"We all felt bad about Roy having to put off his dream of becoming a lawyer, but deep down we knew he was doing the right thing. You've got to be there when your family needs you, even if it means personal sacrifice. You would do well to remember that, son, when your mother and I are old and want to move in with you."
"Don't even joke about that," I said in mock horror. "You still haven't explained how Roy became a financial planning expert. This isn't going to be one of your famous three-hour stories, is it?"
"No, no. I'm getting to the financial part.
"Roy did a tremendous job running the barber shop. He did some things that at the time were unique. Without a doubt, the most innovative and profitable was 'the hair truck.' Apart from the Tigers, Roy has always had two main hobbies. One is going to auctions and the other is tinkering with old cars and trucks. In his second year at the shop, he combined the two hobbies beautifully.
"He bought a barber chair at an auction and installed it in the back of an old moving truck. Then he put in a basin complete with running water, a power supply, and even a magazine rack. On Tuesdays, Roy took the hair truck to some of the local factories. He lifted the sliding door on the back and, voila, he was open for business. The workers flocked over during their breaks and lunches. It was so convenient. What was the worst day of the week for most barbers was now Roy's best. In fact, he did so well on Tuesdays that he hired another barber to go back on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Eventually, a new ordinance put a stop to all the fun. But in the four or five years the hair truck was in operation, Roy brought in a lot of business and, more important, built a large and loyal clientele.