"Why can't we use it?" Sheldon argued, "With a computer, I can help the family file taxes more conveniently. And the backup program inside can also record the family's menu. Also, it can be used to chat online with strangers. You can also watch your favorite cartoons on it…"
Sheldon cleverly brought up some conveniences that a computer could bring to his family, thereby increasing the persuasiveness of his desire to buy a computer.
Apparently, his rhetoric was very effective.
Hearing that a computer could make tax filing more convenient for the family, George was somewhat tempted. But after much thought, he still shook his head and confessed, "I'm sorry, Sheldon. The family doesn't have extra dollars to buy a computer."
Hearing George's words, Missy, who was looking forward to watching cartoons on the computer, and Georgie, who was looking forward to online chatting, both lowered their heads.
As children of the Cooper family, they could well understand the family's difficulties.
Just as the children were disappointed, Mary suddenly said, "Maybe we can pool the dollars for a computer, I still have over a thousand dollars here…"
"What? You actually hid a thousand dollars?" Hearing his wife's words, George couldn't sit still.
The Cooper family's financial situation was very transparent. According to George, there was clearly no money in the family's public accounts. Now that his wife could still come up with over a thousand dollars, it proved that she had hidden money away secretly.
And Mary had only been working at the church for a short time, and her salary was not high.
Counting it this way, Mary's private stash must have been accumulated a long time ago. At that time, the family's only source of income was George's salary.
So, the final conclusion was that Mary saved her hidden money using George's salary.
This discovery made George, who had been having a rough time at work recently, feel very unbalanced.
"All these dollars were saved from my usual living expenses…" Mary didn't think there was anything wrong with her saving money. Then, she questioned her husband, "I don't believe you don't have any hidden money."
"I…" George wanted to say he didn't, but what man doesn't hide some money? At this point, he admitted in a huff, "I have three hundred dollars here. But, that's what I deserve…"
Mary didn't pay attention to her husband's little tantrum at this moment. She was still thinking, "I have a thousand here, and you have three hundred there… Plus our current salaries. Maybe by the end of next month, our family will be able to afford a computer."
From this, it can be seen that Mary placed great importance on her youngest son's needs.
However, Mary's unconscious action also angered George.
George, who already felt his status in the family was getting lower and lower, said angrily, "No, you can't take my money. I'd rather use them to buy beer."
Mary still couldn't empathize with her husband's childishness, she retorted, "Your current body can't drink too much beer. It's better to use this dollars to buy a computer, which is good for everyone…"
"You want to deprive me of my right to drink beer?" George, who had been feeling down recently, relied on beer to relieve his mood. He developed a rebellious attitude towards his wife's request.
Seeing George and his wife arguing more and more fiercely, which scared the children, Connie quickly spoke up, "I still have some savings, why don't I pay for it?"
In Connie's opinion, buying a computer was the source of the conflict between George and his wife. As long as this trouble was resolved, the Cooper family's conflict would also disappear.
However, as the argument progressed, the conflict between George and his wife was no longer limited to the computer.
Besides, a computer was of no help to Connie's life, and there was no reason for her to pay for it.
Just as George and his wife were about to continue digging up old grievances, Mike, who had finished dinner, looked up and said, "I actually have a plan to buy a computer recently. If anyone needs it, I can lend it to you when I'm not using it."
"Really? Mike. Can I borrow it to watch cartoons?" Missy asked.
Mike smiled and nodded.
"Then can I borrow it to chat with others online?" Georgie also asked, tempted.
Mike nodded again.
Given the nature of Mike's computer purchase, which was different from Connie's, Mary had no reason to stop him. However, she still asked, "Mike, what are you planning to use the computer for?"
"Stocks," Mike replied concisely.
During this time, Mike also realized the importance of financial freedom to a man. Looking at George, whose family status was getting lower and lower, this was a negative example of a man without money.
And Mike, with his foresight, quickly thought of stock trading as the easiest and simplest way to make dollars at this stage.
Now was the era of America's economic boom, with semiconductors, vending machines, the retail industry, internet companies, etc., all developing rapidly.
As long as he caught this tailwind, Mike was confident that he could achieve financial freedom through short-term stock holdings.
"Stocks?" Mary didn't know much about this industry, so she didn't say much.
And Mike, with a legitimate reason to buy a computer, also indirectly helped the Coopers temporarily resolve a family dispute.
…
Time came to Saturday morning, the day of Jeff's wedding.
Because the preparations for this wedding were handled by Mary herself. So at her request, the Coopers, Connie, and Mike all had to go to the church to attend the ceremony.
The usually solemn and sacred church was now adorned with various ribbons and flowers, making the atmosphere much warmer.
The audience seats below were also filled with believers and family members. And everyone's face was filled with joyful smiles.
Perhaps the only person in the entire hall who didn't look very happy was George, sitting in the front row next to his wife, with a slumped face.
Obviously, yesterday's "computer buying storm" still left an unpleasant memory in his heart.
As the bell in the hall chimed, Jeff, holding Robin's hand, slowly walked out from one end of the red carpet.
After the two stopped in front of the stage, an elderly pastor at the officiant's table began to read the wedding vows to them.
At this sacred moment, Mary looked at the happy couple on stage, and her heart was touched. She remembered her happy times with George when they were young.
Slowly, Mary reached out and held her husband's big hand.
George's face first showed some surprise at his wife's action, and then he also showed a slight smile.
And the wedding ceremony on stage was nearing its end with Jeff's "I do."
"Now, you may kiss each other," the officiant pastor announced.
Jeff and Robin, who had been waiting for this moment, embraced eagerly as soon as the officiant pastor finished reading the procedure.
Then, the two performed a several-minute-long kiss for everyone who came to witness the ceremony.
"Why do I have to watch a middle-aged couple kiss on my weekend?" Sheldon complained, wide-eyed.
His current thoughts also represented the thoughts of many people in the church.
And this awkward scene also made Mary, the wedding planner, frown. She silently prayed that the couple on stage would not do anything more outrageous.
However, Jeff and Robin, who were passionately intertwined, were clearly going to disappoint Mary.
"OMG—"
Accompanied by exclamations, Jeff's act of sticking out his tongue made many onlookers cover their children's eyes.
Mary, of course, quickly used her hand to cover Sheldon and Missy's eyes, preventing them from seeing inappropriate scenes.
Then, amidst the adults' good-natured laughter, Jeff eagerly hugged Robin and left the church.
"Why are they in such a hurry?" Missy asked curiously, looking at Jeff and Robin's retreating figures.
"Of course, they're going home to unwrap the candy and then do something pleasant…" Connie explained to Missy in a playful manner.
"Judging by their appearance, maybe they just had an emergency. I've had that experience too—" From the side, Sheldon's calm analytical voice came.