Stephen Bleile

It’s your typical romance story. Guy likes girl. Girl shoots guy down. Guy does everything in his power to forget girl and ‘move on.’ Guy cannot seem to escape girl. Girl is oblivious (according to the girl.) Girl and guy have above average number of friendly disagreements only they didn’t seem all that friendly. Guy figures out that the only reason there are so many skirmishes is because he’s really working hard not to like girl. Guy wonders why he would work so hard when liking the girl may be easier. Guy remembers previous shoot down and decides to revamp strategy. Guy finds 101 reasons to be around girl as often as possible including fixing downspout, mowing lawn, chopping wood, hedging bushes, driving family to the airport, and however many more reasons would be needed to top the list to 101. Girl claims to be oblivious of guys advances. Guy keeps going through 101 reasons. Girl concedes having guy around isn’t so bad. Guy takes girl out for a trip on his super cool motorbike. Girl concedes that she is not freaked out at his advances (though that thought freaked girl out.) Guy leaves country for 10 days and girl is sure to talk to him every day. Guy comes back then Girl leaves the country for three weeks and they manage to communicate on a regular basis. Guy sends present in walnut. Girl doesn’t open because she doesn’t like walnuts. Guy asks her to open the walnut anyways. Girl find pearl in walnut. Guy takes girl to dinner and surprisingly all of their friends are there. Walnuts mysteriously appear on table. Girl is getting suspicious. Guy asks girl to crack the nuts. Girl finds a ring. Guy proposes. Girl says yes.

At least that’s how it seems to me in hindsight. (Me being the guy and Tash being the girl.)((If you hadn’t already figured that out.))