d.: Well, Cal.E has come out of hiding, so we can resume having our conversations. Hi, Cal.E. It is good to see you. You must have heard your mom, dad, brother, or me calling you. Is that why you came out of hiding?
C.: NO, d.c. I heard y'all calling me, but I wanted to finish my bracket for the NCAA men's basketball Final Four before I came out of hiding.
d.: What teams do you have to go to the Final Four?
C.: I picked all the blue bloods: Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, and UCLA. Certainly, those teams will be in New Orleans next weekend!
d.: Not all of them (or maybe none of them). Kentucky is not playing anymore. They lost to a number 15 seed, St. Pete. UCLA and North Carolina play each other tonight, and Duke is also on the schedule. They must win tonight to make it to the "Elite Eight." Then, they would need to win one more game, along with the UCLA/UNC game, to make it to the "Final Four." Why did you choose those teams?
C.: Well, as I said, those are the four teams with the best records in basketball tournaments. Since I was hiding from Tom and T., I did not have a chance to listen to sports radio or read the newspaper. I hope that either North Carolina, Duke, or UCLA win the tournament.
d.: y?
C.: Because, the only bookie I could bet with was "Mattress Mack." He said that he would give me the furniture that I bought for Mom and Dad as an anniversary present FREE, FREE, FREE if I filled out my bracket correctly. If one of those two teams win, he will give me one-half of it for free. Since he said "free " three times (loudly) I assume that he will give me the furniture for free, as well as my money back. Three times two is six, minus two is four, minus two for two losses equals my furniture for free and my money back!
d.: No, Cal.E. That is NOT the way it works. To get the furniture free, you would have needed to pick the winner in every game, from the "First Four" to the "Final Four."
C.: Won can do THAT?
d.: Obviously, not YOU! You picked one team that didn't even make it to the "Sweet Sixteen." Don't feel bad, though. Your picks were good ones. I would think that a lot of people had similar picks to yours. It is always safe to go with the "Blue Bloods." The problem is that there is usually one under-rated, upset-minded, low-seeded team that plays havoc with everyone's brackets. THAT"S why "Mattress Mack'' was willing to go out on a limb and promise to give away furniture if anyone could pick a perfect bracket. That rarely happens!
C.: ESPECIALLY not to ME! How am I going to pay for Mom and Dad's anniversary present now?! I spent all of the money I took from Tom the Tabby!. I should have just stayed in hiding!
d.: It is sweet that you want to buy your parents furniture for their wedding anniversary. How much furniture did you buy?
C.: I did not know that they had a wedding anniversary coming up. I bought the furniture to celebrate the day they adopted me! I bought a cat bed, a cat bowl, a cat sofa...
d.: Gallery sells cat furniture now?!
C.: You would be amazed at what you can buy at THAT store!
d.: Okay, Cal.E. How much did you spend?
C.: All of the money I took from Tom.
d.: And how much do you owe on the furniture?
C.: Nothing. The store manager said that he would not give an unemployed cat credit. I just bought what the money I had with me would buy.
d.: Then, you're good.
C.: NOT if I want to buy some premium catnip from Tom when he returns from Tijuana.
d.: Some cats never learn
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