50th ANNIVERSARY REUNION
Chancellor: So, before we move to the more informal part of the evening, I would once again like to thank our Development Office for organizing this fantastic 'do'. Hands up, anyone, who has met someone from their class that they haven't seen for decades? - pause - Okay, there are a lot! Okay, again, hands up if you can't believe how old they look? - laughter - So for Marta Martinez and her development office people, let's have a round of applause, for organizing this great event! - applause - Of course, your applause is permission for Ms. Martinez to hit you up for sponsoring a bequest or endowment for the Academy! - laughter -
I'll let you in on a secret, when you're the sponsor of the largest endowment - like I am - they let you be Chancellor! - laughter - So, open your wallets, people!
On behalf of the headmaster, the Regents, and all the staff, I wish to thank you for your support for quality education, here in New Hampshire. Our alumni/ae are now in the widest range of professions imaginable…. 2017 is a good year to be an alum of this place. Speaking of, academy memorabilia has been sorted by class, and I'd like to thank the Alumni Association for the tremendous, archival and positively archaeological work in putting all that together, arranged on the tables along the walls. Let's give them a hand. - applause -
One note that the Alumni have passed me is for the 1989 graduating year, they are short on material from then.
Okay, time for me to stop talking, enjoy your meal - enjoy all those old fossils from your graduating year! But be careful, that nerd from your sophomore year, he or she is now a captain of industry!
While we're at it, the servers this evening are the students of the 2017 graduating class - let's give them a hand! - applause - Just a note - there's no 'tipping' the wait staff tonight, this is their parting thanks to you, the alumni/ae of St Edwards. But please be patient if your table isn't being immediately served. I want you all to stop these grads of 2017, and ask about them…. maybe invite them to sit with you when dinner has been served, but before they clean up.
So, people, friends of St. Edwards Academy, please enjoy this evening! - applause -
TABLE FOURTEEN
Wanda Chu: Hey David, how on earth have you been? What is it, 15 years?
David Sato: We both left in 2001, so that makes it 16 years. How have you been?
Chu: Where's your better half?
Sato: Ayame? - silence - She passed…
Chu: … Oh, I am so sorry…..
Sato: ….. no, don't be. Almost ten years now. It was for the best. The cancer, it was brutal.
- Marta Martinez joined the table -
Martinez: Hi folks, I hope you're enjoying the meal and the reconnecting…..
Sato: It's a great evening, Marta. It's genius putting these reunions into your office…. and here you are, schmoozing with the tables! You're a natural!
Martinez: Well, Mr. Sato, I just gave the Chancellor hell, you more than anyone else was responsible for this Academy being on the solid financial footing it is. There were bumps, to be sure, the end of the 80's, you steered the ship of state through some muddy waters…..
Sato: Hey, Marta, this evening is a time of celebration…
Chu: - pause - Hoe-lee sheeeet!
Sato: Wanda! In all these years, I never once heard you…
Chu: Don't turn, don't turn…. guess who just came in? - silence - Henry Jennings! An old Henry Jennings!
Sato: We're all old, Wanda. - pause, turning - There's only a few from his class….. - standing, calling out and waving - Hey Henry! - pause - Hey Marta, can we get another plate here? This I cannot resist, I'm not letting this slide.
Chu (quietly scolding): David!
Sato: It's been almost 30 years, Wanda! Aren't you even interested?
- Henry Jennings was summoned to come to Table 14, on the way he waved to some far off acquaintances -
Sato: Hey, Henry!
Jennings: Mr. Sato. Ms. Chu. Wow. I almost didn't come. These reunions, they're nerve wracking.
Sato: Well, wait until you're our age, Henry. Hey… sit, we have a place for you here…..
- Henry, he sat. The table went quiet -
Sato (breaking the ice): So, Henry, what are you up to these days? Me, I'm retired. - Marta Martinez returned with a meal, she placed it in front of Henry, then sat herself - I have been retired since about 2002.
Jennings: What do retired Tuition and Billings officers do, Mr. Sato?
