Apr 16, 2021

THE AMERICANS: EPILOGUE

PAIGE AND HENRY

Previously: Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings escaped to Canada, then to Russia. Paige chose to stay in America. Henry knew nothing of his parents' lives until Stan Beeman found him at college and explained the situation to him.

For most of an hour Paige watched Henry on the soccer field. She was impressed at how good he was even though she wasn't a fan. She waited out of sight until practice was over and the players were leaving the field. She made her way around the field to get behind him, not wanting him to see her until she was ready.

And for the hundredth time she wondered, and worried, what his reaction would be. Would he be angry at her, thinking she left with their parents? Or would he be happy to see her?

Twice she started to go to him, but stopped. The first time because he started talking to an athletic looking young woman, a student no doubt, and maybe his girlfriend? The second time, she lost her nerve, but when he started to leave, she stepped up behind him.

"Henry," she said. "Hey. It's me."

Henry quickly turned around, recognizing her voice. Before he spoke he looked around, obviously looking to see if his parents were there.

"It's just me," she said. "How are you?"

"I though you were in Russia," he replied with anger in his voice.

"No, I didn't go. I couldn't. I didn't want to live in Russia, and I don't speak the language. This is my home. And I couldn't just leave you here by yourself."

"Really? So where have you been for the past three months? I don't remember seeing you around anywhere."

"I know, and I'm really sorry. But I had some things I had to do first."

"Such as?"

"I needed to get a job, find someplace to live . . . ."

"You couldn't stay in our house? Our old house? I'm sure there is plenty of room with them gone."

Paige shook her head. "The FBI went through it. They took just about everything out and locked it up. There was no way I'd dare go back there.''

For a long and uncomfortable time neither spoke, not sure of what to say. Finally, Henry asked, "Have you heard from them?"

Paige shook her head again. "No. And I don't know if I ever will. Maybe someday, a letter, when things between our country and theirs calm down."

Then he was angry again. "How could they do that to me? Leave me here all alone? I thought they loved me. They said they did when they called!" The anger was turning to sadness.

"They do love you. They love both of us, but they had to go."

"And they couldn't have taken me?"

"Would you really have gone? Just up and leave everything to go to a country you don't know, and don't speak the language? Leave all your friends?"

Henry was momentarily speechless. Then, "Why are you defending them? They're spies, and traitors to their country!"

"Henry, this wasn't their country. They were born in Russia. That was . . . ."

"No! No! I don't want to hear that shit! They lived here for what – twenty years? How could this not be their country?"

Paige took a deep breath. "Okay, Mom and I talked about this, some. You know how in school we always read about how terrible the Soviet Union was? How they wanted to bomb America and take over the world? Mom said they heard the same thing about America. And she and Dad volunteered to come here to try to keep something like that from happening. Everything, every weapon America had that would make them think they could bomb Russia and win, Mom and Dad had to try to make sure things were, even, I guess."

"I don't believe that! America would never start a war with Russia, not with both countries having atomic bombs."

"No, I suppose they wouldn't. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't do other stuff to try to cripple the Soviet Union."

"Like what?"

Paige hesitated, unsure of what she could, or should tell Henry. "Okay. I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I guess it doesn't matter now."

"What?"

"One of their missions was about some kind of super bug American scientists were trying to create that was immune to pesticides. And they were going to release them all over Russia to wipe out all the food that farmers were growing. Do you know how many millions of innocent people would starve to death? Men, women and children! And it was their job to get hold of those bugs, or maybe the eggs, and get them back to Russia so their scientists could find a way to kill them."

"I don't believe that either. America wouldn't DO that!"

"Henry, you don't know what the politicians would do. You heard President Reagan, he called the Soviet Union an Evil Empire. Why wouldn't they do everything they could to kill as many Russian people as possible to bring the country to its knees?"

There was no answer Henry could think of, so he changed the topic. "You knew they were spies, didn't you? Of course you did. Stan said you left with them, so you had to know!"

"Yes, I knew, they told me just after I turned seventeen."

"So why didn't they tell me?"

