Home Improvement
Chapter 8: The Argument on Marriage
Jill sat, transfixed for a moment, before saying "No way," disbelievingly.
Tim, of course, was all for it, "Way to go."
Mark had mixed feelings. "Lauren and her little sister were his friends, and would love them to be in the family. The problem was that Mark always felt lonesome when Randy wasn't around. He actually had Randy to talk to again. For a week, Mark would come to Randy about his problems. Randy always helped him. He could always talk to Wilson, but Randy understood Mark better than anyone. Still, Mark was being selfish.
Jill picked up the phone and called Lauren's family over. In a matter of minutes, they were sitting in the family room.
"First of all Lauren, before we talk to you about marriage, I need to know something," Fred said. "Why didn't you tell us first?"
"I knew you'd say 'no' outright without considering," Lauren replied, looking down.
"What made you think the answer would change?" Fred's wife, Katie asked.
"Fred, maybe you should take this more gently," his wife, Katie suggested.
"I find this difficult, honey?" Fred said through gritted teeth. "Our eighteen year old daughter is getting married in case you haven't noticed."
"Can I trust you, Mr. Taylor?" Lauren whispered to Tim. "You're the only one dad listens to."
In reply, Tim said, "I believe, as long as they have their future planned out, they can get married."
"Why do you say so?" Fred challenged.
"Because, Fred, they've known each other for years," Tim answered.
"I doubt they'd ever make it," Jill said.
"I agree," Fred said stubbornly. "We let them get married, and they'll come begging us for support."
"We'll get jobs," Randy said. "We'll finish University, and we'll have our life ahead of us."
"I'm personally supporting them getting married," Tim said.
"Well, I'm not," Fred and Jill said together.
"Son, as much as I support you, getting a job isn't easy," Tim pointed out.
"I haven't heard Mark say anything about this," Katie said, looking over at Mark.
"That's because he's too young to make any decision about this," Jill said. "Mark, you can go upstairs," she ordered.
"No, I have my own argument," Mark said, agreeing with Katie. "You always told me to stick up for my brother, regardless of what happens."
"Well, I still feel he's too young," Fred said firmly.
"Maybe we should listen to him," Lauren said.
"When are you getting married?" Mark asked.
"This summer," Lauren replied, glowering red-faced at her mom and dad.
"I don't see any problem," Mark said.
"Like he would," Katie sniffed.
"Fred, Katie, let them," Tim said. "There's nothing we can do about it. Let it go."
"I don't want…" Fred tried to say. "Randy is… but Lauren is…"
"Tim, why do you always have to encourage Randy to do things I wouldn't agree with?" Jill complained.
"They're both eighteen, they can take care of themselves," Tim said.
"No," Jill said firmly. "Twenty is fine, but not while he's in his teens."
"Randy, Lauren, go upstairs, Mark, to the basement," Tim ordered. "I'll deal with these people."
Randy did not go upstairs though, only Lauren. Randy went outside.
