After My Cousin Introduced Me To His Cellmate For A Date

I brought my parents back to our hometown to celebrate Grandma's seventieth birthday.

At the party, in front of a crowd, my cousin David Stone—who had just been released from prison less than a year ago—decided it was the perfect moment to introduce his former cellmate as a prospective match for me.

With a grandiose air, David said, "Anna, Vincent's family is well-off and he usually doesn't bother with ordinary women. He thinks you're an exception. How about you two date for a couple of months and then get married?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Who do you think you are?"

——

At my parents' insistence, I drove them back to our hometown to celebrate my Grandma Amanda Stone's seventieth birthday.

As we entered the village, my parents, sitting nervously in the backseat, kept reminding me, "Anna, your Grandma is so old now. This is her first big birthday celebration. For today, please try to keep your cool and don't lose your temper.

"If you really can't hold it in, remember—use words if you can, use your hands if you must, but avoid using any tools, alright?"

I gave them a sideways glance and reluctantly agreed, "Alright."

In our rural village, when there was a celebration, pretty much everyone in town showed up to help out.

So, my grandpa Dylan Stone and Amanda's house was bustling with activity.

There were so many guests that the courtyard couldn't hold them all, so they set up a tent outside with rain covers.

The place was packed to the brim.

When the time came to start the feast, I noticed my parents visibly relax.

But their relief was short-lived.

Barely a moment after picking up my fork, things took a turn.

David walked in with a bald man. The man had a cigarette in hand, spat a thick wad of phlegm onto the ground, and took his place next to me.

David, puffing out a smoke ring, announced, "Anna, I heard from Uncle that you're still single? This is my good buddy Vincent Bullock. He comes from a well-off family and is interested in you. If you two hit it off, you could be married by the end of the year."

I politely asked, "Mr. Bullock, how old are you this year?"

"He's thirty-five, right in the prime of manhood. You're almost thirty yourself, right? I told Vincent. He doesn't mind your age."

My parents were getting increasingly anxious.

I nodded and asked, "He's at a good age and his family is well-off, but he's still single and hasn't been married before? May I ask why?"

My parents were practically frantic now, desperately signaling David.

David, however, ignored them completely and proudly said, "He was held back by his time in prison. We met there, shared the same cell, and he's a really great guy."

The guests exchanged uneasy glances.

Noticing the disapproval, David huffed and, in a condescending tone, said to me, "With Vincent's conditions, if he hadn't been held up by his prison time, do you really think someone like you would even get a chance? Anna, don't bite the hand that feeds you."

I couldn't hold back my disbelief. "Who do you think you are?"