Negotiation

Freddie! How nice to hear your voice. We haven't heard from you in so long, I was starting to worry. Will you be coming for a visit soon?

A job? Oh, that is good news.

You’re going to join the circus?

Ah… What an interesting career choice.

Well, of course I can see that a boring desk job can’t compare with the thrill of the Big Top, in spite of the money. Young Arthur Timmins seemed well pleased with the $50,000 he made his first year with that real estate place, but then he lacks your artistic sense. And money isn’t everything, is it?

Hello? Ah, I thought we’d lost the connection. So what will you be doing? The animals? I guess you’ll mostly be cleaning up after the elephants and bears and such. Funny, you were never too happy cleaning up after Sparky.

So, when do you leave? So soon? Too bad. We’ll miss you when we go up to the lake to open up the cabin. Boy, it seems like those trout just get bigger every year. But I guess there are some kind of fish down there in Florida - must be with all those bugs. I guess you’ll have lots of time off to go fishing and camping working for such a happy-go-lucky place. Who could understand fun better than a circus?

Oh, yes, I can see that getting ready for the upcoming season would be a lot of work - I guess they must be paying you pretty well for working all those long hours. And of course when I was your age I can remember how important independence was. Beholden to none. Yes, very liberating.

We were thinking of getting a new car this summer and giving you the old one instead of trading it in, but we wouldn't want you to feel beholden to us especially now when you're tasting that first heady sip of liberty. Besides, you’ve clearly thought things through so carefully, I’m sure you’ve already lined up half a dozen different ways of getting around. I guess circuses have lots of trucks, huh?

Are you there? Gosh, this must be a really bad line.

By the way, have you talked with old Clarence? You know, the old gentleman who’s always down at Bucky’s garage? Yeah, no teeth. Well, he can’t help it that he smells. Anyway, he might be able to give you some tips - he used to work in a circus out in the midwest someplace.

Your college fund? Yes, there’s still enough in it for your final year. But now, of course, you won’t be needing it. Free spirits don’t need college funds, do they? Well, we’ve always wanted a camper. With the trade-in on the car and what’s left in that fund, we can get a pretty nice Winnebago. And I can use your old room for a sewing room.

Oh, you have time to come see us this weekend. That would be lovely. Your dad will be so pleased to see you and hear about your plans.

We can talk more then.