This morning, my father was on a mission. Destiny awaited him, and he was ready for it. His family couldn't do it, we'd already tried and failed. My brother earned a PlayStation 2 with his excellent academic track record, and finally cashed in on his hard work a few weeks ago. He'd been so looking forward to the game/epic saga Final Fantasy X. After a long ordeal with a memory card shortage, finally it seemed all was well. Parents were satisfied with great academic fortitude, son was happy with epic saga video game. We paid $299 for the PS2 system. Then, Micro$oft announced a $100 price maulslash on the X-Box. Unrest was felt in the gaming community. The force was now unbalanced, and something had to give. Change was impending, inevitable. Rumors and wild speculation flung about like dough in a pizza parlor. Then it happened, then the fateful day arrived ... May 14, 2002 - The price cut was announced. The PS2 is now $199. I still remember so clearly the moment I first heard the news. Sitting at my desk, getting ready for work - checking the gaming forums for the latest - expecting the typical humdrum daily announcements. And then I saw it - it hit me with the force of a stunning redhead in a black & white construct. Joy, fear, and uncertainty immediately flooded by body, and I grew dizzy with excitement. Joy at the prospect of being elligible for a 30-day price guarantee. FEAR at the chance of not receiving a tidy refund. Uncertainty as in, "oh gosh, where the waldo is the receipt??" In the twisted irony of fate - the receipt was missing. Thrown out by a careless mother, perhaps an ignorant son, only God knows ... Thus, the duty now rested upon the brave father. Armed with courage, faith, and social engineering skills - daddy headed out bright and early, 9:00 a.m., ready for an encounter with the mindless dronesemployees at Fry's Electronics. The family awaited in the following hours in what seemed like eternity ... no news is almost worse than bad news, but at least with no news there's still hope and sometimes, when hope is all you have left, its more valuable than gold - it can sustain a man and his will to live. Then - the return. The sound of the garage opening, the car's engine extinguishing with a putter, the cracking open of the door. The brave warrior takes a step into his abode. With the unique excitement that only comes in that fleeting moment prior to revelation, where the unknown comes into light, the family gathers around their leader. Quietly and gently he recounts the tale of How My Father Got Our One Hundred Bucks Back Despite Us Losing the Receipt. And we rejoiced! The enemy had been conquered, vanquished, driven back! And our daddy had come through when none of us could. Armed with a credit card receipt and the sales database at Fry's (thank the Lord for technology), my father came, saw, and conquered. And thus ... we live to see another day. Happily ever after, yada yada ...