SOPHIA - Age of Intelligence
Page 55
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Simon pulled his car up alongside the inspection booth at the Canadian border crossing, handed the officer the appropriate documents, and then lowered the rear left window in order to allow visual confirmation of his backseat occupants. The Customs officer glanced from each piece of identification and its corresponding holder while asking the usual questions. “What is the purpose of your visit to Canada?”
“A well-deserved vacation,” Simon answered, smiling. A few more inquiries were politely answered, confirming for Simon that the Canadian authorities came across as being more serious than their American counterparts. However, when the agent handed the documents back to Simon, the man smiled as if recognizing him. Uncharacteristically, the guard went off character, and winked. “Are you going to vouch for that character in the back?”
Simon picked up on the guard’s inference immediately. “I don’t know. Are we letting Ranger fans into the country these days?”
Marcus feigned a protest, but it was quickly subdued by Jennifer’s next comment. She leaned toward her father’s driver side window, saying: “I’m not sure I should mention this, but he doesn’t get the whole Tim Hortons thing.”
A few more indulgences were expensed to Marcus’s dignity, but within moments they were on their way toward the suspension bridge that spanned the Canadian portion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. While passing over its one hundred and twenty foot peak, Jennifer asked: “What was the song your father used to play for you and Lionel – you know, the one he would put on when you got to the old cottage near Kingston?”
“You mean the one by ELO?”
“Yeah,” Jennifer agreed. But before Simon could verbally command his car’s stereo into action, his Escalade’s blue-tooth interrupted the
music already playing. “Speak of the devil. Hey Brother,” he announced, answering the incoming call. “Where are you?”
“I’m on the 401 (Hwy). I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Hey Lionel,” Jennifer piped up.
“Is Dad with you?” Simon asked.
Lionel and Dakota drove on, as the car’s Bluetooth system was utilized. “Sorry Bro. He asked me to apologize … said there was something he had to take care of.”
A short pause was followed by more lighthearted pursuits. “Hey Jen. Did they let Marcus through?”
Hearing the conversation over the car’s speaker system, Marcus couldn’t help indulging a little sarcasm: “Yes, yes, and to answer your next question, yes they spared the rubber gloves this time.” His wife’s expression was easily interpreted as being disapproving.
Lionel laughed. “Well, Buddy,” he said, still smiling. “You’ll be happy to know I’ve got some cold Canadian beer in the trunk for you.”
“Isn’t a bit early for that?” Tanya asked her husband.
“Hey, when in Rome, my Dear.”