THE CAR SAGA PART 2

CHAPTER 2: BENEDICTION

We were crestfallen. Bear in mind that Mrs. M and I are freelance contractors; some months are pretty hand-to-mouth for us. Sixteen hundred dollars is a near-insurmountable sum from our perspective.

Naturally, we did what any red-blooded Canadian couple with a five-month old son would do: We called our parents. We would have said, "help!" but Mrs. M's parents didn't give us the chance. "Did you hear back about the car yet? We want to help," they said.

Cool.

So they offered us a sum substantially MORE than $1600 to either repair or, as they suggested, buy a newer-model used car.

But wait, that's not all.

I spoke with my Dad about it (My mom gives us tons of support in many ways, but isn't able to financially, god luvver, much as she wishes she could) and he says to me that he doesn't think buying a used car is a financially sound idea.

My father is an accountant at heart. He's very successful and is the vice-president of finance of a large local facility, but when it comes right down to it, it's all about the bottom line. So I prepared for a long lecture about how irresponsible it was to spend money, any money at all, throwing good money after bad, and why the hell hadn't I ever gotten a degree? (No, he's not that bad. But the 10-year-old in me remembers every fiduciary responsibility speech I've EVER been given.)

"I don't think buying a used car is a good idea," Dad began. "You'll only end up having the problems you have NOW all over again in three or four years."

Crap. He wasn't going to help out. I couldn't blame him; don't throw good money after bad and all that, rationalize rationalize-

What he said next blew my mind.

"So I think you should have a brand new car. Use the money Marci's parents have given you as a down payment and I'll take care of the monthly financing."

I gaped. Marci gaped. Peter gaped. Well, he was only four months old. He ALWAYS gaped.

Dad, however, smirked. "I don't want my grandson being driven around in an unsafe car," he sniffed.

(And that is the key, Agents. HAVE MORE CHILDREN. See the blessed rewards that come your way when you provide your parents with grandchildren? It really is miraculous.)

So, oh my god-- we were getting a FREE CAR. A BRAND NEW CAR. Is there ANY better news?

As we were about to see, even something that sounds so wonderful can have hidden pitfalls. Stay tuned!

Posted by Agent M at July 27, 2003 04:01 PM