," foster mom Monica said, approaching slowly from behind without interrupting the loving embrace but speaking with a smile beside them, "And she was adamant about changing her morning park plan to the afternoon. I didn’t understand at first, but when I saw Tony and Tommy, I realized why she was so persistent."

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Hopkins, and thank you for taking care of Bessie," were the synchronous greetings from the father, Tony, and Hawk.

The woman in front of them, 42 years old, was a senior partner at a local accounting firm. Her husband, Redd Hopkins, ran a dental clinic. Their biological daughter had grown up, attending New York University on a full scholarship. Suffice it to say, the two pet dogs owned by this family lived a more luxurious life than the trio from the Hawk family at that moment.

After all, the dogs were pampered with biweekly baths attended by pet hospital staff and monthly check-ups by a veterinarian. In contrast, since their father lost his job at General Motors Ford, the brothers Hawk could no longer remember what unlimited hot water and dental care felt like.

"Daddy, why are only Tony and Tommy wearing the jacket I talked about?" Bessie giggled in her father’s arms, then examined the three of them with her soft, bright eyes, full of curiosity.

"OK~ down you come, my precious daughter," said Colin Hawk carefully, setting down his daughter and then handed his jacket over to Tony, revealing the T-shirt underneath. From the front, it looked like an ordinary white tee, but once he doffed his jacket, the back revealed a Betty Boop and Diaper Gang doodle with childlike, slightly crooked lettering:

"Bessie Hawk and her family."

Monica covered her mouth to keep from guffawing and then, with great emotion, exclaimed, "Oh, you printed the drawing Bessie gave you on the T-shirt? That’s wonderful, Mr. Hawk, I’m so moved."

"Do you like it, Bessie? This is a drawing by my precious daughter. Of course, I’d carry it close to me," boasted Colin Hawk proudly, twirling in front of Bessie to revel in her astonished expression.

Taking advantage of the moment he turned his back to Bessie, the father didn’t forget to glance at Tony and Tommy, especially to Tommy, adopting the disdainful tone he used in the car, "Family first, huh?"

Tommy Hawk could only shrug and gave his father a conceding gesture: you win.

Right next to the residential area was the park, and Bessie was eager to show off her Diaper Gang to everyone there.

Monica handed the pre-prepared tote bag filled with vitamins, drinking water, cookies, snacks, yogurt, and other children’s essentials to Colin Hawk and reminded him of the precautions for Bessie. However, Colin Hawk hesitated for a moment before turning to call Tommy Hawk, who was lightly tossing his sister up in the air with Tony:

"Son, come over here. I had some insomnia last night and I’m worried I won’t remember everything clearly, so come and listen with me."

Leaving Tony to play with Bessie, Tommy walked over puzzled, and Monica looked at Tommy, "The weather is a bit dry today, so observe her lips every half hour or so. If they’re a bit dry, make sure she drinks water, and there’s a children’s lip balm inside. At four o’clock, remind her to take her vitamins so she’ll..."

After spending a few minutes listening to Monica’s serious instructions, the father and sons finally set off for the park with Bessie.

Tommy Hawk wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or not, but it seemed like his father was subtly trying to let him spend more time alone with Bessie, which he found somewhat strange.

After all, Bessie was Colin Hawk’s pride and joy, holding a place in his heart that absolutely couldn’t be matched by his two sons. Previously, to ensure all the time was spent accompanying Bessie, he wouldn’t even let Tony and himself come for visits.

With his doubts in mind, taking advantage of the moment Colin Hawk took Bessie to buy ice cream, Tommy asked Tony, "Tony, do you think it’s possible that Dad has a terminal illness and is about to kick the bucket?"

"Really?" Tony turned to look at their father in the distance, then looked at Tommy with a bewildered expression. "I don’t think so."

"Why? How can you be that sure?" Tommy eyed his brother skeptically.

Tony shrugged, "I don’t think anyone who’s about to meet God because they’re supposedly dying of some terminal illness would still be in the mood to go to a strip club to drink. Last night, after working overtime until the early hours, he went to a strip club with friends and got drunk out of his mind. It was me who got a call from the club and had to pick him up and drive him home."

"Okay, your reasoning is solid. Hopefully, I’m just overthinking it." Seeing the certainty in Tony’s expression, Tommy said softly.

Tony, curious, asked, "Overthinking what? What did Dad do to make you curse him with an impending death? Did he do a ’five-finger shuffle’ on your posters but didn’t clean up properly?"

"No, I gave the posters to Dennis. Haven’t you noticed that Dad has cleared a lot of time today to let me play alone with Bessie? It’s unusual; before, he’d practically glue her to the top of his head with superglue." Tommy shared his doubts with Tony.

Tony nodded slightly and then patted Tommy on the shoulder, "Maybe he just wants you to spend more time with your little sister before you leave for college."

"Before I leave for college, I will bring Bessie back home," Tommy exhaled, as if he was speaking to Tony but also to himself.

Bessie was waving her ice cream from afar, calling out for her brothers. Tony jogged slowly toward Bessie and looked back at Tommy, smiling as he said:

"I believe you’d become an X-Man and make coffee for Professor Charles Xavier in the bathroom way more than that statement of yours."