Character Profile: Randy Smoot

Randy Smoot is a retired General Electric employee. He spent years working in the Chicago district, wearing his nerves and fingertips to traceless emptiness.

On Saturday, Randy's son and daughter-in-law invited him to the Museum of Science and Industry. "We have tickets to the Harry Potter exhibit!" He could hear Sam squealing in the background as he listened to his son on the phone. Goddamn witches and wizards and froo-froo pansy stuff, thought Randy. They'll be sorry when that kid grows up wearing a skirt and a wig.

"I really don't know, son," he responded, "My knee's been killin' me this week and you know I play cards with the boys at 6 pm."

He didn't bother to tell him that the game had been canceled due to the church potluck. Randy wasn't going. He never went to church after Norma passed. For a moment, the thought of a schedule-less Saturday seemed appealing.

"Come on, dad," his son pressed, "It'd mean the world Sam."

"Okay."


On Saturday morning, he rode in front on the way to the museum. He liked riding in front especially when he couldn't drive. Sitting in back was horseshit if you are the man of the house and Randy was certain he wasn't going to endure that get-up Sam was in. "Why's the boy wearing a cloak like some pocket watch salesman?!" He'd asked his daughter-in-law. She had laughed at him.
"It's part of the fun," she responded.

Later, after the submarine exhibit and the coal mine, Randy and his family approached the entrance for the Harry Potter display. "On second thought, I think I'll meet you downstairs at the entrance. You know, near that train."

"But Dad!" his son protested.
Sam was already jumping and raising his hand to answer Potter quiz questions.
He wouldn't notice.

Randy reached the large train display and noticed a tour began in five minutes. He followed a group onto the historic vehicle and listened as the tour guide explained the train's speed, saying it was known to cut travel time in half from Chicago to Denver.

Time.
Something he didn't have a lot of, he felt, listening and stuffing his museum programs in the front of his jeans. He looked up and noticed a young blond woman looking at the bundle shoved halfway down his pants.

She looked concerned.
Probably thinks I'm too old or stupid to know not to put them there, he thought. Probably wants to tell me to shove 'em in my back pocket. His rationale for being able to keep track of the programs would be lost on her, he was certain.

So he smiled at her - a big toothy grin.
She'd think he was a lunatic, out for his last adventure before commitment.

The woman turned away, stifling a giggle.

As he stepped off the train, he noticed his family - Sam carrying a wand and waving it about. He couldn't wait to tell his grandpa about the tour.
Holding the arm rail to ease his way down from the platform, Randy smirked and then gave a "Whoot!" as he jumped the last step.

The pamphlets fell to the floor.
Straightening up a bit, Randy picked up the pamphlets and swatted his son playfully.

Startled, his family led him out of the museum and back to the car.
"Here's to livin'" was all he could keep saying.