When an elderly man picked up the phone to call his son, his voice sounded serious. “Listen,” he said, “your mother and I are getting divorced. Forty-five years of misery is enough.”

His son was stunned. “Dad, what are you talking about?” he shouted.

“We can’t stand each other anymore,” the old man continued. “I’m tired of seeing her face. I’m done talking about it. Call your sister and let her know.” Then he hung up.

Panicking, the son immediately called his sister and told her everything. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What? They’re getting divorced after all these years?!” she screamed. Without wasting a second, she called their father.

“Dad! You are NOT getting divorced! My brother and I are flying home tomorrow to talk this through. Until then, don’t call a lawyer, don’t sign anything, do you hear me?” she said firmly before hanging up.

The old man smiled, turned to his wife sitting quietly beside him, and said: “Good news, sweetheart — they’re both coming home for Christmas, and they’re paying for their own tickets.”

After years of trying to convince their grown-up children to visit, he finally found a plan that worked. Sometimes it doesn’t take guilt, money, or gifts… just a little clever thinking and a sense of humor.

Moral of the story: Parents always know how to get what they want — and this time, it only cost a phone call!