'So the person who's body I took over is…named Alec Grant…he is…was the seventeen years old son of Paleontologist Doctor Alan Grant, and his highschool sweet heart who broke his heart and ran off to leave him to raise their son alone. My predecessor just finished high school and is currently helping on his father's dig site to earn some money before heading to trade school in Connecticut.' My tent starts to shake as the sound of a helicopter landing pulls me out of my memories.
'Sounds like John is here to make his offer…probably should make an appearance…' I think and grab my boots from the wooden floor of my tent and drop them on the floor to make sure nothing nasty didn't nest in them last night, swinging my feet off of the cot, pulling my boots on and lacing them up, exiting my large canvas tent, I spot my new father running to his camper.
I reach the door to his camper, just as he starts to shout, "What the hell do you think you're doing in here?!" Just as my hand is about to reach the door handle the sound of John Hammond popping the cork of a wine bottle, almost as loud as a .22 caliber rifle, making me duck down on reflex.
Shaking off my distraction I grab the door handle and pull the door open, just in time to see my dad with his arm raised, index finger pointing at Hammond.
"Hey, we were saving that!" I almost laugh at the outrage in his voice over a twenty dollar bottle of champagne.
"For today, I guarantee it." Hammond says in amusement, dad stomps towards him, finger pointed at his chest like a weapon, "Who in God's name do you think you are?!" Dad asks in a gruff voice.
If Hammond is bothered by Dad's attitude he doesn't show any indication of it, "He's John Hammond Dad!" I call out as I enter the trailer, "Yes, as the young man said I am John Hammond, and I'm delighted to finally meet you and your son in person Doctor Grant." John introduces himself and I can see recognition at the name but it's taking Dad a long time to try and figure out why he recognizes that name, while John grabs hold of his index finger and shakes it in greeting, jovially, before releasing the finger and blowing the dry dirt off of his hand that had transferred just by grabbing dad's finger, before walking away from him to a rag to wipe his hands off with.
"I can see my fifty thousand, a year has been well spent." John throws the knowledge of his money being donated to Dad's dig around for whatever reason.
'Hmm, the Limp is real…guess the pimp cane isn't just for show…wonder if one of the dinos took a bite out of him or if it's gout…you know might be able to make some money off of him by trying to heal him…and even if it doesn't work it'd be practice…'
I step out of the way as Ellie pulls open the door behind me, "Okay, who's the jerk?" Ellie asks in a mix of annoyance and anger.
Dad quickly moves to stop Ellie from saying more, "This is our Paleobotanist, Doctor Sattler." Dad quickly introduces Ellie to Hammond and then Hammond to Ellie, "Ellie, this is uh, Mr Hammond."
'Oh this is a lot more amusing to watch in person…' I think while leaning back against a bench.
Hammond lets out a short quick bark of a laugh, "I'm sorry about my dramatic entrance, Doctor Sattler." The man apologizes and takes Ellie's hand, shaking it, "It's an honor Mr.Hammond." Ellie says but Hammond talks over her, "But I'm in a wee bit of a hurry, will you have a drink? we don't want it to get warm."
Ellie starts bumbling through words while moving to get a set of drinking glasses, for them to drink from.
"No nonono, you go sit down, I know my way around the kitchen." Hammond shoes Ellie away and Ellie goes around the desks set up ing the middle of the trailer coming to stand by Dad.
They look at each other, both really taken aback by this guy's bravado, Dad sits down on a stool while Ellie leans back against a desk set behind her, both look to me, seemingly asking me for my opinion on what's going on I just shrug my shoulders and point to, Hammond who has turned around to face them as he dries the glasses, from the strainer.
"Well now, I'll get right to the point. I like ya…the three of you, I have this gift for people." John says and I internally cringe, at the looks that earns the man from Ellie and my Dad.
"You see, I have an island, off the coast of Costa Rica…leased it from the government and have spent the last five years setting up a kind of biological preserve down there." Hammond's excitement is palatable as he talks about his biological preserve.
"It's really just spectacular, spared no
expense you see…kt makes the one I have in Kenya look like a petting zoo, I have no doubt that once we become open to the public our attractions will drive the kids right out of their minds!"
"And what are those?" Dad asks and Ellie makes a snort of amusement and shoots me a wink.
"They're small versions of adults, honey." Ellie jokes earning a laugh from me and a dirty look from dad, 'Guess he's not too fond of the idea of having another kid, not that I blame him, getting stuck with me…my predecessor at such a young age, struggling to complete his college education and earn his doctorate all while taking care of an infant to toddler on his own.'
"I don't understand why you would want me to inspect a park for kids." Dad grumps and Ellie gives him a shoulder hug and plants a kiss against his cheek.
