Maurice finally got the courage to ask Rosemary out, but his parents showed up on their date. He was always embarrassed by them so he pretended not to know them, driving them away. However, he never expected Rosemary’s reaction.
“I’m glad we’re finally meeting and catching up,” Maurice told Rosemary when she arrived and sat down at the restaurant. They were both students at the University of Pennsylvania and met during their freshman year in a Psychology class. Maurice had a crush on Rosemary for a long while, but they were still just friends.
“Yeah, me too. This semester is crazy. Sophomore year is going to be so tough. I wish we had a class together,” Rosemary told him.
Maurice wished that too, but they had different majors. She was in engineering while he was in pre-med, and they only had a few general courses together. “It’s a bummer. But we’re here now, and I wanted to talk to you about something,” he began.
They ordered something to drink when the waiter came over with their menus. “What were you saying?” Rosemary asked.
“Ah, yes. Listen, I love that we’re friends, but I have feelings for you. It’s taken me a long time to say it out loud, but I wanted you to know, I would like us to date,” Maurice confessed.
“Oh…I didn’t know you felt that way,” she admitted.
“Is there any chance you like me back?” he questioned. But before Rosemary could answer, they heard someone calling Maurice’s name.
Maurice! My boy! Fancy seeing you here!” Maurice’s father, Edward, cheered. His mother, Giselle, waved next and smiled at him. Maurice cringed. He never liked to admit who his parents were. He was always embarrassed by them.
They were both little people, and Maurice was their only son. He was taller than both of them by his 10th birthday, and it was always a disaster. His parents never considered what it was like for a regular-sized kid to grow up with dwarf parents.
While the world has advanced in terms of political correctness, his classmates were brutal. They often made jokes about him being a giant and how his dad needed help reaching high shelves. That’s why Maurice resented his childhood.
But their appearance at the restaurant was even worse because he told everyone at college, including Rosemary, that his parents died when he was young. He bonded with her over that lie, as she didn’t have parents either
Your parents? Didn’t you say that your parents died?” Rosemary asked, confused.
“Yeah, that’s right. I’m sorry, Rosemary. I don’t know who these people are,” Maurice affirmed, cringing at the hurt in his mother’s face.
“You don’t know who we are? Maurice, what are you talking about?” Edward asked him.
“Honey? Why are you pretending not to know us?” Giselle murmured.
“Please, both of you, leave us alone. I don’t know who you are. I don’t have parents,” Maurice insisted. Rosemary was frowning at him while his parents stared in shock. A few seconds later, they both left the restaurant.
Ok, so…let’s get back to our conversation,” Maurice told Rosemary. But she grabbed her things and stormed out of the restaurant. “Wait! Rosemary! Wait!”
He caught up with her down the street and held her arm. She turned around angrily. “Why did you lie to me? Those are clearly your parents. They might be little people, but you look just like your mother. What is wrong with you?” she yelled at him.
“Please, Rosemary. Calm down. You don’t understand. I just…my childhood was so difficult,” Maurice sighed. “Being the tall son of a dwarf couple was not easy. My dad embarrassed me all the time, coming to all my school events…I don’t know. I wanted freedom in college.”
“That’s crazy! Do you know what I would give to have parents? Let alone parents who would love me and want to see my school events? I never had that. I was an orphan! I can’t believe you!” Rosemary snarled at him.
You don’t understand,” Maurice sputtered.
“No, I don’t at all! But what I do understand is that you’re a horrible son who doesn’t respect his parents, and if that’s the case, you will never respect me in a relationship. Goodbye!” Rosemary roared, pulled her arm free, and walked away.
Maurice watched her go and realized that she was right. He didn’t realize what amazing parents he had until Rosemary put it like that. Kids might have mocked him about their size, but he always had their full support.
He always had two amazing people cheering for him during his football games and school plays. I was so ungrateful, Maurice thought. But he decided to make amends.
Their house was just a few blocks away from the restaurant. They raised him in Philadelphia, and that’s why Maurice applied to the University of Pennsylvania. He knocked on their door, despite having keys.
“I’m sorry. Who are you? What are you doing in my house?” his father said when he saw him at their door.
“Dad, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I was such a jerk to you guys. I was wrong. Can I come in?” Maurice asked.
Edward didn’t look happy but moved to let him in. “Your mother has been crying since we came back from the restaurant,” he revealed.
Maurice went to his parents’ bedroom and apologized to Giselle too. “I was an idiot. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have lied about you guys. My friend Rosemary yelled at me after you left. I want you guys to meet her,” he told them.
Although Maurice had hurt them, Giselle and Edward were quick to forgive. They accepted his apology and asked him to bring Rosemary for dinner as soon as possible. But that would be hard considering how mad she was at him.
The next day, he waited for her outside her software class. “I told you I didn’t want to see you! What are you doing here?” she scolded him.
“I’m so sorry, Rosemary. I apologized to my parents immediately after you left me on the sidewalk. I was so wrong. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to them. But can you help me?” Maurice begged.
“How can I help you with that?” Rosemary stammered.
“They invited you to dinner tonight, and they’re going to be so mad if you don’t come,” Maurice explained. Rosemary grinned a little
Well…I believe in second chances, so I’ll go,” she promised.
Rosemary went to Maurice’s childhood home and greeted his parents. “Rosemary, these are my folks, Edward and Giselle Klein,” he said.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” she said with a smile. His parents also greeted her, and they had a wonderful evening. Rosemary didn’t agree to a date with Maurice until several weeks later when she saw that he was serious about making amends with his parents.
But once they started dating, they fell in love.
What can we learn from this story?
Treat your parents with love and respect. If you have amazing parents who supported you your entire life, you should repay that with kindness, love, and respect.
Other people might cherish what embarrasses you. Rosemary would have loved to have parents, while Maurice was ashamed of his own for something they couldn’t control.
