August 30, 2008.
“Junior, I’ve decided to take a trip to Hawaii. Babs and Fawn here want me to show them Diamondhead. I’ll see you next month.” The call sent shock waves down Junior’s spine. “ What if he meets some bimbo and decides to marry her? Where will that leave me?” he thought.
September 30, 2008.
Senior comes home from Hawaii with the requisite tan. He checks the lots to see how sales are going, then shoots a few television ads with Babs and Fawn getting some promised screen time, and spends the next few weeks doing personal appearances. Of course the ulterior motive was that college football season was well under way, he didn’t want to miss those Crimson Tide games. Junior noted a change in his father. Once very cautious, his father’s behavior became more and more reckless. He announced that he was going skiing in Utah in December. He started driving around the souped up very ungreen Muscle that Bipco Motors had released much to its chagrin. Not a green car in any stretch of the imagination.
October 17, 2008.
“Come on in Junior”, Jack Jenkins motioned to his son standing outside of a Tuscaloosa hotel room. “This is Bonnie and what’s your name darlin’ I forgot”? The smell of bourbon and young women with cheap cologne filled the room. Not that Junior was a prude, he had just left the dorm room of a Cheerleader whose name he had already forgotten having celebrated another Bama Victory. Junior replied, “no thanks, Dad, sorry to interrupt, just wanted to go over the September sales figures with you like we discussed yesterday.” “Well come back in the late morning son, we’ll have brunch.”
January 21, 2009.
“Junior, despite the depression, I think your dad’s car dealerships are worth about $100 Million. You need to tie him down and do some estate planning,” the company accountant told Junior. “Otherwise, Uncle Sugar going to get $50 Million from your sorry butt, unless of course your dad happens to die during the year 2010 when there is no estate tax.” Junior laughed, “No chance of that happening unless it’s a jealous husband, boyfriend or angry father. Dad’s been spreading the love, shall we say. “Well marriage would save a ton of taxes, but a prenup would be an absolute necessity”. Junior cringed at the thought of his dad marrying some hot babe who would soon be eating bon bons and giving birth to future siblings.