If Only Mark Twain Could See What Tom and Becky Get Up To Today

HANNIBAL’S INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADORS | Darrin Henry

When American writer, Mark Twain, wrote a story about 12 year old Tom Sawyer’s adventures in a small Mississippi River town, he could never have predicted that 140 years later 7^th grade Missouri students would travel the world bringing new life to his characters, Tom and Becky.

But that’s exactly what’s happening.

It’s July 4^th and Sharon and I are lucky enough to be here in Hannibal for the Independence Day celebrations. Along with a few hundred residents and tourists, we have just watched the final process of a competition that is now 60 years old. The five boys and five girls taking part are dressed in beautifully made, 1876 period costumes.

Every year a ‘Tom’ and a ‘Becky’ are chosen from around 60 young hopefuls, to represent the famous fictional characters; the mischievous Tom Sawyer and his childhood sweetheart, Becky Thatcher.

Rhett Reed and Molly Broughton, both 13, have just been announced as the new Tom and Becky.

Growing up in a small island myself, the occasion has a small community familiarity that I recognise well and makes me smile. Each contestant’s introduction included the names of their parents; the obligatory thank you list in each speech; the pockets of family and friends cheering as each youngster took the stage. This is so much like St Helena, even though I’m in the middle of the USA.

Tom and Becky, “A Big Honour”

But this is more than just a small town, feel good, pageant. Mark Twain’s (real name Samuel L. Clemens) boyhood home town of Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi, is taking full advantage of their heritage to offer incredible opportunities for boys and girls in the community.

“It’s a big honour here in Hannibal, Missouri,” I’m told by a positively beaming, Melissa Cummins, this year’s event coordinator.

The Tom and Becky program was created in 1956 by the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce, a reaction to the 2,000 or so students visiting each year from nearby St Louis. The Chamber thought a Tom and Becky greeting the students as they arrived would be a good idea. Originally there was just one Tom and Becky, but “requests for appearances kept growing so now four alternate couples are [now] also chosen who make appearances all year,” said Melissa.

A Testing Time for Tom and Becky

Selection takes six months, beginning with registration in February and the winners being announced on the Fourth of July. The candidates, “all 7^th grade students from the Hannibal school district” undergo intense assessment and scrutiny, including giving speeches, a written test that involves answering 108 questions and different interviews.

In March the field is whittled down to 12 boys and 12 girls, then later this is reduced to the five boys and five girls who at that point are all confirmed Tom and Beckys. More testing, a two day orientation process in June and interviews then follow. Judging takes into account the candidates’ knowledge of Hannibal, Mark Twain history and their ability to interact and engage with visitors to the famous town.

Once selected, the five pairs become ambassadors for Hannibal and carry out “anywhere between 200 and 300 appearances” over the course of the year.

“They’re very busy!” said Melissa. “The official couple get to do the special trips. They’ve been to Bermuda, to Japan twice, they’re been to England; they’ve been in the White House. Tom walked barefoot in the White House! We have been to Walt Disneyland, to Tom Sawyer Island… they go all over and of course the tri-states. Locally they’re always busy. And you’ll find them around Downtown Hannibal on Tom Sawyer days.”

Now that the Missouri media have finished talking to the new Tom and Becky I move in for a quick word. The two are extremely polite and definitely engaging, confirming what Melissa has just said.

“I am just so excited and ecstatic,” says Molly, “and cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for me. I’ll be travelling a little bit, meeting new people which is what I’m so excited about, people from all over the world.”

Rhett is just as impressive summing up what being Tom means: “Well, I’m just so honoured that I can represent Hannibal. I know that other people are looking at me as the ambassador and it’s just a really good honour to be able to do this.”

It’s noticeable both youngsters seem unfazed by the attention, but I guess after six months preparation this is a piece of cake!

What’s In The Bag

During my chat with Melissa she mentioned the bags that the Beckys carry, all contain unique items chosen by the girls, each with their own story and that I should ask to see inside one.

Thankfully I have Sharon on hand so my request to look inside a young girl’s handbag doesn’t appear too weird.

Lillie Ford is nearby, one of the outgoing Beckys from 2014. She happily retrieves the items from her bag, one by one. “These are things that Becky would have had when she lived in that time period,” explains Lillie.

They include an Award of Merit badge for best penmanship and an ink well to go with it.

Lillie’s bag also contains a tiny perfume bottle, a little holder for sewing needles, a strip of knit lace and a doll made out of corn husks.

Choosing authentic items was no easy task. “We went around to different antique shops,” says Lillie. “We went to Perry, Missouri to find my things.”

It’s been inspiring learning about the Tom and Beckys of Hannibal. Organiser Melissa told me the programme doesn’t stop after the ambassador year is complete. In the following year, former Tom and Beckys (all five pairs) are encouraged to continue excelling in both academics and extra curricular activities in the community. This makes them eligible to apply for the two college scholarships when they come of age.

Hannibal is one small town that’s really punching above its weight