Saturday
Sam’s phone rang. He looked at the clock next to the thing. 7AM. It was Saturday. Who in their right mind would be calling him that early on a weekend? If it was someone wanting car advice, he’d steer them into a junker.
“Hello?”
“Sam?”
“Elsie, of course it’s me. Who else would answer when you call my number at this hour?” OK, he was partially right. Elsie must not be in her right mind. Or did something happen? Maybe it was an emergency. Sam woke up on all cylinders.
“Very funny. You’re lucky the inconvenience and sarcasm points cancel each other out. We’re going on a date today. Now, think of things that you and I can do on our first date, and be mature about your suggestions.”
A date? Well, he’s the one who asked her about marriage. Her requesting a date didn’t seem all that much out of line. Sounded pretty good, actually.
“All right. Good. Ideas? I’ll throw out a few and see if any revs your engine. We could go for a walk at the Arboretum, you know, the one run by the University. It’s less than a mile a way. Umm, there’s Picnic Point on Lake Mendota where we could have a spread and maybe rent a boat. We could do dinner at that new Thai restaurant near Pilgrim Village. Wait, let me check yesterday’s paper. Friday has that section on things to do. Hey, the college is having a swing jazz ensemble at seven-thirty tonight, and it’s free to the public. Finnigan’s having a live Irish band from nine to whenever. Anything catch your fancy?”
“Did you choose things you like?”
“Well, yes. Any of them sounds pretty good.”
“Wonderful. We’ll do it all. I’ll pack a picnic breakfast and we’ll start off at the Point. Better get moving. See you in thirty or less. Bye!”
Sam thumbed the close switch on his phone. He wondered if Raul might have chosen death as the easy way out. Do it all? In one day? Where did Gracie put those vitamins? Wait...they’d be expired. He grabbed his wallet. Reasonable amount of green there, plus plastic. He took a quick shower, dressed in layers given the morning-time whims of Mother Nature in Wisconsin, especially near a large body of water. He stopped just before grabbing the front door knob. Shaving! He was more bristly than a puffer fish. Electric would have to do. Dry shaving with a razor was a guaranteed rash.
He exited the house and crossed over to Elsie’s place and knocked. The door opened, and they were off and running.
Picnic Point is a mile-long peninsula along Lake Mendota’s south shore. The scenery was beautiful and there were many trails and scenic places for a memorable commune with nature. Birds of many kinds were out and about, and visitors either strolled or found a bench to sit and just relax upon.
While there were plenty of trails to peruse there, Sam and Elsie took off (after dessert) to the Arboretum; a 1200-acre preserve with over twenty miles of trails, small museums, and more than the average number of flower varieties.
Getting hungry again around one, it was time to check out the lunch specials at the Sa-Bai Thong on Odana Road. The lunch specials were very reasonable. Elsie went for the Crab Rangoon, while Sam opted for the Chicken SaTay.
Sam’s cell phone rang. It turned out to be an old customer who had referred half his family to him. Elsie caught the gist and got Sam’s attention. They had some unclaimed time and she wanted to see how he still connected with his ‘business family’. Maybe it would give her some ideas on how she could find a way to still feel useful.
An hour later (after they had decided on ‘Dutch treat’ for the bill), Sam and Elsie swung down Cottage Grove Road to Maple Hill Dentistry. Dr. Perry DeRosa was in the parking lot with his son, Randy, with a white 2001 Ford Taurus SES that looked in decent shape. Sam gave it a walk around, then carefully got down on the ground and poked around underneath. The hood was popped open and the engine started up. From his trunk, Sam pulled out an iron rod about two foot in length and placed one end to the top of the manifold and the other to the bone just behind his ear and listened, then instructed Randy to give it a quarter distance gas pedal press a couple of times. Sam pulled out the dipstick, smelled it, looked at it, then did the same to the transmission stick. Sam got in and drove it for a few minutes, came back, turned the engine off, and talked to the DeRosas.
“First of all, for a 2001, it’s in darned good shape. This is the fourth generation of Taurus, and the interior design was also pretty good. They even put in cup holders in back that slid in and out. Mileage is not great, but better than a lot out there. 91K miles on a machine of this make and year isn’t all that bad either. Should get you through college, Randy, with minimal problems. Who’s selling it, dealer or private?”
The father answered, Elsie noticed. Seemed the father was doing all the talking. “Montrose Ford, up the Boulevard. Chuck Kreps is the sales rep. Elsie saw that during this whole conversation, Randy wasn’t looking at the car. If this was something the young man wanted, he’s be eyeing it from time to time, with ‘that look’ in his eye. She’d of thought Sam would notice that, but he was interacting with the man with the checkbook. Still...
“Sam? Would you humor me a moment? I’m so sorry to interrupt, Dr. DeRosa. Only be a minute.”
Sam wasn’t too sure of how to feel. This was his thing, his life, where he shone. Why was Elsie sidetracking him? Once far enough away, “Elsie? What gives?”
“Sam, is it important to the father that the son likes the car?”
That sounded like a stupid question at first, but Elsie wasn’t stupid. “What do you mean? It’s important for Perry to give his kid transportation for college. It’s a good deal, if the price is right.”
Elsie nodded. That made sense, but, “Sam, do you think Randy would have his father choose the way he cuts his hair?”
“No. Of course not. But this is a car costing thousands of dollars, not a haircut costing ten or twelve bucks.”
“Now don’t get testy, if you want me to clam up, I will. I have something that seems important to me. Do you want to hear it?”
How would any man answer that? “Sorry, guess I was being a little territorial. So, what are you getting at?”
“Hairstyle and cars both say something about the person. They’re both functional, but they’re both self-image statements. Randy’s going away to college, which has him full of excitement and imagination. This car is a gift from his Dad, which he appreciates. I can see that. But he doesn’t like the car. I can see that, too. Randy hasn’t looked at it once since we got here. So what I’m asking is, is this important to the father that his son likes the car he is buying him?”
Sam looked back at the confused DeRosa family. Chuck was standing next to the car. Randy wasn’t. He missed that cue, which would never have happened when he was on the lot. Was he getting rusty, or did Elsie distract him? Maybe she saw things differently than he did.
“Well, hell. I’m not getting more out of this than a free oil change and tire rotation. Let’s find out.”
Sam and Elsie walked back to the father and son. Sam looked at Randy. “Son, that’s a good car. You don’t like it very much, but you’re a good sport and you honor your father. I like that. Perry? You have a good son. He loves what you’re doing for him. He doesn’t like the car. Don’t even ask him why he doesn’t like it. Might as well ask him why he wouldn’t like him to cut his hair like yours. If you want a decent car, I’d go for this one and wouldn’t pay more than 3,100 for it, tops. Now, if your son’s first car being something he really likes is priority, then let’s take a hike over to Montrose and we’ll give the lot a scan and see if Chuck can sharpen his dealing pencil. What do you say?”
Three hours later, a much happier young man drove home in his first car, a red 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo with similar mileage, good maintenance records, slightly less leg room in the back, and better pick up potential on more than one front.
Dr. Perry told Sam and Elsie, “You two cost me another two
thousand dollars. You know what? Worth every penny. Thanks. I know you go to Dr. Krantz. Next cavity you get filled, have him send me the bill for what insurance didn’t cover.”
The rest of the evening was fun, but that unplanned time with the DeRosas was the most memorable part of that first date.