Mrs. Chako Meets DrChako - The First Date

So my friend Sean suggested I share some of my favorite moments with my husband. As our relationship has been filled with numerous comical moments, I thought I would share our first date story.

I'll skip the lead up - it involves him taking 4 months to even ask me out, me having to force his hand, then not knowing if it was really a date (we went with two other people who weren't dating and were mutual friends), having a long protracted conversation with my roommate about who she was interested in (DrChako or the friend) and how we would discern who was interested in each of us (if either one of them was interested that way, at all) . . . I know for a fact the conversation with the men was probably more along the lines of "I think the blonde is hot - you good with the brunette?" End of discussion.

So we decide to see a movie and the good Dr. is wise enough to force our hands - he jumps in the back seat of the car (his friend is driving), leaving the choice of seating arrangements up to us. I climb in the back with him (making my choice clear, but still not sure if that's the direction he was heading), and we head to the movies. The men were gentlemen and bought our movie tickets. However, I'm still not sure if its a date or not, and I want to be gracious and give him an opening to just be friends, if that is his preference.

So we get to the concession stand and order food. Its loud and crowded and we're having to talk loud to be heard. The cashier smiles and says "that will be $X." DrChako starts to pull out money and I say "No, no. You got the tickets - I'll get the snacks." He smiles and says, "Put your money away - I've got it." I smile back and say "No, really - my treat." The crowd is now piling up behind us, waiting for us to finish this transaction. The chatter is making it hard for us to hear each other.

"You know," he says loudly, to overcome the noise in the lobby, "if you pay for that . . . "

(At this point, for whatever reason, there is a moment of silence in the lobby. Kind of like that old EF Hutton commercial ("when EF Hutton talks, people listen"))

. . . "I'll feel obligated to go to bed with you."

I managed to contain my surprise. I'm no prude, but this was a FIRST date. The lobby is stunned into silence, as they look from my face to his and back again, like it's the final match at Wimbledon. Over his should, I see his buddy, Dr. S., and his eyes are wide with shock. I look back at DrChako, and I see the red creeping up his neck and over his ears. For those of you who have the privilege of knowing my husband, you will know that when he is tremendously embarrassed (which can happen easily), his ears turn a beautiful shade of crimson.

I slid my money across the counter to the cashier.

The lobby cheered.

Editors postscript:

Since some of my readers are poker players, would that story be funnier if I ended it by saying "I pushed all-in. He called." ?