Gilmore Sisters

(S1) Chapter 4 ~ Friday Night Dinner

  Me, Rory, Mom, Grandma and Grandpa are sitting at the dining table eating dinner. I'm on one side with Rory, Mom's on the other side, Grandpa is on one end and Grandma is on the other end. 

  We're eating lamb, which is very good. I make sure to tell Grandma that. 

  "The lamb is incredible, Grandma!" 

  She grins. "Oh well, it was the cook, Mindy."

  "Give her my thanks." I take a big bite of the lamb.

  "You are so optimistic." Grandma tells me. "Where on Earth did you get it from?"

  "That's a mystery to me as well, Grandma." I glance at Mom as I sip from my champagne. She gives me a dirty look, but I ignore it. 

  "So, what are you interested in? I'm so curious." Grandma puts her elbows on the table and leans closer to me. "Drama? Art? Writing?" she lists.

  "Um..well, I like fashion. I don't know if that counts. It's not really something I could major in." I tell her sadly.

  She waves a hand. "Nonsense. It's an art! Of course you could major in it."

  I stare at her. "Really?"

  "Absolutely! You would have to take Math, English, Art.." she takes a bite of her lamb. "I can't remember the rest off the top of my head."

  "This is interesting." 

  "It certainly is. You should look into it!" she suggests. 

  "I will." I smile.

  We go back to the lamb. I realize I haven't started any conversation with Richard, my Grandpa.

  "Grandpa?" I call out.

  He looks up, startled. 

  "I'm sorry, did I startle you?"

  "No, no. You merely surprised me. I wasn't expecting you to say anything."

  "Well, I just haven't talked to you yet. I wanted to get to know you a bit." I say.

  He smiles. "Well I'll be. Looks like you aren't the only one Callie is intrigued with." he says to Grandma, she rolls her eyes but smiles pleasantly. "Go on, Callie. Ask me anything."

  "Anything?"

  "Anything you want to know."

  I look around thoughtfully. "I know you're in the insurance company, how's that going?"

  "People lose a foot, we pay. People break an arm, we pay. People die, we pay." he says, briefly.

  Mom chimes in. "Well, at least you have your new slogan."

  Rory chuckles but I manage to keep a straight face. "When you think about it, insurance companies are very big. Very important."

  Grandpa puts down his fork. "I guess."

  "No really! People are very grateful for insurance. Not just so they can get money, but so they know someone--a company--is there to help them." I explain.

  "That's what police and doctors are for. That's why 911 was invented." he says.

  "Yes, but you don't get anything from that." I reply. "Lets say a woman, Veronica, has a husband and he got into an accident. Now, it wasn't his fault, there was a drunk driver and he got hit. Instead of just going to the police and getting the guy arrested, you go to the insurance company. They help you pay for health care or your car, but they are also there for you if this happens again. Or if anything for that matter, happens to you. They know you, it'll be more likely that you get a more respectful deal with the insurance company than with the police." I tell him.