“Nope,” Grant snickered. “But, why am I telling you this?”
“What is it that he wants you to do?” Jack asked.
Grant smiled. “Are you kidding me? He’s been planning my presidential campaign since the day I was born…or at least since I was two because that’s when his big dreams for his golden boy died. Unfortunately, in the general’s biased opinion, the only road to the White House is a straight shot through West Point.”
Jack nodded. “I can respect the fact that a man of your father’s rank would be loyal, and even partial, to the Army.”
“He’s the most hooah guy I know, for sure,” Grant said, sliding his plate away from him. “When my parents got married, they agreed that my mom would name their daughters while Dad was responsible for naming his sons. It’s no coincidence that all three of his sons are named after West Point graduates…but, not just any West Point graduates, of course…West Point graduates who achieved the rank of general and went on to become presidents.”
Jack laughed.
Grant shrugged. “My dad just has an incredible amount of respect for his alma matter, and he wants the best for me, so, in his mind, it’s the perfect fit.”
“What is it that you have against West Point?” Jack asked.
“That seems to be the common misperception,” Grant shook his head insistently. “Just because I don’t choose to attend said school doesn’t mean that I have some personal vendetta against it. I have no issue with the school itself…not morally, academically, etc. I think the United States Military Academy is an institution that should be held in the highest regard because the cadets who graduate are some of the finest young men and women our country has to offer. West Point prides itself on saying that the history they teach was made by the people they taught, and that is really incredible to be able to boast such historically relevant graduates. I mean reading a list of alumni is like reading a who’s who of American history: Grant, Eisenhower, Patton, Lee, Jackson, Bradley, MacArthur, Moore and Schwarzkopf, just to name a few. I have nothing but respect, admiration and intense gratitude for anyone who chooses to dedicate themselves to the defense of this great nation, but I also know that it is not everyone’s calling to serve in the same capacity. My most significant hesitating factor about bucking family tradition and steering clear of West Point is that, by not attending, it would be seen as grounds to question my patriotism. I’ve had the opportunity to study world politics extensively, and my knowledge of other governments and how they operate has certainly made me a more ardent patriot. I’m proud to be an American; I’m proud to be the son of one of the most decorated and well-respected officers in our nation’s history. He’s proud to be part of the Long Gray Line, and I’m proud to say that, because of my father’s dedication to actively mentoring future officers, I have had the opportunity, on more than one occasion, to travel to West Point and meet with college-age boys who traded in the traditional college experience and opted to endure the intense training required of a cadet before he becomes a commissioned officer. I have been to a football game in Colorado Springs and a basketball game in Annapolis and met young people full of class and conviction whose commitment to service I deeply appreciate. I would be proud to serve in any branch of our nation’s military because I love this country…and the thing I love the most is that, as an American, I have the freedom to choose the path that is right for me.”
“Have you ever told your father what you just told me?” Jack nodded.
“Those are just words,” Grant sighed. “Until I go out there and show him, that though I plan to take a different path to get there, all roads lead to the same place, then what I say means very little. My father has never been a fan of rhetoric; he’s a man of action, and, until I prove to him that I will succeed at taking advantage of the opportunities I have been given, what I say means very little to him. Some of the most brilliant men on Earth are the ones who fall farthest off track; Robert Hanssen and Theodore Kaczynski come to mind. Likewise, some of the most eloquent orators I have ever heard are those who spew nothing but hate and propaganda. The most brilliantly stated argument can be as wrong as the day is long. My dad is not a naïve man; he knows that potential plus opportunity does not necessarily equal an affirmative outcome. ”
“Sometimes you sound so much older than your age that it’s hard to remember you’re just eighteen years old,” Jack said, in awe of the boy who sat in front of him.
“Eighteen might be young, but it’s a critical time where decisions have to be made that will impact the course of the rest of your life,” Grant replied quickly. “Unfortunately, by eighteen, some of us have already made some bad choices that will stick with us for the rest of our lives.”
“And some of those things were the things that Paul brought to light today?” Jack asked quietly.
