At the dinner table, before the meal, the Cooper family children kept looking at their father.
Clearly, Mary had already spoken to the three of them about their father.
After the pre-meal prayer, George tapped the table to get everyone's attention and said, "I have an important announcement to make. I received an invitation from the Oklahoma High football team. They offered me a very high salary, and I'll have great development opportunities there…"
George confidently elaborated on the benefits of him teaching in Oklahoma, then he looked at his three children and asked, "Are you willing to support Dad's work?"
Old Texans value family greatly, and at this moment, George truly hoped to receive his family's support and approval.
However, the three children fell silent, clearly the result of Mary's earlier conversation with them had taken effect.
Finally, it was Sheldon who spoke first: "If you go to Oklahoma to teach, do we need to move?"
"Of course." George smiled and reassured him, "But don't worry, with the salary Oklahoma High is offering me, we'll quickly be able to own our own house there again."
However, Sheldon didn't listen to any of his father's reassurances. His thinking was just like his mother's; he was afraid of his familiar routine being disrupted.
What's more, in the past six months, Sheldon had, for once, made friends here.
He understood his own personality well and knew that after changing environments, he might never again meet people like Tam and Mike who were willing to be his friends.
So, Sheldon said earnestly, "I don't want to leave here and live in a new place; that would be too much trouble."
His youngest son's answer made the confident expression on George's face stiffen.
Afterward, he heard his youngest daughter, Missy, say, "I don't want to leave Medford Town either."
As she said this, Missy's gaze furtively shifted towards the handsome Mike, clearly she didn't want to be separated from Mike.
The two children were still young; they couldn't understand the importance of George's new job to their family.
"Georgie, what's your opinion?" George shifted his attention to his eldest son.
"I…" Georgie frowned and thought for a moment. He vaguely understood that his decision might have a significant impact on their family.
Looking at the hopeful eyes of both parents, Georgie hesitated for a long while before shaking his head and saying, "I don't know—"
After reserving his opinion, he silently lowered his head and said nothing more.
Hearing the children's answers, Mary felt a little secretly pleased. But to make her husband completely give up the idea, she pressed on, "Mom, Mike, you two should also share your thoughts."
In Mary's view, her mom was old and probably didn't want to be separated from her family, especially since she loved her obedient grandson, Sheldon, so much.
As for Mike, given his relationship with George, he probably wouldn't want their family to leave either.
However, the reality surprised Mary.
Connie took a sip of beer and slowly said, "This opportunity is very rare for George. I think he should seize it. Of course, the final decision should still be discussed among yourselves as a family."
Connie, with her rich life experience, could easily discern the good and bad of a situation. However, this was, after all, the Cooper family's matter, and it was not appropriate for her to interfere too deeply.
This was probably the wisdom of life.
"I also think this is a great opportunity for George," Mike immediately expressed his opinion, and then said no more.
In fact, for such significant issues involving another family, outsiders getting too deeply involved can easily lead to a thankless outcome.
Hearing Connie and Mike's statements, the expression on Mary's face stiffened; this was not the answer she wanted at all.
But soon, she regained her natural expression and said, "Excluding George's abstention, the opinions are now tied at two to two…"
Looking at her husband's conflicted expression, Mary wanted to say directly that she disagreed with their family moving to Oklahoma.
But to spare her husband's feelings, she tactfully continued, "How about this, George, you go to Oklahoma to teach, and I'll stay here to take care of the children. That way, neither side is delayed."
This compromise, while seemingly considerate of George, was actually forcing him to choose between his family and his career.
It must be said that Mary's approach was very clever.
And the result was exactly as she had imagined.
George, who valued family more, looked back and forth at his three children several times before making a concession: "Forget it, the job at Oklahoma High isn't that great anyway. I can find other work; it's no big deal."
George gave up what might have been the best opportunity of his life, choosing instead to give his children a complete family.
"That's wonderful!" Hearing her husband's words, Mary was somewhat moved. Then, she got up and gave him a hug.
The three children also showed happy expressions when they heard their father chose to stay. This matter seemed to have a perfect ending.
However, Mike, as an "outsider," saw the lonely expression beneath George's forced smile.
Connie also frowned and glanced at her daughter. Then, she suggested, "Since George is out of work now, how about he takes charge of cooking for Mike and me from now on?
Of course, we'll pay him eight hundred dollars a month for food until he finds a job."
It could be imagined that George had been a football coach for half his life, and besides football, he had no other marketable skills.
Finding another suitable job would be very difficult for him.
Connie also wanted to use the excuse of food expenses to temporarily relieve Cooper's financial pressure.
"This…" George, whose mind hadn't caught up yet, was about to refuse.
In his opinion, Connie and Mike were family, and eight hundred dollars a month for living expenses was simply too much.
It should be known that Mary's weekly salary at the church was only two hundred dollars, which translated to just eight hundred dollars a month.
However, Mary, thinking more long-term, saw Connie's intention. She glared at her husband, then answered for him, "Of course, no problem! If you want special brisket in the future, you can ask George to make it for you."
In fact, George only had his secret recipe for roasted beef that was presentable; Mary herself could handle Mike's meals on a daily basis.
After finalizing the shared dining agreement, the atmosphere at the dinner table became lively.
At this moment, Georgie also remembered Mike leaving the football team.
"I also have something to discuss with everyone." Georgie, mimicking his father from earlier, said, "What do you all think about Mike leaving the team?"
"It's great. Mike's face is too wasted playing football," Connie said with a smile, teasing him.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm—" Missy nodded in agreement.
"Football is a barbaric sport…" Sheldon also expressed his opinion.
George already knew about Mike's decision and didn't say much at this point.
Thus, Georgie's idea of getting Mike back on the football team fell through.