"They didn't want you to know. I'm not sure why, maybe because they thought you were too young. Or maybe they didn't want you to get mixed up in – everything. So many times I wish they hadn't told me. But I pushed them. I wanted to know why Mom and Dad took all those the late night trips. And I wanted to know all the secrets I knew they were keeping from me, from us. I knew it couldn't have had anything to do with their travel agency."

"Did anyone else know? Obviously, Stan didn't. Did you ever tell Matthew?"

"Oh, god no! He would have told Mr. Beeman for sure. Then they would have gone to prison, and I don't know what would have happened to us. That's why I had to break up with Matthew." Paige hesitated. "But I did tell Pastor Tim. And he told his wife. That was the biggest mistake of my life! You don't know how worried Mom and Dad were, just hoping he wouldn't tell, well, anybody, like the police, or the FBI."

"Is that why they got so friendly with them? And why you got Baptized?"

"Yes to the first. But no to the second. I wanted to be Baptized. I just wanted to be part of something - bigger than myself. I know you don't understand. They didn't."

Before Henry could grill her any more, Paige hurriedly asked, "So how have you been? Was that girl your girlfriend? Do you have many friends? How are your grades?"

"I'm fine, now. But after Stan told me about – you know, I was in a bad place. I didn't care about anything or anyone. I started skipping classes, I missed tests, I quit soccer. I just didn't give a shit about anything. I even thought about quitting college, but I didn't have anyplace to go. The tuition is paid up for two more semesters, so I stayed here."

"So what changed? You're playing soccer again, I see. And you are very good at it."

"Stan happened. If it weren't for him I don't know where I would be. I guess I'd end up like those homeless people you see everywhere, pushing a grocery cart, and going into some shelter to stay warm in the winter. He saved me."

"I'm so glad he was there. When we were leaving, I asked him to take care of you. I'm happy he did."

"Why did you all have to leave? After all those years, surely they knew how to – not get caught."

"I'm not sure. Somehow, the FBI found out about them and we had to go or go to prison." Paige hesitated again, for so long Henry had to prompt her to keep talking. "I don't know if I should tell you this, but they did get caught, by Mr. Beeman."

"He never said anything about that!"

"Probably because he had his gun on them. And he was so mad they were the spies they were looking for, I really thought he was going to shoot Dad! And maybe even Mom. But Dad talked and talked to him for I don't know how long, trying to convince him to let us go."

"Which I guess he did."

"He did. Even now I'm not sure why. Maybe because he knew you and I would have no one to take care of us if they went to jail."

"But you didn't go with them."

"No. When we got on the train, I told them I was going to look for our seats, then I got off again. Like I told you, I didn't want to go to Russia, and I didn't want to leave you here by yourself."

"You know, Stan and I have dinner together once or twice a week. And sometimes we just hang out, watch a game or go to a movie. What if you joined us sometime? I'm sure he'd like to see you."

"Oh, I don't think he would like that at all. It would just remind him that I was part of their - spy stuff."

"You sure? I don't think he'd think that at all."

"Maybe someday. But not now. It's way too soon."

"Can I tell him you're still here, and I saw you?"

"Sure, I guess that can't hurt."

Paige looked around. "I'd like to stay longer but I have to be to work in a couple of hours."

"What kind of work?

"Waitressing in a very trendy, upscale restaurant. The pay's not bad, but the tips are really good."

"So that's it? No college? Your just going to be a waitress for the rest of your life?"

"I hope not. I'm taking a couple of classes at night at a junior college. I know, it'll take me a long time, but once I get my Associate degree, I'm hoping I can get a better paying job. Then I want to take more night classes at a four year school to get my Bachelor's. And then maybe someday I'll go after my Masters."

"So just where is this 'trendy, upscale restaurant' I noticed you failed to tell me the name of?"

"Believe it or not, it's in Washington. But nowhere near where we used to live. Its way on the other side of the city."

Paige hugged Henry, and he hugged her back, a very long hug.

"You take care of yourself." Henry told her. "Do you have a number where I can call you?"

"No phone yet. Still saving up for the deposit. But you'll be hearing from me, a lot. I know where you live, you know. And you take care of yourself as well. And if you want to, you can tell Mr. Beeman I said hello. And that I'm sorry about him and Dad losing their best friends."

With one more quick hug, Paige turned away to walk back to the bus station, tears in her eyes, not seeing the tears in Henry's.

The End