I can’t believe this is the eighth time I’m smashing open my piggy bank on the same day

Dipping back into his memory bank, John closed his eyes for a brief moment to allow himself some time to sort through his memories. He opened his eyes a few seconds later, “eight days a week,” he said emphatically, which caused his friend, David, to raise his eyebrows.

“Eight days a week,” David repeated.

“Yes, eight days a week,” confirmed John.

“You asked me what my favourite song was when I was growing up, and it was Eight Days a Week sung by the Beatles.”

David found that hard to believe. “With all the songs we grew up with, the one that’s your favourite was Eight Days a Week, but why?”

John shrugged his shoulders. He really didn’t know why, “except that I found it to be odd. There aren’t eight days in a week, there are only seven days. So, I thought it was a subliminal message being sent to the world and I wanted to be the first to figure it out.”

“And did you?”

“No, I still haven’t.”

“But why do you think there’s a subliminal message?”

“Well, I looked at it this way. I know the Beatles aren’t that high up on the spectrum of intelligence. Yes, I know they came up with song lyrics, but when it came to physics and maths, I don’t think they were that brilliant. But I thought that maybe because they weren’t that brilliant, they inadvertently had come up with something profound.”

“And, had they?”

“Well, unfortunately I have to say they didn’t. It was just poetic license, because they felt that eight days a week wouldn’t be enough time to show you I care or something like that.” “So, you’re now convinced there is no subliminal message.”

“No, I didn’t say that. I just said that I haven’t found it yet.”

“You’re confusing me. You told me that you didn’t think the Beatles were that intelligent when it comes to science subjects, so they couldn’t possibly have come up with something that had a deep meaning, except that eight days a week wouldn’t be enough time to show you I care, or words to that effect.” John lowered his eyes for a second as a memory came back to him. “What are you thinking?” asked David as he pushed aside his now very cold coffee and leaned back, closing his eyes so he could absorb some of the late spring’s sunrays as they both sat outside a coffee house near where they both grew up.

“Well,” John began sitting up straight and looking at his friend with his eyes closed. “Are you thinking something profound?” he asked him, “or just trying to work on your tan?”

“Not sure yet,” replied David and then let the smile on his face give his answer away. “Anyway, what I was thinking about was that I was so sure that there was a subliminal message in the song, that I actually did everything in eights to see if I could crack the code.” David opened his eyes and sat up, pulling his cup of cold coffee towards him and ultimately taking a sip.

“Is that why you had eight of everything? Eight girlfriends, eight cups of coffee everyday?” he continued pointing to John’s still filled cup of coffee. “Eight cars when you became wealthy….”

“And,” interrupted John, “eight piggy banks when I was a child.”

“Eight piggy banks!” repeated an astonished David. “Why,” and then he stopped himself. “And did you have money in all eight?”

“I did, I actually was very logical about it. I numbered them. And put money in each one every day in turn.”

“What a waste,” replied David, “you could’ve earned interest on that money.”

John shook his head. “No, that wasn’t the point. I wanted to fill them all up as fast as possible and see how much money I had collected.”

“And?” asked David looking at his now empty cup of coffee. “Do you want some more?” but John wasn’t ready for his eighth cup of coffee. David hadn’t counted, but it suddenly dawned on him that that was how many cups John had had. He didn’t want to go there because knowing his friend, he would lose his train of thought and he would never get the answer to his question about the eight piggy banks.

“When they were filled,” began John, “I broke them open.”

“Broke them all open?”

“Yes, broke them all open.”

“On the same day?”

“Yes, on the same day.” He let out a sharp laugh, “I remember very clearly standing over the smashed piggy banks with my dad’s hammer in my hand and saying out loudly, I can’t believe this is the eighth time I’m smashing open my piggy bank on the same day.”

“Wow!” replied David sitting back in his chair. “How did we ever stay friends? You’re weird.”

“Yes, I know that, but that’s why you like me.”

“No John, that’s not why like you. In fact, the reason I began to look you up was because you have an adorable sister and I wanted to get an introduction to her and you were in my class.” “Well David, it worked. You married my sister.”

“Yes it did and….”

“Is that why you have eight children?” asked John beginning to laugh.

“So, you knew about my favourite song and you too were trying to find a subliminal message!” John laughed some more, “and you thought I was nuts?”

“No, it wasn’t my idea to have 8 children. It was Andrea’s idea, so your weirdness must’ve washed off on her because she grew up in the same house.”

“You should ask her what her favourite song is.”

“Do I need to?” asked David getting up to get more coffee.

“Nah,” replied John slapping David playfully on his back. “I think you already know the answer to that!”