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.
