[JenBurdoo] You could at least smile

[JenBurdoo]

Billy has good news for his friend, Tom. When they meet on the street, Billy greets Tom with this news, then asks where Tom is going. When Tom glumly answers, Billy is afraid of the consequences for himself. But all is well. Explain.

[trebor]

Are they both HAMs? Do they know each other through school? Work? Extracurricular activities?

[JenBurdoo]

Are they both HAMs? Yes. Do they know each other through school? Work? Yes to both. Extracurricular activities? Possible but irrelevant.

[GalFisk]

Good news for: Tom specifically? Billy and Tom? Someone else?
Is Tom's glumness related to the news? To where Tom's going? To something else?
Does Billy misunderstand Tom's glumness? If so, does he think it's related to the news? To where Tom's going? To something else?
Is Billy afraid of consequences from Tom? A person? An entity? Crime relevant? Romance? Friendship? Punishment? Fines? Work? Is Billy's profession relevant? Tom's?

[hominid]

Are Billy and Tom teachers? School employees? Classmates who are also coworkers? Former classmates who are coworkers? Does Billy know that all is well? If he hadn't told Tom the news, would he still be worried?

[JenBurdoo]

Good news for: Tom specifically? This. Billy and Tom? Someone else?
Is Tom's glumness related to the news? To where Tom's going? Possibly. To something else? But more likely none of these.
Does Billy misunderstand Tom's glumness? Yes. If so, does he think it's related to the news? No. To where Tom's going? Yes. To something else?
Is Billy afraid of consequences from Tom? A person? An entity? This. Crime relevant? For svv. Romance? Friendship? Their friendship is relevant. Punishment? Fines? Work? Is Billy's profession relevant? Tom's? Yes to both.

Are Billy and Tom teachers? School employees? Yes to both, actually, but not now, and irrelevant. Classmates who are also coworkers? Former classmates who are coworkers? This. Does Billy know that all is well? No. If he hadn't told Tom the news, would he still be worried? If he hadn't met Tom, he wouldn't be worried.

[JenBurdoo]

Hint: Billy congratulates Tom on getting a new job.

[Mimino]

Do Tom and Billy now have the same job? did they have before? Are they working now for the same company? Were they before?
Did Billy know about his new job already before Tom told him?
Is Billy's glumness related to his job? Was he not happy about the new job?
Is Billy heading to his old workplace? to his new workplace?
Did Billy want to change his job? want to change his employer? Did Billy get promoted?
Were Tom and Billy working for the government? army? police?

[JenBurdoo]

Got the names reversed; adjusted.

Do Tom and Billy now have the same job? Yes. did they have before? Yes. Are they working now for the same company? Yes. Were they before? Yes.
Did Tom know about his new job already before Billy told him? No.
Is Tom's glumness related to his job? Possibly. Was he not happy about the new job? Difficult to answer; debateable.
Is Tom heading to his old workplace? to his new workplace? This, for SVV of "new workplace."
Did Tom want to change his job? No. want to change his employer? No. Did Tom get promoted? Yes.
Were Tom and Billy working for the government? army? This. police?