Chapter 2: Sell It!
Paul Anka heard the keys enter and turn in the lock. Then the door opened. Mom was gently, but insistently pulling Dad into the house. Now, Paul Anka was faced with a choice. As happy as he was, should he go crazy or play it cool? As Dad was not one for PDAs from PA, he opted for number two.
Dad hesitated in the foyer and Paul Anka wondered whether he had made the right choice. Paul Anka felt tension in Dad's demeanor. Mom had it covered though and kept petting Dad's hand and pulling him towards the couch. When they sat down, Mom put her arms around him and placed her head on his shoulder (Where had Paul Anka heard that before???).
Good move, Mom. He can't get up. Wait, I can help. Let me put my head on his feet, just to be sure Dad can't move, can't leave us. Just as Paul Anka was certain Dad was trapped, the foot under his head shifted.
"I think I should go," Dad mumbled.
He was heading for the door. Paul Anka began to panic. Think fast! I have to keep him here. What should I do? Mom was trying to head Dad off toward the kitchen. I know. Block the front door! So, he positioned himself squarely in front of it.
"See, he wants you to stay, too," Mom said with a smile. Dad smiled back.
Crisis averted, thought Paul Anka. Mom and Dad talked as he made her some of that dirty, smelly water she loved so much. Unfortunately, by the time it was ready and they were sitting at the table, Paul Anka sensed the atmosphere had changed. Now what? What was that, Dad? Why can't you stay longer? Where can't you go?
Mom and Dad were holding hands, but she was starting to cry. Uh oh! Mom, this isn't the way to get him to stay with us. Make a better pitch! I know you two. You can talk him into anything. You talked him into me!
When they got up, Paul Anka placed himself near the back door, just in case. The situation was getting worse. Now Dad looked like he was going to start crying. No, no, no! This is terrible!
Without realizing what he was doing, Paul Anka began to howl. Through all the noise he was making, he noticed the sobs and sniffles he had been hearing lessened, and then stopped. They were replaced by chuckles, shortly followed by laughs. Paul Anka thought, Hey, what's so funny!
But Mom and Dad were smiling at each again, all the way to their eyes.
"Please, Luke. Please stay. Paul Anka loves you. You can't break his heart." That's the way to sell it, Mom. Softly and more slowly, she added, "And I love you, Luke." Better still, Mom!
Paul Anka never knew whether it was the timbre of his howling or Mom's admission that did the trick. One must have been the perfect pitch because, after a big sigh, Dad grinned, nodded, and said, "Love you back."
Mom and Dad hugged, whispered, and kissed for a long time. Paul Anka heard Mom use phrases like "your home" and "never stopped" while Dad as going to try to let go of something. Paul Anka didn't know what Dad was letting go of and he didn't care. He just wanted Dad to stay with them.
Paul Anka watched all of this anxiously and was hoping all this exercise would make Mom hungry, but was disappointed when they went into the living room and up the steps. All that exercise didn't make her hungry, but it must have made Mom warm because she started shedding her clothes. Dad helped her with this. Dad is considerate and loves her, Paul Anka mused. Mom returned the favor. Paul Anka guessed this was because she knew Dad was tired from working so hard.
Soon, everyone was in bed. Though it was noisy and his bed kept moving, Paul Anka drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up in the morning, Paul Anka found himself on the bed alone. What happened? He couldn't quite remember at first, but he then recalled a great deal of clamor and a loud thumping sound, followed by laughing, in the middle of the night. Startled, he had jumped up on the bed, only to find it empty. Good. I'll just stay here 'til they come back to bed, he had decided.
Now, he looked around groggily. Apparently, they had never come back. He started to worry. Where are Mom and Dad? Then he saw them. Well, he saw their feet. On the floor, by the side of the bed, tangled together.
Hmmm, he pondered, wonder if I could score scrambled eggs, bacon, and hamburger today?