Deal Or No Deal

“So Henry Davidson, you just rejected the bank offer of $350K. Three amounts left on the board, $1, $100 and the One Million Dollars. You have to open one more case before the next bank offer comes!” said Howie. Henry was contemplating. On the other side of the stage, there were his son Peter, his wife Suzy and his mother-in-law Sally, all condemning how stupid Henry was to reject the huge amount of money.

Henry had a choice from No. 3, 14 and 23. He gazed at the models. Suzy was like them a while ago; long while ago – No.3’s shiny cascading blonde hair and sparking eyes, No.14’s “36-24-36” and slender legs and No. 23’s mannerism and charm.

He smiled to the three angles and they smiled back. No. 3 was twirling her hair, unleashing an intense floral smell of Chanel No. 5. Her fuchsia lips seemed whispering, “hey young man, my boyfriend has gone, you wanna have a drink?” No. 14 was prepping her tiffany-blue chiffon halter and swaying towards Henry, so feminine that her hips rocked. She was inviting, “Come up to my apartment, will you? My parents are out of town.” Then No. 23 was closing her eyes like an elegant swan, waiting for Henry to lift her veil after they had both said “I do”.

“Number 14, Idiot!” Suzy’s squeak seized Henry from his delight, water mouthing moment back to reality.

Jesus Christ! What had time done to Suzy? Henry shrugged – Suzy had been blasted like a flat tire, superfluous meat over here and there, and spider vein overlaying her thighs like the Manhattan subway map. Henry found it too unbearable to reconcile Suzy’s past and present. He reoriented towards Howie and uttered, “Number 23.” Marriage must be the ultimate disguise.

The flurry sweater Henry was wearing would just prove that. He had been kicked out from the bedroom and sleeping with his dog in basement. Punishment for failing to get a paid rise and to clean the toilet up to Suzy’s standard. Henry missed playing football with Peter. The smell of grass, sweat and mud, the bonding between father and son made Henry feel like a real man. But Peter had gradually become more like Suzy, seeing Henry as a loser and staying away from him. And Sally, the mom-of-a bitch had never liked Henry. She didn’t even come to their wedding.

“Open the case!” Howie requested. Bingo! $1 was in case Number 23, meaning Henry still had a chance to win the million dollars. Banker came back with an even more appealing offer, $550K.

Henry felt luck, for the first time, was on the good side. But he also faced a predicament. Taking the offer, Suzy would welcome him back to the bedroom. Peter would show respect to me, and maybe his Sally would start to appreciate Henry as a person.

On the other hand, Henry could almost smell and feel and sense and know the one million dollars was in his chosen case. One million dollars, thirty years of his salary! He could start a new life with a premium apartment at Central Park, travel around the world with his dog, quit his miserable job, or even date a couple of models. He would live the American dream! His son would admire him. He would teach Peter how to be a man.

Howie was saying something to him but he could not make out of it. Henry took a quick glimpse across the audience. Yes, no one deserved the money more than he did.

What about divorce! Suzy and her mom would certainly beg him and he would humiliate them. But wait, there was no prenup. So Suzy could get half the million. NO NO NO. This was his hard-earned money! No one could touch it!

Henry was disconcerted by the shouts and yells of the multitude. Everyone was eyeing his case. He grasped it firmly with both arms, perplexed and dashed out from the NBC studio.