Arthur’s first date with Beatrice had gone surprisingly well, right up until the point he realized her family took "literal interpretations" to a professional level.
Arthur’s first date with Beatrice had gone surprisingly well, right up until the point he realized her family took "literal interpretations" to a professional level. Beatrice was charming, intelligent, and a competitive gymnast. Arthur, a man who once tripped over a cordless phone, was mostly just happy to be invited to her doorstep. As they reached her front porch, the air grew thick with that classic, awkward first-date tension. Arthur leaned in, his heart doing a nervous little tap-dance. Suddenly, Beatrice’s eyes widened. "Wait! I almost forgot the Rule." "The Rule?" Arthur whispered, imagining a curfew or perhaps a dietary restriction involving garlic. "Mother was very specific," Beatrice said, her face set in grim determination. "She said, and I quote: 'Do not let that boy kiss you on the mouth.' " Before Arthur could ask if a cheek-peck was a viable legal loophole, Beatrice dropped into a perfect, lightning-fast handsta...