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“I hope that’s a good thing,” said Dad, his eyes still fixed on the road “I’ to this damn country club”

For working-class guys like Dad in town, Pine Shades Country Club sy obnoxious and pretentious about the rich in the city And it didn’t help that guys like him, with their modest incomes, were most certainly not welcome

“Oh, stop,” said Mo Dad a playful swat on the arm “It’ll be fun We’ve never even been to this place before”

“Wouldn’tit that way And I don’t kno I feel about this Josh character paying for everything”

Katie piped up “Dad, we already told you—it’s all taken care of They pay their dues, and that’s it It’s not like they bring a check to the table or anything It doesn’t work like that”

“Yeah,” I said “So don’t try slipping anyone a credit card or anything”

The woru he’d try to pull Dad may not have had a ton of money, but he had pride—I’d always respected that about him, even when it meant he’d act on the hardheaded side sometimes

We approached the tall, steel gate to the club, the letters “PSCC” written in ornate font on the front A ruffly spoke his naates opened, and ere in

The winding road led up a gentle hill, the stately club situated on the top Rows and rows of luxury cars were parked out front, and as h-school sensitivity about led in the back ofthe Bentleys and Mercedes and other array of luxury cars And I could tell by Dad’s silence that the sa was on his mind

As he pulled in front of the grand staircase, a valet clad in all-black attempted to wave him down

“Dad,” I said “Pull up in front so they can take the car”

“Are you kidding ? I can park my own damn car, thanks”

“Dad!” All three of us said the sa at once

“What?”