“Of course,” Percy said. “Do you think he does?”
“I think so,” Susie replied. “I know I love him. He’s so much fun to be around. He treats me nice, but doesn’t insist on paying for everything every time. He lets me contribute to the things we decide to do. And we do decide. Neither one of us just says. We discuss stuff.”
“Have you discussed this with him?”
“No, not really. It’s just been some signs recently… I talked to Mother, and she said talk to you. You’re a guy. You could give me some insights.”
“Yeah. Maybe,” Percy said with a wry smile. “You do know I’ve never had much success with women.”
“Mother mentioned that things didn’t go well with you and Abigail.” Susie hurriedly added when she saw the look on Percy’s face, “She didn’t say much; just that she didn’t think it was your fault. That’s pretty much all she said.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, anyway… You say you can talk things over with him. That should go in the plus side, don’t you think?”
“Of course.”
“His responsibility. Do you think he’s personally responsible and financially responsible?”
“Personally he’s very responsible. Financially… Well, he’s saving money. I know that. But every once in a while he gets the hots for some techno thing. He gives in to it part of the time. Right now he wants a Rokon so bad he can taste it. Part of the reason he wants to borrow one of yours is to see for sure if he wants it. I think he’ll buy one if it works the way I know it will. They are very good machines. And fun. But still…”
“So personal responsibility in the positive. Financial… Negative or in between.”
“In between,” Susie said immediately.
“What about the other side of financial responsibility. There’s spending, but there’s also earning.”
“Oh, he’s really good about finding and keeping jobs. He’s had a couple, I know, but he was laid off the one for lack of work, and the other… the guy wasn’t honest. He’s had the job with Wilkins Oil now for two years. And he got the CDL. He’s worked for you a couple of times before that, and since, driving the Kenworth tractor. And he’s taking correspondence courses for a business degree. He just couldn’t afford to go to college. I mean he’s smart, but he missed so much school his senior year when he broke his leg in that football game. He would have got at least a couple of scholarships, except for that. He loves to learn, but he loves working, too.”
“I know he’s tried really hard to make up for the lack of college. I know how he feels,” Percy said. “So that part of financial responsibility in under the positive heading.”
“Definitely.”
“Now I know you love him, you said so, but he’s like me. Not the most handsome of men. What about the looks of the children. You’re a pretty girl. You want your daughter, or even son, to look like him?”
“Hey!” protested Susie. “He’s not that bad looking. He got his share of dates in high school. I don’t think our kids will be that bad looking.”
“Okay. Positive or in between.”
“Well… in between, I guess.”
“You mentioned he had lots of dates in high school. You mentioned faithfulness. Do you think he’ll be faithful?”
There was no hesitation. “He will be. He looks at other girls, just as I do guys when a good-looking one passes by, but he hasn’t dated anyone but me, since we started going out. I’m sure of it.”
“Faithfulness in the positive column,” Percy said, marking it down.
They were laughing by the time they finished, the last few items on the list rather silly.
“What should I do based on the list?” Susie asked the laughter fading.
“That’s still up to you,” Percy said. He tossed the yellow pad to her.
“Oh my,” she said softly, seeing the list. “I may just have to marry him, if he asks,” she whispered. She looked up. “I need to go talk to Mother. Thanks, Mr. Jackson, this really helped.” She jumped up and ran around the desk to give him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. She headed out of the den quickly, the pad still in her hand.
“They sure grow up fast,” Percy said softly, turning on the TV. The news wasn’t good. The situation between India and Pakistan was still in limbo. China was grumbling about the situation now, too. He decided to see what he could find out on the internet, but it was down again. There’d been a report of power outages in Chicago, one of the major hubs for the internet, though there had been no mention of the internet in the report. Percy suspected that the power outage was the cause of the internet being down.
He was quiet through supper, thoughtful, letting Mattie and Susie discuss Andrew. Percy made a mental note to have Andy come out and pick up the Kenworth and the other tank trailer the next day. He’d have it filled and park it at the tank farm. Start using out of it and keep the other tanks full until the world situation became calmer.
Andy was delighted by the prospect. He was there before noon and back with the load of fuel by two that afternoon. He hung around and helped Percy connect the hoses and top off the stationary tanks from the compartments in the trailer. “I’ll let you know when I need you to come out and fill the trailer again, Andrew,” Percy said.
“You’re really worried about that thing going on in India, aren’t you, Mr. Jackson?”
“I am, Andrew, I am. I guess I’m pretty obvious about it, like with this fuel, huh?”
“Not to most. Most people think you’re a little strange, anyway.”
Percy smiled. They headed back toward Andy’s five year old GMC Jimmy. “Uh… Mr. Jackson, can I talk to you for a minute? I need some advice.”
“Sure, Andrew. What’s up?” Percy wasn’t surprised at Andy’s response.
“It’s about Susie. You know her really well. You’re almost like her father. I was wondering...” Andy looked down at the ground for a moment then looked into Percy’s eyes, a serious look in his. “What do you think Susie would say if I asked her to get engaged? And… Well… Do you think it would be all right if I did ask her?”
“Andrew, I’m not her father. If you wanted to get permission you should be asking Mrs. Simpson. As to what she would say… Andrew there’s no way of knowing until you ask. You obviously love her or you wouldn’t be asking me this. Would you say yes if she asked you?”
“I never thought about that!” Andrew replied. “I don’t think she would ask, unless I just waited way too long. I’m sure she loves me, but I don’t want to ask her if she’s going to say no.”
“Why not?” Percy asked, gently.
“Well, gee, Mr. Jackson! It’d break my heart if she said no.”
“What makes you think she’ll say no?” Percy asked then.
“I don’t think she will. But… I don’t know for sure. I think she’ll say yes.” He looked around quickly, and then pulled a ring box out of his pocket. “Susie is really practical. She’d certainly want a nice ring, but wouldn’t want me to get something I couldn’t afford. She’s good about keeping my head out of the clouds about stuff I think is neat.”
Andy showed Percy the ring, hunching over a little, to hide it from any point of view except Percy’s. “Very nice, Andrew. I’m sure she would love it. But you’re going to have to offer it to her and ask her before you know for sure. You’ve said you think she’ll say yes. Have you talked to her at all about marriage?”
“Well, kinda. We’ve commented on other people’s marriages a time or two. She seemed really non-committal.”