Sato: Mainly I watch TV. I also volunteer as a board member for every non-profit in New Hampshire…. well, just about. These days, though, I refuse to be the financial guy…. but, say, Henry, what are you up to?
Jennings: Well, this and that.
Chu: We lost track of you, Henry. That was quite the time. - pause - Did you keep up with that FBI fellow, Agent 'Beckman'? He and I had some backs and forths…. to be honest, I followed, back then, what little the media reported about your 'plight'. Then it broke out again in 2010. I thought of you… all those deep cover Russians….. that was only 7 years ago.
Jennings: Beeman, Stan Beeman. - pause - Ya, we were tight. Stan died a few years ago. That one was quite the blow. I gave the eulogy at his service, not even his son came…..
- silence -
Martinez: - pause - Are you 'the' Henry Jennings? - she drew awkward stares from Chu and Sato -
Jennings: Yes, ma'am, I am 'that' Henry Jennings. - to Sato and Chu - I really do apologize for the upset I caused. Is Coach Bowman here? I don't think I could face him…
Chu: ….Henry, it was not your doing. From what I heard, you had been as sandbagged as we were. Is it true that President Reagan, that he pardoned you, even though you'd not been charged with anything?
Sato: - to Marta - The Academy, Marta, it was closed until September 1988. Take a look around, there's few from either that year or the next….
Chu: Well, don't put that onto Henry…..
Jennings: No, it's all right. It's fine. Even Mr. Beeman got a pardon, not even sure why he needed one. They said all that happened because we saved 'Reagan's legacy' in opening up to Russia. Other than that, I have no idea… Mr. Beeman just said to leave it alone….
- silence -
Sato: Well, no deflecting the question, son. Please tell me, what are you up to these days?
- pause -
Jennings: Well, there's a lot of it I cannot talk about…..
Sato: If you don't mind me saying, Henry, Christmas 1987 was more than just a disaster for our varsity hockey team. By the way, Coach Bowman, he died a few years ago…. he never did get his regional championship.
Henry: Ms. Chu mentioned Stan Beeman. That man and his family meant everything to me back then. To be honest, I'm not sure I'm completely over it…. coming here was a big deal….
Chu: ….. as it is for everyone, Henry. Look around, guess how many people went on diets to prepare for this evening?
Sato (to Martinez): You know, if I remember correctly, St. Edwards Academy owes Mr. Beeman a refund on tuition. You may want to look into it. I don't think we ever remitted it to him. Of course, that's in 1988 dollars….
Chu: Seriously, Henry, maybe we can get together when it's not so anxious, for all of us - just being here. But seriously, what is life like for Henry Jennings? Whatever became of your family?
Henry: Well… - cough - Elizabeth and Philip are still in Russia, in a city between Moscow and Belarus.
Chu: 'Elizabeth' and 'Philip'!?
Henry: Yeah. My parents.
Chu: Have you made contact with them?
Henry: Well….. - pause - …..no, not realy. Although someone from the production company I consulted with sought them out. The producers said they'd pay for me….. but, well, I declined.
Sato: Production company?
Henry: Ya…. - pause - it's a streaming TV series. I was hired as a consultant. I got their attention because in the 2000's, I'd helped out the FBI with something called, Operation Ghost Stories. Actually, that was the first paid work I'd had…. things until then were pretty low.
Sato: Really? I think I know the show you're talking about…. I don't have that streaming service….
At that, Henry Jennings stood, faced the door. He stood frozen watching a middle-aged woman enter the hall, she was anxiously scanning the 100s of people, she being completely lost.
Chu: You all right, Henry? - following his gaze to the door - Is that someone from your year? Is that Chris?
- silence -
Henry: No. - pause - I think that's my sister, Paige.
Wanda Chu got up and approached the woman, welcomed her to the St. Edwards Academy 50 Year Reunion.
Chu: Welcome! Are you - by any chance - Paige Jennings?
Paige: I am, I don't go by 'Jennings' any more.
Chu: Follow me, I think I know who you're looking for.
THE END