September 20, 2005
Week 21 - The Quest 1
Episode 2
Hal sits in the kitchen talking with his mother, Liza.
"Mom," he says, "I have to ask you for a favor… It's really important."
Liza puts down the book she has been reading and looks at him. "Sure, sweetie, what do you need?"
"You have to promise you'll just agree… You won't ask me any questions or anything, you'll just do what I want, okay?"
"Sweetie, you know that's not going to happen."
"Damn it… I mean... Can't you just make it easy for me?"
"Why are you so sure there'll be a problem? Give me the benefit of the doubt."
"Okay." Hal bites his lip. "I need to borrow seventy five dollars."
Liza rests her hands on the table. "That's a lot of money. What do you need seventy five dollars for?"
"See… this is what I figured would happen! I knew you'd give me the third degree! I think I'm the one who should get the benefit of the doubt. Just trust me that it's important and let me borrow the money!"
"Sweetie, there's no way in hell I'm giving you seventy five dollars unless you tell me what it's for. I just won't. In fact, I think I'd be a terrible mother if I did."
"Don't you trust me?"
"I trust you fine... But I'm not giving you that much money without an explanation."
"Fine! I'll tell you what I want it for. Then you'll say no and I'll get mad and you'll get mad back at me and we'll have a big argument and everyone'll be miserable!"
"It doesn't have to be that way! You're getting to be a young man. We can relate to each other like adults. Just tell me what you need the money for and I promise to really think about it. If it's reasonable at all, I'll lend it to you."
Hal bites his lip. "Fine!" he says. He stares at his mother. "I need seventy five dollars to buy a copy of Death Zone 3. It's the new version of my favorite computer game and it comes out on Monday."
"Oh! Is that all? That's easy! Absolutely
not."