Chapter 195: Old George Arrives
"If you're talking about what happened the night without heating, there's nothing to be ashamed of," Sheldon said reassuringly.
"That's not it. We agreed not to talk about it again." Howard blushed.
"It's just four grown men sleeping close together for warmth. We're just trying to prevent hypothermia."
"Oh my god, are you really that dramatic?" Ron's mouth dropped open in surprise. "There are many other ways to prevent hypothermia. For example, you could build a fire."
"Come on, we're in the Arctic. Where would we get firewood?" Howard waved his arms in panic.
"I imagine you still have a lot of wooden furniture in your shelter, like bed frames. And if you build a simple ventilation system, I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult for you. It should be enough to handle one night. You don't have to burn the whole bed, you can sleep on sleeping bags too. In fact, I sleep on a cot at home in Texas."
All four of their mouths opened into an O shape. So there's this method? Why didn't we think of it?
"It's actually not that bad. I think this kind of experience really helps build team bonding," Rajesh said.
Ron was surprised at first, but then he calmed down after thinking about Rajesh's background. In a country like India, with all its cultural differences, Ron wouldn't be surprised by alternative approaches to survival.
However, Howard's next words really opened Sheldon's eyes: "Well, actually, the data detected by your instrument isn't evidence of magnetic monopoles. It's just static electricity from your electric toothbrush. We kept turning it on and off..."
"Listen, Ron, they actually dared to tamper with my experiment!" Sheldon sat up angrily.
"I understand, my dear brother~" Ron nodded to show that he understood their actions: "I think they must have done this to avoid you driving them crazy. God knows how difficult people like you can be."
"You have no idea what kind of willpower it takes for me to resist dragging you behind my pickup truck after being your brother for more than 20 years."
Sheldon felt deeply betrayed: "Does Leonard know? He is my best friend, he certainly doesn't know."
"Well, actually, this was his idea."
"Of course it was Leonard, he designed the experimental protocol." Sheldon suddenly realized.
Sheldon is a theoretical physicist, and Leonard is an experimental physicist. The experiment was of course designed by Leonard. Sheldon angrily went out to confront Leonard. Ron wanted to go with him and continue watching the drama, but his cell phone rang.
It turned out to be a call from old George. Ron had to give up watching Sheldon interrogate Leonard and answered the phone: "George, have you finally remembered that you have a second son who's still alive? You almost never call me."
"Why should I call the little punk who always hid my beer when he was a kid?"
"Please, it's for your health. Think about it, if you continue drinking that much every day, coupled with your weight, you're going to have a heart attack sooner or later. I just want you to exercise more with me."
"Alright," old George sighed. Compared with his other two sons who gave him headaches, this son was still a little more reliable: "Can you pick me up at the airport? I just landed in Los Angeles."
"You're in Los Angeles?" Ron was a bit surprised. "Did Mom kick you out to sleep on the couch again? What did you do this time? Flirt with the waitress at the restaurant?"
"Ahem," George said, nearly choking on his own spit. "I'll say it again, it was that girl who wanted the number for my star player. There's really nothing between her and me. It's your mother who's being overly suspicious!"
"Okay, whatever you say." Ron decided not to argue with his father. Nothing had happened anyway. Maybe it was just as George said, or maybe the first sign of trouble was nipped in the bud. Anyway, his family was doing fine, thank God.
"I came here mainly to see that kid from the Tuohy family. He's old enough for college, and my team happens to need a good offensive tackle. I've seen his game film, and he's a real prospect."
Ron remembered that Collins seemed to have mentioned this a while ago. Sean had made a highlight reel of Michael's games and sent it to various universities. It seemed George had received a copy as well.
Before Christmas, Mr. Tuohy had told Ron that he hoped he'd find time to bring Michael to Texas to meet Coach Cooper. He hoped Michael would have a chance to play for his hometown team.
Unexpectedly, before Ron could arrange a time, George Sr. showed up on his own, looking incredibly eager.
"Okay, give me an hour, I'll be there soon."
This was understandable. The Texas Longhorns currently boasted the best quarterbacks and running backs in the Big 12, and a top-tier defense.
But they also had the weakest offensive line. Okay, the word weak might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the guys currently starting were definitely not elite. Michael was arguably the Longhorns' missing piece.
"Big Mike is certainly impressive, but he's also quite sensitive emotionally. Perhaps it's his background that's made him a bit fragile, but he's a real protector," Ron said as he helped George Sr. load his luggage into the trunk.
"It's okay. He'll toughen up as he trains with his teammates. Grit and teamwork have always been the Longhorns' tradition."
"You're telling me the team I demolished is a tough team?" Ron, displeased with George Sr.'s boasting, immediately challenged him.
"Who told you to go to Harvard?!" George Sr. grumbled. "I'm a football coach's son, and I go play for someone else's team and then beat my dad's. Do you know what my colleagues in the coaching world think of me?"
The Cooper family had four children. George Jr., the eldest, hadn't finished high school before he started thinking about making money, neglecting his studies, let alone football. Everyone knew what little Sheldon was like; letting him play would be like throwing a lamb to wolves.
Only Ron, who inherited George Sr.'s athletic ability and became a star football player, went to another school.
"I bet they're praising you for having such a talented son," Ron said. "Who told me the University of Texas's academic programs are ranked so low? I can't just ignore my studies for the sake of playing football, can I?"
"But you became a federal agent after graduation. What does that have to do with your major?" Old George got frustrated when he mentioned this. He patted the dashboard and said, "Drive to the Tuohy house."
(End of this chapter)
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