After more than a month of turmoil, Peter finally returned to his own home. In great spirits, he decided to have a proper celebration that day.
However, that day happened to be Dean's eighteenth birthday, just two days before Christmas. Jail release, birthday, Christmas—these three dates collided, resulting in Peter spending three days immersed in alcohol.
Honestly, seeing his old man's behavior, Dean seriously doubted whether he could pass the upcoming alcohol treatment program.
"Dean, hurry up and get out of bed! Don't you want to see what kind of Christmas present your old dad has prepared for you?"
Christmas present? Dean, who had been coding for the website late into the night, rubbed his sleepy eyes and clambered out of bed.
"Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore," Dean said, barely opening his eyes as he grabbed a sweater from the bedside and threw it on.
"Son, count yourself lucky. I bet there's not a parent in America who would think of preparing a Christmas present for their child after they've turned eighteen. Only I, Peter, your dear old dad, would be so thoughtful."
Peter's voice had been coming from the stairway, but by the time Dean was dressed, he had already pushed the door open and come in.
"Look at our spirited young man, that bursting energy—I can feel it all the way downstairs," Peter said as he sat down on Dean's bed. "Come on, take a look at the gift I have prepared for you. It's perfect for you right now."
Thwack—a thick bundle wrapped in gift paper was tossed into Dean's hands.
"What's this? It feels like some kind of book," thought Dean, wondering if his dad had prepared computer magazines, knowing his interests well.
"Aren't you going to open it and see?" Peter urged, looking more excited than Dean.
"Now?"
"Of course."
"Alright," Dean said as he unwrapped the package and pulled out a magazine. Only then did he realize it wasn't a book but a stack of magazines.
"Oh~shit! Dad, seriously?" Dean felt slightly scandalized just by glancing at the cover.
"Open it, and flip to the middle," Peter instructed seriously, guiding Dean on what to do.
"Dad, I'm already eighteen, more mature than you think," Dean said, spreading his hands in resignation.
"I know, that's why you need this," Peter encouraged him with his eyes.
Alright, Dean casually flipped it open and a full-color spread unfolded before his eyes.
"Look, this is... emm... a woman's body, with the photographer focusing on her chest. Breasts can..."
"Wait, Dad, you don't have to be so explicit," Dean didn't know how his father managed to explain so earnestly.
"OK, let's move on to the next one," Peter said as he flipped to another magazine, "This one's called 'Shaved.' I'm not very familiar with it."
He flipped to the middle again. "Wow~" Peter's eyes widened. "This time, the focus is down below, leaving nothing to the imagination. They look like tropical leaves... or some kind of seafood?"
"Stop!" Dean closed the magazine, "This is your idea of a Christmas present for me?"
"Absolutely, I thought long and hard, and still felt these were most suitable for you right now. Dean's already eighteen, and I haven't even seen you bring home a female classmate from high school to now."
It was incredible, Peter couldn't comprehend. Before he even graduated from high school, he had gotten Caitlin pregnant and dropped out.
In comparison with Dean, Peter even had reason to question his son's orientation. That's not very American, is it?
"OK Dad, I get your point. What I want to say is, I like seafood, too, and I'm eager to taste it as well. But right now, I have other, more important things to do, like transferring schools and earning more tuition money..."
"I know, Dean," Peter said, relieved as he patted his shoulder. He had completely put his mind at ease when he heard Dean say that he liked seafood.
Indeed, the Price family still had some redneck genes; Dean wouldn't turn out to be a queer.
Rainbow flags weren't popular in the 80s, and having a queer in the family was an absolute disgrace, especially for white families.
Peter glanced at the used computer newly acquired on Dean's desk and got up satisfied, clapping his hands.
"Since you have your own things to do, I won't disturb you. Of course, before I go, I'll quietly put down the magazine," Peter said, raising his eyebrows and winking at Dean.
"By the way, Dad, about the judgment money Wedner mentioned..." Before Peter left the room, Dean couldn't help but express his concern.
He knew his old man didn't have much money, though being found not guilty spared him a fine.
But the court's judgment money needed at least a thousand US dollars, plus the alcohol treatment course starting soon, at $200 a month. Dean seriously doubted whether he could scrape together the money.
"Ah ha, is my genius son worried about his old dad?" Peter first teased, then shrugged optimistically at Dean.
"Packard fired me under the pretext of a DUI, violating traffic laws. But as it turned out, I was wronged, acquitted, and released in court.
So this creates another situation," Peter said with a triumphant smile. "Their reason for firing me is invalid! They better pay up nicely if they don't want to get sued by me, and the union will back me up unconditionally."
Honestly, not being sentenced to prison is not Peter's biggest gain. The compensation from Packard Electric is.
According to the agreement signed between the union and Packard Electric, as a full-time contract employee, Peter would enjoy substantial benefits such as pension and medical insurance after ten years of service at his job.
Now that Packard Electric had fired him, and with such a trumped-up charge, it definitely warranted a serious discussion.
The union would back Peter unconditionally, and lawyers would encourage him to seek compensation from Packard Electric. Such a certain-to-win lawsuit was like being handed money on a silver platter.
Wedner had skipped a holiday with his family yesterday to personally discuss the matter with Peter for an entire afternoon.
According to him, now that Peter was fired, Packard would definitely not let him come back.
Who knows how costly it is these days to hire a worker, especially one with over ten years of service like Peter. Packard Electric would rather downsize than allow Peter back.
So the best outcome would be a severance of service. In order to avoid trouble with the union and potential lawsuits, Packard Electric would surely negotiate with Peter on the severance.
Paying a lump sum to deal with Peter's case all at once would be far more economical than rehiring him until retirement.
Based on Peter's years of service, this severance pay would not be small. That's why Peter isn't worried at all right now.
"Dean, don't worry," Peter reassured, "maybe you'll even have all the tuition for the next few years at your new college taken care of." Since learning yesterday that he would be receiving a large compensation, Peter had been in high spirits ever since.
"What about the house?" Dean suddenly remembered another issue. "When Aunt Caitlin said she might not make the mortgage payments in time, I found a new tenant online, and the contract is even signed."
"Oh," Peter also remembered the matter he had Rachel take care of before, "then let's rent it out first. I can live anywhere for now. Youngstown doesn't lack anything if not empty houses. I'll find somewhere to stay until I get a new job, and in the meantime, we'll continue to rent out the house."
Such a result wasn't bad either. Dean would begin school in late January, returning to Cleveland.
At that time, Peter would manage anywhere by himself. Although a large compensation might be coming, it's clear that living off savings is not a long-term solution, so he needs to find a new job.
With Dad out of prison and Dean going back to school next month, the family hadn't fallen apart, but it seemed they were back to each going their own separate ways.
Dean looked at the computer on his desk and laughed. It wasn't really like that. At least they had shed many troubles, and there was only anticipation for the future.
Now it's time to get to work again. Today is Christmas, and Dean is ready to officially launch his Price's List online.