Dad the builder

Bill: "What are you working on in the garage?"

Dad: "I'm building a table for the dining room."

Bill: "We already have a table there."

Dad: "Yeah well that one is plastic and folds. This is made with, you know, wood."

Bill: "Sounds expensive. Did mom approve of this?"

Dad: "It was basically her idea! Besides it's super cheap to make it yourself. I'm doing one of those rustic farmhouse tables and a bench that are all the rage nowadays. The wood and bits only cost like 80 bucks!"

Bill: "Wow so you only spent 80 bucks on this project? That is a good deal."

Dad: "Well I had to get a few tools and such. Needed a drill, circular saw, sander, hand saw, block plane, various bits and attachments... but your Papa gave me a router so that saved a few bucks!"

Bill: "You didn't already have any of those things? Haven't you ever built anything before?"

Dad: "Well... I've built a lot of computers."

Bill: "But nothing out of wood?"

Dad: "When I was little my Grandpa Clubb have me a bunch of wood scraps, some nails, and a hammer. I built a heck of a building out of that."

Bill: "Yeah? So was your mom stoked about her prodigal son?"

Dad: "Yes and no. I built a tower but had trouble getting it to stand up so I nailed it to the porch. In front of the door. She couldn't get outside to see it but it looked real neat from the window I'm told."

Bill: "Okay so you spent a bunch of money to build a table when your only experience is making a doorstop."

Dad: "A table and a bench!"

Bill: "Right. So does mom know about this capital outlay?"

Dad: "Mostly."

Bill: "Maybe I should have a discussion with her. Although, since you are in a spending mood, I could use a new Vtech car."

Dad: "You can't talk. Besides, that's blackmail. I raised you better than that."

Bill: "You raised me to be smart. And I have a long memory. Right now I just want a toy. Who knows what I might want by the time I can talk. It could get expensive."

Dad: "New toy it is!"