Future Plans

After Representative Underwood finished answering the reporters' questions, he left the gym with the principal and the others to tour the school. The rest of the crowd gradually dispersed. Taking the opportunity, Song Ya asked Dr. Michelle for advice about studying and choosing a college.

"Besides keeping your grades up, you should take part in more extracurricular activities. Compared to most people, you already have a major advantage. Just don't let the public see you as a stereotypical street kid."

"...Actually, it's all right. Negative behavior during your teenage years is easy for people to forgive. The public likes superheroes, and they also like stories about ordinary people overcoming bad habits and redeeming themselves. There's no contradiction between the two. In fact, the latter means he has the extraordinary willpower to overcome himself—he's still a superhero. But that's for later. It won't help with your applications to top schools."

"There's no need to rush into graduating early. Use that extra time to build up your résumé."

"Be cautious about political activities. You can take part in more civil rights and charity work. Our organization can help you with that, though you'll have to make the effort yourself first..."

"We're holding an essay contest for teenagers about writing a letter to Mandela. You could use it to practice. Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing—send it straight to me, and I'll review it first. If your ideas are good, you might be selected for our youth program in South Africa... Like I said, these activities will look great on your résumé. Civil rights groups and the Donkey Party are both very willing to give young African Americans like you opportunities."

They chatted as they walked, and Song Ya saw Michelle off at the parking lot. He could tell he'd made a very good first impression. She'd patiently offered him some sensible advice.

Once they were in Hayden's Dodge Dynasty, Hayden praised him. "Your speech today was perfect! I couldn't have done that when I was your age."

"We're proud of you, son." Aunt Susie pulled Song Ya into a hug.

"This kid's going to be somebody," Hayden chimed in.

"Thanks. I just read from the script. I didn't even write a lot of it myself." Song Ya tried to be modest. Plenty of people around him thought he'd become somebody important. Old Joe had said something similar earlier, too. But there was no point in getting smug about it. A time traveler who didn't become somebody important would be a complete failure.

Hayden started the car, then suddenly laughed. "Did someone teach you what to say to Underwood just now? That line, 'I'll donate to you.' Ha! I noticed Underwood froze for a second, then burst out laughing. You could tell he liked it. Most people would say, 'I'll vote for you,' not, 'I'll donate to you'..."

"No one taught me that..."

Song Ya pulled a pen and checkbook from his pocket. "I'm just a straightforward guy. If I really support someone, I put my money where my mouth is. Uh... how much should I write?"

"The personal limit is two hundred dollars. A hundred or more would be appropriate," Hayden replied.

Song Ya wrote in a hundred and fifty, signed his name, tore off the check, and handed it to Hayden.

"I'll take it to Underwood's campaign office tomorrow." Ever since his last deal with Daniel—a thousand dollars up front and a hundred and fifty thousand later—Hayden's opinion of Song Ya had improved considerably. To serve him better, Hayden had passed some less important acts on to others and occasionally went out of his way to flatter him.

Song Ya was generally happy with Hayden, except that a ten-percent commission was a bit much. I can't give him ten percent on the next contract... he thought, watching the back of Hayden's head as he drove.

"Have you been working on any new songs lately?" Hayden asked.

"No..." Without his cheat-like inspiration kicking in, Song Ya had no new songs to work on. He was starting to worry that the inspiration might have been a one-time thing... That would be a problem. Should he go around "looking for inspiration"? If Connie hadn't taken him to the Thrift Shop last time, he'd never have found that song.

"I've got enough credits for this semester. I'm thinking of stopping going to school after a while," Song Ya said. "Have you made any progress on transferring me?"

"Uh..." Hayden hesitated. "Most schools with a lot of... African American students don't meet your requirements, and you don't want one that's too 'white.' As for private schools... you can't afford the good ones."

"I understand." Song Ya knew he was asking for a lot. "Keep looking. Just get it settled before the next semester starts."

"You're transferring schools?" Aunt Susie asked in surprise.

"I'm not the one transferring," Song Ya replied. "We're all moving out together, leaving the South Side."

"Why?" Aunt Susie still seemed reluctant.

"This school's terrible. Tony dropped out, and Connie's grades aren't good either. And I'm going to get... uh, richer and richer. If I stay at this school, I'm afraid something will happen. You want Emily to go to a good middle school someday, too, don't you, Aunt Susie?" Song Ya looked out the car window. A crowd of people had gathered around a burning barrel of waste oil, drinking and warming themselves over the flames. He could handle the school's little punks for now, but sooner or later the violent drug dealers would notice him. They'd do anything for even a little drug money. "Besides, Old Joe just told me the South Side will be at war before long. It's going to get more and more dangerous here."

"At war?" Hayden didn't understand. "Here?"

"A gang war, probably over territory." Song Ya was glad he'd earned enough to leave in time. "Hayden, get me a pager. From now on, let's use the phone as much as possible. And you should avoid coming to the South Side. Your car's too new."

"Okay, I understand. Honestly, I get nervous every time I drive near your place." Hayden was happy to oblige.

"This is such a big decision..." Aunt Susie hesitated. "Where will we go? And what about the welfare office?"

"Don't worry about welfare anymore. I'll be able to support you all." Song Ya had already worked out their plans for the future. "First we'll find a good middle school, then rent a place nearby. We'll also find Connie a community college. We can't afford a better college."

"You're such a good kid." Aunt Susie hugged Song Ya, crying hard. "I always knew you were different from the other NGers. Tony's been hanging around Little Lowry for so long, and he's never brought a penny home."

"Ya Li's a good kid," Hayden added. "Not many people would do this for their family. Even among us white folks, lots of people leave home at eighteen for the big city and never go back. When their parents get old, they just send them to a nursing home..."

"Maybe it's because I'm half Chinese..." Song Ya patted Aunt Susie's back. She was so heavy that if she hugged him for much longer, she'd crush him.

"What about Allie?" Aunt Susie let go of him and sat up straight, wiping the tears from her face.

"Allie? How do you know about us...?" Song Ya was startled.

"Hmph. Allie would love the whole world to know she's your girlfriend. How could I not hear about it?" Aunt Susie looked pleased with herself.

Song Ya sighed. "What else can we do? Break up, I guess. We won't be going to the same school anymore."

"You little rascal!"

Aunt Susie lightly smacked Song Ya on the arm. "I thought you'd be a thoroughly good man."

"We're just boyfriend and girlfriend. We're not married, so breaking up is normal."

Song Ya shrugged. I can only blame it on that other half of my Black blood, he thought.