“His motives were wrong; his facts weren’t so off,” Grant shrugged. “If you knew me a little better, you would probably have a little more reservation about the idea of me hanging around with your daughter. You seem to judge me on the sole basis that I’m Nora’s son, but, I assure you I’m not the best example of her parenting prowess. She’s an angel of a woman who’s always tried her best, but what is it that country song says, I’m the only hell my mother ever raised!”
“I have no problems with you and Hailey being friends,” Jack said with a confident shake of his head. “I trust my daughter…and I trust you.”
“That right there shows how little you know about me,” Grant grinned.
Jack tossed a small stack of bills onto the table as he stood. “Just don’t disappoint me, okay?” he said in a tone to let Grant know that, while he meant business when it came to his baby girl, he thought an awful lot of the boy who had his eye on her.
“Maybe my dad will come and watch one of our games this season,” Grant said, as he and Jack walked back toward the school.
“That would mean a lot to you wouldn’t it?” Jack smiled.
“Listen,” Grant sighed, “I’m not going to cry on your shoulder over every difference of opinion my father and I have. I shouldn’t be talking about this with you…”
“Okay,” Jack shook his head, “but I’m here if you want to talk.”
“I’m not going to be the guy who gives you ammo against my dad,” Grant snapped. “It’s no secret that he and I aren’t really on the same page about things right now, and it would probably be pretty easy to get me to say some things about him that I would end up regretting later, but, one thing is certain, my parents are going to get back together. They always do. They have had to navigate through plenty of tough times in their lives, and they will find their way back together again. Their divorce won’t ever be finalized; my mom will never move on with you.”
“You can rest assured that anything you say to me is said in complete confidence,” Jack promised, wisely ignoring the reference to Nora.
“My dad’s a good guy,” Grant sighed. “He’s made some mistakes, but…”
“We all have,” Jack nodded.
“He’s done some amazing things,” Grant offered. “The guy has got some stories to tell. Of course, I’ve always had to be satisfied with hearing them come from other people. I guess he just isn’t comfortable in the role of hero.”
“That’s understandable,” Jack said as he and Grant approached the school.
“Yeah, I guess,” Grant shrugged.
“What is it that you see yourself doing after you graduate?” Jack asked curiously.
“If I’m being honest, I see myself eventually ending up back in Washington in some capacity,” Grant answered. “My dad pulled some strings, and I got to spend last spring semester living at the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence in Washington…I loved it.”
Jack smiled as he opened the door to the school. “It’s not much of a stretch for me to picture you as a lawyer on Capitol Hill; your sister is a lawyer, right?”
“Yes, Sir; she’s a defense attorney in North Carolina,” Grant said as he walked inside. “But she only defends the innocent, of course,” Grant snickered.
John Jordan walked from his office. “Coach, I just got a call from Doc Mason. It seems Paul has a broken nose.”
“He’ll live,” Jack nodded. He put his hand on Principal Jordan’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry about this, John. I will have this team whipped into shape if it’s the last thing I do.”
“I’m trusting you, Jack,” Principal Jordan called after him as Jack and Grant walked toward the gym.
Jack waved his hand in the air as if to say he had it under control.
“While my Dad was working at the Pentagon, I spent a lot of time playing ball,” Grant said when Jack tossed him a basketball out of the equipment closet. “In fact, in D.C. is where I’d say I truly fell in love with the game of basketball. I liked basketball from the time I was a kid because everywhere I went, the customs were different, the language was different, the food was different, but basketball was always the same. Amidst all the change, it was the constant in my life. I loved to watch it. I love to play it. My sister used to record NCAA and NBA games for me and mail them to me. I’d watch the same games over and over again, just studying them. But those courts in D.C.,” Grant shook his head, “those were good times. If I had never played on those courts, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. Those guys were tough, man. I was a lot younger than they were, and I was the only white kid in sight, but those guys didn’t care. I could play ball, and that was all that mattered to them. Before we moved to Washington, I would say I was an above average basketball player, but, when I left, I took a lot with me. ”
“What did they teach you?” Jack smiled as he watched Grant dribble the ball.
