The Smiths and Joneses Read Free Page B

anyone talked about for a while. I knew they were approaching you. I didn’t know you had agreed to be part of the program. They never released that fact. You all kept that one in your vest pocket. They asked me to be a part of it. I refused because I was still in office. Can you share anything with me about it?”
    “I can tell you it’s a very interesting program. It should open a lot of eyes on both sides of the border. It sure surprised me and opened my eyes. I was very pleased the two organizations agreed to produce a very honest view of the two systems and the two countries. They didn’t script the two families. The families get to say whatever they want to. The networks got thousands of family's volunteering. It took the producers three months to select the final two families. I got to meet with the two families before the production started; I agreed they picked two families who are the typical average family from each country. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the people’s reactions when they see the differences in the two families’ lives.”
                  “The previews of the program don’t show you in the program.”
                  “I’m going to be sort of a surprise.”
                  “Rod, there goes your ability to hide away from the public eye. You’re going to have to have your protection detail increased soon.”
                  Laughing, Rod says, “Have you looked to your right or left, those are parts of my new protection detail which started yesterday. They weren’t pleased with the two of us meeting for a public dinner. Have you noticed no one else has entered the restaurant since you arrived?”   
                  “No, I didn’t notice.”
                  “The Secret Service bought out Morton’s tonight. After the Senators leave, we’ll be alone for the evening.”
                  “Are they going to open the restaurant to normal diners when we leave?”
                  “No, it’s closed for the night. Dennis didn’t object. Because we’re here, the Secret Service purchased all of the tables. Dennis will have the only restaurant that is sold out on a cold, snowy Monday night. Most of his staff will be paid to go home early. He loves it when we book a reservation.”
    Laughing, Ted says, “I can see your timing sucks. You’re not going to be able to drive yourself anywhere. I bet that’s going to hurt. With this snow, your brand new Corvette C8 is going to have to sit in the garage for a while.”
                  “I will miss not being able to drive it. I went to the factory and watched my ‘toy’ being built. I got to sit in it on the factory line; I was the first person to start it. I even got to drive it off the production line. The entire experience was something I’ll never forget. I’m not sure who had the most fun, me or the production workers who took hundreds of ‘selfie’ pictures of us together. I signed shirts, hats, pants even sneakers. Hell, I was asked to sign one of the robots and the entrance wall into the factory. I got all of the workers to sign my engine fuel rail covers; they sealed them so their signatures won’t fade in the heat. After leaving the factory, I drove it back to Virginia. I had a blast.”
                  Laughing, Ted says, “I heard you drove the Secret Service crazy, there’s a rumor you drove away from your protective detail at 175MPH, and you even pulled away from their helicopter. When I was told the story, I laughed so hard I dropped my drink.”
                  “Guilty as charged. I’m waiting to get it on the track to check out the top end.”
                  “Rod, you know damn well, the Secret Service is NEVER going to allow you on a track. And if you try it on the interstates, the Secret Service and police will go crazy, how are they going to deal