Heads You Win

Alex knew he’d made a mistake the moment he stepped into the oak-paneled hall and joined a long queue of guests waiting to be greeted by their host. He wanted to turn around, go back to his hotel, and change into the more conservative suit, but then he would have been late. He wasn’t sure which would cause more offense. He couldn’t help noticing that several of the guests were turning to take a second look at him.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Alex,” said Lowell, when he finally reached the front of the queue. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“It was kind of you to invite me, sir.”

“Lawrence, Lawrence,” his host whispered, before turning to greet his next guest. “Good evening, senator.”

Alex made his way through to a large drawing room packed with guests, almost all of the men wearing dinner jackets. He grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter before disappearing behind a large marble pillar in one corner of the room, from where he stared at a painting by someone called Pollock. He didn’t move or attempt to speak to anyone, until a gong sounded, when he made sure he was among the last to enter the dining room. He was surprised to find he’d been placed on the top table, between an Evelyn on his left and a Todd on his right.

Alex quickly sat down, relieved that at least no one could now see his bell-bottom trousers.

“How do you know Lawrence?” asked the young woman on his left, after grace had been delivered by the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston.

Alex found himself stuttering for the first time in his life. “I served … I served under Lieutenant Lowell in Vietnam.”

“Ah yes, Lawrence mentioned that he’d invited you, but he wasn’t sure if you’d come.”

Alex was already wishing he hadn’t.

“And what do you do now, Alex?”

“I own a string of pizza parlors,” he blurted out, immediately regretting his words.

“I’ve never eaten a pizza,” she said, which Alex didn’t find hard to believe. After a long silence, he asked, “And how do you know Lieutenant Lowell?”

“He’s my brother.” Another long silence followed before Evelyn turned to the person on her left and began telling him when she would be returning to her villa in the south of France.

When the first course was served, Alex was uncertain which knife and fork to pick up from the large array in front of him. He followed Evelyn’s lead, before turning to the man on his right, who said, “Hi, Todd Halliday,” and shook him by the hand.

“How do you know Lawrence?” asked Alex, hoping he wasn’t his brother.

“We were at Choate together,” said Todd.

“And are you also in banking?” asked Alex, as he had no idea who or what Choate was.

“No. I manage a small investment company that specializes in start-ups. And you?”

“I own a couple of pizza parlors, and have my eye on a third site. We’re not Pizza Hut yet, but it can only be a matter of time.”

“Are you looking for any capital?”

“No,” said Alex. “I’ve just sold my old company for over a million, so I won’t be needing any outside finance.”

“But if you’re hoping to rival Pizza Hut, the right partner could speed the whole process up, and if you were interested…”

Todd wasn’t able to complete his sentence as he was interrupted by a familiar figure whom Alex immediately recognized, who rose from his place to propose Lawrence’s health. Alex admired the relaxed way the senior senator from Massachusetts addressed the gathering, without once referring to a note, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the woman seated next to the senator, whom he’d just seen on the cover of a glossy magazine in his hotel. He only wished he looked half as good in sky blue.

When the senator sat down to warm applause, Lawrence rose to reply. “I’m delighted,” he began, “that so many of my family and friends have been able to join me this evening to celebrate my thirtieth birthday. I’m particularly honored that Teddy was able to break away from his busy schedule to propose my health. I hope that one day, and in the not too distant future, he’ll consider standing as the Democratic candidate for president.”

Several of the guests joined in the applause, which allowed Lawrence the chance to turn to the next page of his speech.

“I am equally delighted to welcome to my home the man who made tonight possible, because if he hadn’t saved my life, one thing is for sure, this party would not be taking place. As you all know, when I was serving in Vietnam, I was wounded and could have been left for dead, but fortunately my second in command didn’t hesitate to take my place, and because of his leadership and courage, not only was an entire Vietcong unit wiped out, but he didn’t leave the battlefield until every American soldier had been rescued. As a result of his actions that day, Staff Sergeant Alex Karpenko was not only awarded the Silver Star, but made it possible for me to deliver this speech tonight.”