Andrew Jackson pulled his half-ton truck up to the front of the machine shop on the Jackson farmyard. He reached for the key, but then sat for a minute without turning it, waiting for Mick Jagger to finish belting out “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” on the radio.
“Some songs are too good to turn off in the middle,” he said to himself as he listened to the final note fade away. He turned the key to shut off the engine, opened the truck door and stepped out, pulling his brown oilskin outback hat down to shield his face from the cold north wind. A moment later he stepped into the aging but well-kept building, stamping the snow from his boots and pulling off his gloves.
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The Jacksons take a final bow
Are we going to call this meeting to order or what?” Brady Jackson leaned back in his chair and looked…
“You’re just in time for coffee, pops.” Randy Jackson spoke from his seat in the old office chair that had been there for as long as Andrew could remember. Brady sat in the equally ancient armchair across from Randy, and a third chair, slightly newer but still well used, sat empty between them.
Andrew poured himself a cup. “I’m always just in time for coffee,” he said as he seated himself on the empty chair. He leaned back and took a sip. “So, what’s new?”
“Not much,” said Randy.
“Nothing, really,” said Brady.
Andrew nodded. “That’s what I thought,” he said. “Either of you going to the Grey Cup tomorrow?”
“Not me,” said Randy.
“Me either,” said Brady. “One of my suppliers offered me free tickets but I told him that Amanda and I are planning a Grey Cup party at our house, so no thanks.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “You’re having a Grey Cup party at your house and you didn’t invite me?” he said.
“We didn’t invite anyone,” said Brady. “It’s going to be a real small party. Just me and Amanda.”
“I admire you for the effort you must have gone to, to plan and organize such an event,” said Andrew.
“It’ll be the best Grey Cup party ever,” said Brady. “We’re going to have hotdogs and potato chips and diet Coke and when the game comes on we’re going to cuddle up under a blanket on the couch, turn on the TV, and watch a movie.”
“That does sound like a way better plan than Rose and I have,” said Andrew.
“What are you planning?” asked Randy.
“We’re planning to watch the game,” said Andrew. He sighed. “What a waste of time that’ll be.”
“You should do what I’m going to do,” said Randy. “I’m going to PVR the game and watch it after the kids are in bed. That way I can skip through the commercials and the time-outs and the huddles and the halftime show and watch the entire game in about 45 minutes.”
“Is Jackie going to watch it with you?” Brady wanted to know.
“She’ll sit next to me on the couch and play Angry Birds or whatever on her iPad,” said Randy. “She’ll watch the replays if anything interesting happens.”
“So in other words, no,” said Brady.
“In other words, no,” said Randy.
“It’s important for couples to spend time together,” said Andrew. “Like sitting on the couch with your attention glued to different electronic devices.”
“Well on the bright side of that,” said Randy, “you can’t get into arguments if you’re not communicating.”
“That’s true,” said Andrew. “According to my friend Bob, the secret to a long happy marriage is, never talk to each other.”
“Why are you even friends with Bob?” said Brady. “And wouldn’t the secret to a long friendship with Bob be to never talk to Bob?”
Andrew nodded. “That would be the ideal,” he said. “But it’s all good. I went to high school with Bob so I’ve known him a long time and I can handle talking to him as long as it isn’t more than once a month or so.”
“Funny,” said Randy. “I hear that’s exactly what his wife says.”
“Well anyway,” said Brady, “it sounds like we’ll all be doing the same thing during the Grey Cup game this year. Sitting on our couches not talking to our wives.”
“Huh,” said Andrew. “Is there any way of knowing whether our wives will think this is a good thing or a bad thing?”
The other two considered this for a moment.
“I suppose we could ask them,” said Randy.
“Interesting idea,” said Andrew. “I may try that. Can’t hurt to ask.”
“I think we’ve just discovered the secret to a long happy marriage,” said Brady.
“What’s that?” asked Randy.
“A nice machine shop,” said Brady, “with a coffee maker and some comfy chairs.”
“Amen,” said Andrew.
