Bill kicks off the conversation by joking about what he had to do just to come fishing. He laughs and says, “I spent all weekend painting the entire house—every wall, every ceiling—just so my wife would let me come fishing today.” The others immediately understand—sometimes, getting a little freedom means doing a big home project first.

Tom jumps in next, not wanting to be outdone. He proudly says, “Painting? That’s nothing. I promised my wife I’d build her a brand-new pool deck.” He explains the heavy work ahead but admits this trip was his way of buying peace before starting the project. The group bursts into laughter.

Jerry raises the stakes even more. Grinning, he tells them he promised to redo the whole kitchen—“new cabinets, new counters, new floors—the works.” He jokes that it’s worth it just to enjoy a few hours without hearing the word “renovation.”

Finally, they turn to Frank, the quiet one. When asked what he promised his wife, he simply replies, “Nothing.” The others don’t believe him until he explains his trick: he woke his wife early and asked, “Fishing or breakfast together?” Her answer was perfect: “Wear a sweater—it’s cold out there.”

The men explode with laughter. While they negotiated their freedom through hard labor, Frank used timing and humor.

As they pack up later, Bill shakes his head and says he may try Frank’s method next time. Their day on the lake becomes a lesson in marriage, compromise, and clever thinking.