“Hi Jake. How are you?”
“Abby. I’m glad you called. I have a bone to pick with you. What’s the big idea with you getting Zack all worked up about the dinosaur in Arizona. He’s been calling me everyday for the past week and a half asking for pictures and updates on the dig. His parents have even called asking if I’d take him out there to see it. I don’t have time for that and Mark’s got school.”
“I can hear you laughing, Abby. It’s not funny. I was hoping to get him interested in mining and you ruined it.”
When I got myself under control, I answered him. “Jake, you of all people should know the expression, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” Boys his age love dinosaurs. It tends to wear off when they discover sports or girls. You need to introduce mining to him now, purely as a side order, and let him grow into it. Take him out to Arizona. He’ll worship you for it and at least humor you when you need to stop in at a mine on the way there or back. Make sure that you tell him all about the fossils that you come across while mining and the old set of bones you found years ago. If you have any fossils, be sure to have one on hand to give to him. He’ll be dipping his toe in the pond, so to speak. You want his excitement for dinosaurs to bleed into mining.”
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“You’re saying I should manipulate my ten-year-old grandson? That’s evil, Abby, and I’m ashamed to even know you.” His words said one thing, but his tone said another.
“Manipulate is such an ugly word. Think of it more as guiding your grandson to a more lucrative career choice. You don’t think that it’s actually a good idea to let kids make their own choices, do you? Look what happened to me. My dad let me make my own choice and I’m not going to college and have no idea what to do with my life.”
“Ha. I think you’ve lost track of your point, Abby, but I get your meaning. It’s kind of like when a man is interested in a woman, so he asks her friend to dance.”
“Damn, now I’m not sure if that was my point or not.”
“Regardless, I’ll be taking you up on your advice. I’m sure that’s not why you’re calling me though. What can I help you with today.”
“I was hoping that you could invite Harry over to your place for dinner on Friday.”
“That’s a good idea in it’s own right. Why do you want it to happen?”
“My dad’s going to invite him over to our place on Friday, but I need to delay the dinner by a day or two.”
“Why?”
“Because my plans are only coming to fruition this weekend and dinner on Friday with Harry could mess them up.”
“What plans are those, Abby?”
“Can’t tell you yet. It’s nothing that you’ll object to, I can assure you of that. In fact, if you’re not doing anything on Saturday or Sunday night, I’ll see if I can wrangle you up an invite as well and you can see what it’s all about.”
“It’s a deal. I’ll go call Harry. Is it ok if I bring Mark along? He loves your surprises almost as much as I do.”