Hammond chuckles at both my dad's reaction and Ellie's, 'Huh, they don't make a bad couple..' I think
"Oh the park is not just for kids, but for everyone, we're going to open
next year." Hammond just glows with energy as he talks about Jurassic Park, not that I can blame the man.
Suddenly Hammond's face takes on a disgruntled expression, "That is unless the lawyers kill me, I don't
care for lawyers. You?" Hammond asks with a light scowl on his face.
" I, uh, don't really know any…we-" Dad starts to tell Hammond we haven't ever really had the need for one.
"Well, I'm afraid I do, there's this one, a particularly annoying pebble
in my shoe…he represents my investors you see, says they insist on outside opinions." Hammond scowls as he speaks about Donald Gennaro.
I can tell he's gotten dad's interest though as he asks, "What kind of opinions?
'The kind about dinosaurs…come on dad you're a paleontologist…what other worthwhile opinions could you have?'
"Not to put too fine a point on it, your kind. Let's face it, in your particular fields, you're the top minds. If I could just get you two to sign off on the park…and you
know…give a wee testimonial, I could get back on schedule…"
"Okay, and why would they care what we think?" Ellie asks while raising her arms in the air in a raising the roof gesture with a little bit of added flare, Dad reaches over and rests his hand on her left knee, it's closest to him.
"What kind of park is this?" Dad asks his interest tantamount in his voice, Hammond smiles, a cat that ate the canary smile, like Sylvester when he thinks he's eaten Tweety, at Dad's question.
"Well, you see…it's right up your alley." Hammond continues to smile while pouring a drink for dad and handing it to him.
"Look, why don't you three come on down for the weekend, I'd love to have the opinions of a paleobotanist and a young man on the cusp of adulthood as well." Hammond continues to say and pours a drink for Ellie and hands it to her.
"I've got a jet standing by at Choteau…" Hammond continues to talk as he jumps up and sits on the kitchen counter.
"I'm sorry, but no." Dad is immediately about to shoot it down and Ellie doesn't look like she disagrees with him.
"Hold on Dad, think about this…the man who is the largest contributor to your dig, a dig that you have at least four to six summers of work left to do…is offering you, A Paleontologist, and You Ellie A Paleobotanist…a trip to a reserve, a reserve where endangered wildlife is preserved…must be something pretty special to need the opinions of two people versed in long dead species…and I'm sure Mr.Hammond here isn't expecting you to do this for free, maybe he'll offer to fully fund your digs for the next five to ten years or create a trust fund with you and Ellie as Trustees and you can use the funds that way."
"Ahh, you are quite right young man
I can and will compensate Doctor Grant by setting up a trust to fully fund your dig for the next five years.
Doctor Sattler, I would be happy to pay you seventy five thousand dollars as well, and for the young man, I offer forty thousand enough to get started on an education…maybe even a doctorate…" Hammond offers throwing his money around and I'm surprised that I'm even being considered to receive money.
"I-" My dad looks at me for a few moments, "This would be an awfully inconvenient time…this is most likely my last summer with my son…around he's about to go off to Connecticut…"
"Very well then, I'll make sure there's enough in your trust to fund at least two more digs that will take as long as this one is projected to take to completion." Hammond sweetens the deal, 'Wow, this guy is really throwing around money…can he even afford to do something like that? I mean we're talking close to two million dollars…here for two more digs…'
Dad is about to shoot down the offer but Ellie elbows him hard in the ribs, 'Thank you Ellie.'
"We need this all in writing of course and I'd like to see at least Alec get what you have offered to him upfront, with you covering the taxes on the forty thousand dollars as well, but other than that where's the plane?"
'Oh Ellie you beautiful woman if Dad doesn't wifey you up and make you a mommy like you want so badly I sure as hell will.' I think as the blonde smiles at me.
Hammond laughs jovially, "Oh, this is great, once you and Doctor Grant come to the park I'm sure you'll want to give it your endorsement immediately, I'll leave you three to pack while I use the phone in the copter to call my lawyers and accounting firm to set everything in place and draw up the paper work." John says before grabbing his cane that was leaning against the side of the fridge and walking to the door.
Once Hammond was outside,
"How do you feel about this Alec? This is your last summer vacation…" Dad asks me while pointing out my status as a high school grad, and I shrug, "Well, the amount that Hammond just offered me is almost enough to completely pay my tuition…and it's only a weekend of hanging out at some posh rich guy's nature reserve, so I'm game." I answer him honestly.
Dad nods to me and looks to Ellie, "It's worth it, especially if it helps pay for Alec's schooling…besides it sounds kind of romantic…a Costa Rican island…" Ellie murmurs and she and Dad share a kiss, a very long kiss that has me feeling a little awkward.
"Well, I'll go pack…" I mutter both Ellie and Dad are too far down the rabbit hole to even wave goodbye.
~ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ~
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