"I had always resisted the idea of having a girlfriend" Arthur said, "I thought girls were gross, and the thought of kissing one made me want to throw up. But that all changed a few weeks ago, after Sue Ellen told me she had a crush on me.
We've hung out a few times since then, but we never did anything serious. But that all changed about a week ago…"
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A Date to Remember
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A week earlier, Arthur & Sue Ellen sat together on the couch in the Read living room. It had been almost two weeks since the Simpsons had left and Sue Ellen had confessed her secret feelings to Arthur. The two had told their parents, but decided not to inform their classmates just yet.
"Your evil alliance has been foiled" Bionic Bunny called out from the TV screen.
"Curse you Bionic Bunny!" Dr. Fowl said, as he and Dr. Warthog were led into the paddy wagon "you haven't seen the last of Bacon & Eggs, you long-eared do-gooder!"
"How come Bionic Bunny doesn't have a girlfriend?" Sue Ellen blurted out.
"Huh?"
"A girlfriend. Come to think of it, there aren't very many girls on this show to begin with."
"He used to have a girlfriend, Lois Lamb, but I don't know what happened to her" Arthur explained "besides, if he had a girlfriend, he'd be going on dates or taking her shopping instead of stopping crime.
"And what's wrong with that?" Sue Ellen asked, a hint of anger in her tone.
"I didn't mean I wouldn't enjoy doing that with you" Arthur replied nervously "but Bionic Bunny's a superhero, and he needs to concentrate on saving the world and stuff."
"You know, we haven't had a date since we decided to be a couple" Sue Ellen said, "we should have our first date sometime this week."
"Sounds great" Arthur replied "what do you want to do?"
"I was thinking a little dinner, followed by a movie."
"Okay."
"And the movie can't have the words 'bionic' or 'bunny' in the title."
"Oh, but that limits my choices!" Arthur whined.
"I want to see a romantic movie, where two people overcome hardships and fall in love. Kind of like us."
"What hardships did we overcome?"
"I overcame my nervousness, not to mention being left to die in the power plant. Oh, and you overcame your fear of girls" Sue Ellen replied.
"Those don't seem like real big hardships" Arthur countered.
"They are to kids like us" Sue Ellen said, "oh this is going to be so great! Our first date. I can already imagine just how it will be."
She imagined herself in an old style club, which was all in black and white. Arthur, dressed in a trenchcoat and fedora, entered the room.
"You're looking lovely my dear" he said, in a Bogart-type voice.
"Thank you" Sue Ellen replied "I'm so glad to be here in Casablanca, one of the most romantic spots on Earth. Next to Paris, but I've already been there."
"How about a drink sweetheart?" Arthur asked.
"Okay, but remember, I'm only eight" Sue Ellen replied.
Arthur poured her a glass of milk then poured one for himself. Then he raised his glass, with Sue Ellen doing the same.
"To us" he said, "and to our eternal love."
After both kids sipped their milk, music began to play.
"How about a dance?" Arthur asked, extending his hand for her.
"Of course" Sue Ellen replied and took his outstretched hand. The two walked over to another part of the club, where Arthur glanced at the piano player.
"Play it Sam" he said.
"I'd like to point out the inaccuracy of this situation, as I have no ability to play the piano whatsoever" said Brain, who was sitting behind said piano "furthermore, this role contains some severe racial undertones I feel must be expressed."
"Knock it off and play" Sue Ellen replied, then slowly began to dance with Arthur. As they danced, she let her head rest on his chest and sighed happily.
"I can't wait" Sue Ellen said, after coming back to reality "I'm sure this date will be an important milestone for our relationship."
"Yeah, sounds great" Arthur replied uneasily.
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Later, after Sue Ellen went home, Arthur checked his savings.
"Let's see, five dollars and ten cents" he said, "I can't afford a great date with this. But maybe Sue Ellen won't mind."
He imagined himself and Sue Ellen sitting in the Sugar Bowl. The girl had a sour expression on her face.
"Dinner at the Sugar Bowl? What kind of date is this?!" she asked angrily.
"I-I'm sorry it's not what you expected Sue Ellen, b-b-but it's all I could afford" Arthur replied nervously.
"Well maybe I need a boyfriend who can afford to take me to nice places" Sue Ellen said, "like Binky. He may be stupid, but I bet he knows how to show a girl a good time!"
"No he doesn't."
"Well he has to be better than this" Sue Ellen replied, getting up from her seat "so long Arthur, and thanks for nothing!" she added, as she stormed out the door.
"Maybe I'm worried about nothing Pal" Arthur said after he returned to reality "I mean, Sue Ellen's not expecting a really fancy date, is she?"
Pal simply whimpered in reply.
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"Dad, Sue Ellen and I have decided to go on our first date" Arthur said.
"That's nice, good for you" Mr. Read replied, as he worked on frosting cakes.
"And I was wondering if you could, maybe give me some tips on how to make it really special."
"Well, when your mother and I went out for our first date, I took her dancing at this little club downtown" Mr. Read said "then we ate dinner at Chez Robert's, and then we went to the drive-in. I think we saw, 'Invasion of the Neptune Men' or something."
"Okay, but I don't have a car, or a lot of money" Arthur explained.
"Well you don't have to do exactly what I did" Mr. Read replied "and I'm sure Sue Ellen will like whatever you decide. If you want, you could have dinner here, and I'll cook it for you."
"Thanks dad" Arthur said, "I'll talk it over with Sue Ellen and we'll set a date. I guess I was just blowing this thing way out of proportion."
"Well that can happen on first dates" Mr. Read replied "just relax and don't worry."
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Little does Arthur know the trouble there is to come. In the next chapter, he decides to give Sue Ellen the perfect date, but finds it more difficult than he expected.