One sunny November afternoon, an elderly man in his 80s sits in his cozy Florida home, contemplating the phone call he's about to make. With a heavy sigh, he picks up the receiver and dials his son's number in bustling New York City. The familiar ringing sound fills the room until his son's voice answers with a cheerful, "Hey, Dad! How are you?"
The elderly man’s tone is grave as he responds, "Son, I hate to break this to you, but we’ve got some serious issues here at home. Your mother and I... well, we can’t stand each other anymore. After all these years, we’ve decided to get a divorce. It’s been a long time coming, and I just can’t take it anymore. I want to spend my remaining years in peace. I’m telling you now so that you and your sister won’t be shocked when I finally move out."
Stunned, the son stammers, "Dad, what are you talking about? This is so sudden!"
Before he can gather his thoughts, his father abruptly hangs up the phone. Panic-stricken, the son immediately dials his sister, who lives in the Hamptons. As soon as she answers, he bursts out with the news, "Sis, you won’t believe this—Dad just called and said he and Mom are getting a divorce! He sounds really serious."
His sister, a decisive woman not prone to panic, replies firmly, "Don’t worry, I’ll handle this."
She promptly calls her father back in Florida. When he answers, she doesn’t waste a second. "Dad," she says sternly, "don’t do ANYTHING until we get there! We’re coming down Wednesday night. Do you hear me? Don’t sign any papers, don’t pack a thing. Just wait for us."
The father, his voice filled with a mix of relief and satisfaction, says, "All right, sweetheart. We’ll wait for you."
After hanging up the phone, the old man turns to his wife with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous grin. "Well," he announces triumphantly, "they’re coming for Thanksgiving. Now, what are we going to tell them for Christmas?"