It was the D-Day Kate was presenting her suitor to her family. She had reservations. As her heart pounded, different thoughts ran through her mind. The ‘What ifs’ seemed to be endless. She had been seeing Joseph for while now. After a series of failed relationships, he came to mend her broken heart. For a lady in her 30s dating a man that was twice her age, there seemed to be a clash in their generations.
His ways were clearly not hers. Asides their different temperaments and personalities, they had different behaviours. It was evident at the onset of their relationship but with understanding, they both adjusted and have gotten used to each other.
The house was looking spick and span. Kate had ensured it looked neat enough and accomodating. However, there was one cobweb hanging loosely over the calendar. She wondered how she could have missed it. The broom was withing her reach. She used it to clear the cobweb and took another look at the living room. Kate did all this to appease her man. She knew him to “suffer from ‘OCD'”. The fact that Joseph liked everything clean and in order, was one of the things that made her more attracted to him. Initially, it had cause problems for them in their relationship.
She recalled how she was the disorganised one. The first day she stepped into his apartment, she was surprised at the way he seemed so neat and organised. Probably, she thought he would be like her brothers. Those ones were the complete opposite. They would dump their things anyhow making a mess. She had shouted to no avail but eventually learnt to live with their attitude. Thankfully, they were now on their own so they can do as they please. That is what you get for coming from a family of boys and being the only girl.
A horn screeched. Kate peeped through the window. She saw a grey Mercedes Benz car parked outside the gate. It was Joseph’s. She quickly rushed to take a second look at herself. She applied lip gloss, brushed her hair allowing it to cascade down her shoulders. Straightening her dress, she was happy with her appearance and made for the door. She didn’t want to keep him waiting.
He was mesmerised by her beauty. They hugged as she opened the door. As he made his way to the living room, his perfume saturated the space. Kate excused herself and went to call her parents to meet her man. Her brothers were away. She knew she could win them but her parents she was unsure.
First impressions they say are lasting impressions. It was obvious her parents, her dad in particular disliked Joseph. Why was he sarcastic to refer to him as ‘Young man’ with the grey beard so prominent. It turned out to be an awkward meeting with her parents. Kate didn’t want to recall the experience. But she loves Joseph just the same way he did. How was she going to win her parents over?