Just Imagine…
“Just imagine how awesome it would be to be sitting in front of that on Sunday afternoon watching football," I proclaimed to my football-watching buddy, Adam.
As we stood in Best Buy, drooling over the “big screens”, our significant others were browsing around for “good deals”. I had been telling Adam for months that I wanted to get a bigger TV. That I was sick of watching football and playing Madden on a TV that is small, old, and ugly.
“Yea, that would be nice. But I doubt that Nikki would approve of that purchase. Besides, you guys ‘already have one’," Adam responded, reminding me of Nikki’s typical answer when I ask to buy something new.
Nikki, my fiancée, has this belief that there is no point in buying something if you already have one. The only way she would buy something new is if it is broke, has a hole in it, or is either way too big or way too small. We have a toaster that only toasts bread one side at a time, but to Nikki, “it works”. She has a pair of slippers that three of her toes stick out of, but she will not throw them out and get a new pair. Our two-year old has a Dora the Explorer toy doll that is suppose to sing, but Nikki will not get rid of it because our daughter plays with it even though it does not work properly.
“This 42’ Samsung Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV is on sale," a young Best Buy salesperson announced to Adam and I. “Today only, for nine hundred ninety nine dollars!” According to his nametag, his name was James.
“What? Really? The price tag says thirteen hundred ninety nine dollars," I stated in disbelief.
“I see that. We must have forgotten to put the sales tag on this one. All of our plasmas are on sale today," James said.
A smile grew on my face as I thought about buying this monstrous TV, about tossing our old one out on the curb to be picked up with the rest of our trash, about mounting this picture-perfect TV on the wall and moving our space-filling entertainment center to the basement, about…
“JOSH!" Adam shouted at me. “C’mon, let’s go find the girls. We have to go pick up the kids from my mom’s house. My mom said she has to leave around 1:30 to be at her doctor’s appointment”.
I turned and looked at James, “I guess I will have to pass”. I really wanted this TV, but Adam was right, we did have to go pick up our kids. We had dropped them off over three hours ago so we could go Christmas Shopping. Besides, I would have to convince Nikki, too!
“Okay, but there are only two of these left and the sale is today only, so you may miss out," James responded.
“I know," I answered quickly. I had other thoughts on my mind. Thoughts of how I was going to convince Nikki that it was a good idea to purchase this TV.
As Adam and I briskly walked through the store, scanning each isle for Nikki and Adam’s wife, Emily, Adam literally bumped into someone.
“Sorry," Adam apologized, catching his balance. He had nearly fallen down in collision with a person standing at the end of an isle thumbing through a sales rack of movies.
“Hey! Adam! Josh! What are you guys doing here?” Adam’s collider asked. It was Scott, Adam’s older cousin.
“Oh, hey, man," Adam stated in surprise. “We were just doing some shopping. What are you doing here?
“Looking for a movie and I am going to check into buying a new HDTV," Scott boasted. He was the type of person that had to have the latest technologies. He waited in line for twelve hours just to get an iPhone. Then, after he bought it, he went and got a totally different one.
“You already have a plasma," I tried to remind him.
“Yea, I know, but I seen that Best Buy had them on sale. Besides, mine is over six months old. I want the Samsung Flat-Panel Plasma. I think they are on sale for nine hundred ninety nine dollars," he said.
“Oh, wow! That is a great deal," I said prentending not to already know about the sale. I quickly changed the subject “Adam, there is Nikki and Emily. We better get going”.
“Yea, we should," Adam agreed. “Scott, it was nice running into you, but we do have to go”.
“Okay, I will see you at Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. Take care!” Scott said as he turned back to the rack of movies.
“Alright," Adam replied. “See ya there”.
Adam and I quickly headed towards Nikki and Emily. They were now both squatting down, looking at CDs.
“Hey, honey," I said happily as I walked up behind Nikki. “Can we get a new TV? They are on…”
“I doubt it," Nikki quickly replied, cutting me off before I had the chance to plead my case. “How much?”
“Well, first, just imagine yourself, relaxing on our comfy couch on Thursday night watching Survivor," I said, trying to interest her. “After a hard days work wouldn't you want to…”
“Hey, can we get going? Are you two lovely ladies buying anything?” Adam said, trying to get us moving towards the exit.
“Nope, we can go. We decided that we weren’t going to get these today," Emily said, putting a handful of CDs back on the shelf.
“So, how much is the TV?" Nikki asked as we made our way outside Best Buy and towards our car.
“Well, it is originally thirteen hundred ninety nine dollars. But it is on sale, today only, for nine hundred ninety nine dollars," I informed.
“Wow!" Emily exclaimed with her eyes wide in amazement."That is a great deal".
“But, we already have one," Nikki quickly responded. “Ours works, why do we need a new one?”
“Well…” I began as I climbed in to the driver’s seat of our car. “Just imagine…our entertainment center, out of the living room, just as you have always wanted. Just imagine… us watching our favorite television shows in the summer without getting that annoying glare from the window. Just imagine…us snuggled up on the couch together on Saturday night watching a movie but not having to guess as to what the small words are in the subtitles.”
“Yea, just imagine Josh and I, playing Madden and watching football on Sunday," Adam chimed in. By the look on Nikki’s face, that image was ruining my chances of convincing her.
“I think what Adam is trying to say is, just imagine…you will not hear any complaints from us on Sundays as we are watching football and watching the kids as you and Emily are out shopping," I said.
As I looked over at Nikki in the passenger seat, I could tell that she was actually thinking about it. That she was actually considering saying yes to us purchasing a TV even though we 'already have one'.
“Well, I will have to think about it," Nikki finally replied after a short moment of silence. "But, I don't really see the point".
As I made our way back to Adam’s mom’s house, I thought to myself that I better think of a few more ways to convince Nikki. If I cannot totally convince her that this is a good idea, she will come up with a hundred reasons why we should not get it.
As I continued driving, I was deep in thought, thinking of ways to get the TV. Before I knew it, we were pulling into the driveway at Adam’s mom’s house. I stayed in the car as Nikki ran in to get our kids and Adam and Emily got out to go in and get their kids.
“ADAM!” I shouted at the window. “I will give you a call later”.
“Okay, good luck!” Adam replied, giving me a thumbs up.
While Nikki was inside, I thought of a couple more ways to convince her that we should get the TV. I knew the sale was today only, so I had to get her to say yes soon.
On the way home, I continued pleading my case.
“Just imagine…we can watch TV that actually has clarity," I began. “Just imagine…”
Nikki interrupted, “Just imagine how long you are going to owe me and what you are going to repay me with for saying you can get that TV”.
To my surprise, Nikki said yes. She actually was going to buy a TV when ours was not broken.
“Thank you so much. I love you!” I replied, with a huge smile on my face. I was ecstatic. I could not wait to tell Adam that we were going back to Best Buy to get that TV.
After we got home, I called Adam to tell him the good news.
“Hey, man! How did it go?” Adam answered.
“Well, just imagine us watching football each Sunday on my new 42’ Samsung Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV, as I give Nikki massages," I said happily.
“That was easy," he claimed.
“Yea, well, just imagine, you helping me clean the house and watching the kids as Nikki and Emily go shopping tonight," I said.