family values
The first thing we did after Billie had called to tell us she was “fine and dandy” and needed to be picked up was stop in at the dry cleaners. Dad made a whole affair out of it. For ten minutes he stood there explaining to the lady behind the counter how the company that made Armor-All, Dad’s dashboard cleaner of choice, should inform its customers that the cleaner also ate through men’s slacks. “High-end Cotton blends are especially sensitive to Armor-All,” he said. “People don’t order slacks from International Male just to see them turn to Swiss cheese, do they?” The lady behind the counter didn’t know if he was kidding or serious. When she tried to give him a coupon, he waved it away. “No, it’s okay,” he said. “It’s not your fault. It’s Armor-All’s. I just thought you should know is all . . .”
