A man in Brisbane calls his son in Adelaide two days before Christmas
and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that
your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is
enough."

"Geez Dad, what are you talking about?" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says,
"we're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this,
so you call your sister in Darwin and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "No way they're
getting divorced!" she shouts, "I'll take care of this.".

She calls Brisbane immediately and screams at her father, "You are
not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm
calling my brother back, and we'll both be there by tomorrow. Until
then, don't do a thing. DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up the phone.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says,
"they're coming for Christmas and paying their own way.".