I was getting ready to finally meet my girlfriend’s parents.
- I was nervous enough before I picked her up, but now I was petrified.
The first words she said to me was that if I loved her I would do exactly as she said. She then told me that for tonight, you are NOT an HVAC technician. You are Harold Butler, son of the local butcher, and you are just home for the weekend. My mouth dropped open and I had no idea what to say. She lifted my chin and told me she would explain later. I walked into the house and when she introduced me as Harold Butler, I ignored her. I forgot that was my name for tonight. I was used to being Victor Swinski, local HVAC technician. I didn’t like being called Harold. Charlene’s mom asked what I did for a living and Charlene answered. She told her about me being the son of the local butcher and I was only home for the weekend. An hour later, Charlene was helping her mom in the kitchen. Her dad leaned over and asked who I really was. I started to say I was Harold, but I couldn’t remember the last name. I told him I was Victor Swinski, and I was a local HVAC technician. He told me that if I loved his daughter and wanted to marry her, I should stick with Charlene’s story. Her mother hated HVAC technicians. I asked him why, and he told me she thought they always overcharged and didn’t trust anyone who had to wear a uniform and wasn’t a police officer or soldier.