Chapter 19

Author's Note 1: Well, I'm back from my vacation. I went to Florida if anybody wants to know. The good news is that in all my long hours in the car (we drove from Ohio to Florida and back) I wrote 9 chapters for my various stories totaling 17 pages. So, you'll be getting lots and lots of updates.

Author's Note 2: The quote about 'The Simpsons' I attributed to Sam was actually said by my Biology teacher, just to let you know.

Jack headed into the kitchen and directed Katie to the living room.

-Why don't you take a look at our possible viewing options while I make us a snack?

-Ok.

-I'm kind of partial to the top shelf, but you decide for yourself.

-Top shelf. Gotcha.

Katie went in and knelt down by the video cabinet. She ran back to the kitchen a moment later clutching an item from the top shelf.

-Dad, we are not watching 'The Simpsons'.

-Why not? You've got 6 seasons to choose from.

-All of which I hate.

-D'oh. Not a Simpsons fan huh?

-Nope.

Jack sighed.

-Well, you definitely got that from your mother.

-Oh yeah. And I quote " I refuse to watch anything of artistic content that actually makes me dumber when I watch it "

-Oy. Well, that explains a lot of things.

-Like?

-Like the fact that you and Carter are so smart and I'm so…dumb.

Katie rolled her eyes.

-For pity's sake, don't blame the Simpsons for your lack of gray matter.

-Oh it's not that I'm lacking in it. It's just that I fill up most of its space with things the average person thinks are of little consequence.

-Such as?

-Such as…I can quote the entire first season of ' The Simpsons'. Do you want to hear it?

-No thanks. I get your point.

-So…what are we gonna watch if not Homer and his gang?

-I don't know. I'll have to go take another look.

Suddenly, Katie sneezed violently.

-Dad, what are you making?

-Popcorn. You want some? Or maybe a beer?

-No.

Another sneeze.

-I'm allergic to popcorn.

-What? How is that possible?

-I don't know, but it is.

-Well, uh…let me just uh…go get rid of it then, before you uh…yah…

He grabbed the popcorn from the microwave and ran out the backdoor as Katie let out another sneeze. A moment later Jack returned and found that her sneezing had ceased.

-Wow. That's really weird.

-Tell me about it. In addition to popcorn, I'm also allergic to snakes, homework and little kids.

-You're kidding right?

-Afraid not.

-Huh. Something tells me there's a story or two there.

Katie smiled.

-Yup. But, we'll save those for another time. Let's go pick out a movie.

-Ok.

-Say Dad, what did you do with the popcorn?

-I gave it to the fish.

-You dumped it in the lake?

-Yup.

-Oy.

They sat down by the video cabinet and started looking.

20 minutes later they still hadn't decided. Jack took a swig of beer, sighed and pointed to a movie.

-How about 'The Dirty Dozen'?

-No, that's too sad. How about 'Star Wars'?

Jack groaned.

-You know me and sci fi.

-Yah.

-'Jaws'?

-The shark's not real. 'Casablanca'?

Jack shook his head.

-The one movie where Humphrey Bogart doesn't get the girl. Too depressing. 'Airplane'?

-It'll give me nightmares for the flight home. 'Die Hard'?

-I've only got the first half on tape.

Then at the same moment, their eyes fell on the perfect movie. They locked eyes and spoke in unison.

-'The Wizard Of Oz'.

And so they settled on the couch and began watching the greatest movie ever made.