The next morning, Ralph was up early. He had done a lot of thinking lately. Even though he had just met Karen's parents, he was thinking of asking her to marry him, whether her parents like him or not. The minute Ralph walked to the front door, he heard the phone ring. He went to the kitchen and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ralph," he heard Richie's voice on the other end say.

"Hi, Rich."

"Rich, I really can't speak with you. I have class to teach. We can catch up this weekend, okay?"

"Okay. How is it going with your class so far?" Richie asked.

"It's going well so far. Today is my second day," Ralph said.

"Well, Rich, I'll give you and Fonzie a call this weekend and we'll catch up. Remember, I don't want the twerp around," Ralph said, thinking of Chachi.

"I gotcha, Ralph. Fonzie and I will make sure Chachi stays out of our conversation. It'll be just like the good old days when I told him to get lost," Richie said as he and Ralph broke into laughter and hung up.

That's when he noticed Karen walking into the kitchen.

"Morning, sweetcakes," Ralph greeted Karen.

"Morning, Ralphie," she said as the two kissed.

The two ate in silence that morning and both drove off to work at the same time that morning.

When Ralph arrived at Jefferson High that morning, he found a few students waiting to be let in the classroom. He heard some of the boys giggling as he unlocked the door. He wondered what it was the boys found humorous. He knew it was none of his business so he stayed quiet. Ralph put his things on his desk and went back out of the room and waited for the rest of the kids to arrive. After the last of the students were in the classroom and seated, Ralph took roll call. He cleared his throat before he began to speak.

"If some of you weren't here yesterday, I would like to see you after class so you can collect your homework from me if you missed yesterday's class. Yesterday's topic was who started rock 'n' roll and the history of Elvis Presley," Ralph said to the class.

After giving a few of the students their missed assignment from the day before, Ralph watched them disappear. Lunchtime arrived. Ralph decided to eat in the classroom. He had an unexpected visitor that day at lunch.

"Hi, Ralph," Chachi said.

Ralph gave a little jump because he knew he wasn't expecting anyone today.

"Hi, twerp. How did you know this was my room?" Ralph asked in a surprised voice.

"One of the students helped me."

"So that explains it. I don't have much time to chitchat, you twerp. This is my lunch break," Ralph said.

"You have plenty of time, Ralph. I see the message you're sending me. You're telling me to get lost, right? Just like the good old days when everyone told me to get lost," Chachi said.

"Back then we meant it. Now it's the future, we can tell you to get lost again. So pretty please with sugar on top will you get lost?" Ralph asked.

"Some friend you are, Ralph. What kind of friend drops by and says hello to a friend and when the other friend tells his friend to get lost? Huh? Some greeting I get for a friend," Chachi said, walking out of the classroom.

It was finally the weekend. Ralph knew what he wanted to do this weekend – propose to Karen McCarey. He never knew what kind of jewelry she liked so he sure was going to have a hard time picking out a ring when he was going to propose to her. There was one thing he hadn't done yet and that was introducing her to his parents, Mickey and Minnie Malph.

That Saturday afternoon, Ralph met his friends at Arnold's for lunch. He was the first one there. He spent all morning shopping for Karen's engagement ring. He thought a pink sapphire ring would be the perfect way to propose to her. He was just closing the tiny box as Richie joined him at the table.

"Hi, Ralph. Has Fonzie made it yet?" Richie asked after the two friends said hello.

"I haven't seen him. You're the first one," Ralph said.

The two talked until they saw their friend in the black leather jacket come their way and take a seat next to Richie.

"Hi, Fonz," the two said in unison.

"Hi," Fonzie said.

"Guys, I have something I want to show you," Ralph said the minute Fonzie sat down.

"What?" Richie asked, his eyes staring in Ralph's direction.

Richie's eyes never left Ralph's direction as Ralph took the engagement ring out of his pocket.

"This," Ralph said, showing Fonzie and Richie the tiny box.

"It's just a box, Malph."

"Not just any box, Fonz."

Ralph opened the tiny box and both Fonzie and Richie were surprised to see a pink sapphire ring.

"What's this all about?" Richie asked.

"Don't you see, Richie? I'm going to ask Karen to marry me."

"What do her parents think about you? Do they approve?" Richie asked.

"Karen told me what they thought of me. She said they disapprove because I'm fifteen years older. I don't care what they think. I'm going to marry her. Maybe we'll have a wedding without any friends and family but we'll see," Ralph said.

"Ralph, are you sure Karen is the right girl you want to spend the rest of your life with? Look at all the girls you've had trouble with in the past," Richie reminded him.

"Don't remind me, Richie. Yes, I'm sure Karen McCarey is the perfect girl for me. I can see her as the future Mrs. Ralph Malph. Who knows, maybe she'll change her name to Deputy Malph," Ralph said.

"Besides, Rich, all my girl troubles are long gone now, thanks to Karen."

Ralph knew all this was true.

"I guess if you're this happy, go ahead and propose, even if it will make her parents even more angrier at you," Richie said, "but again, congratulations, old buddy."

"Thanks, Rich."

Richie and Ralph both saw how quiet Fonzie was.

That's when the three ordered their meals.

"That's a very nice ring, Ralph. Who's it for?" Al Delvecchio asked, seeing the pink sapphire ring.

"My girlfriend, Karen. I'm going to propose to her this weekend," Ralph told Al.

"Congratulations," Al said and left the booth.

Ralph closed the tiny box a second time and put it back in his pocket.

The three friends talked the time they ate. Fonzie was the first one to leave, congratulating Ralph on his way out of the diner.

"Where are you headed, Ralph? The sheriff's office so you can propose to her?" Richie asked.

"You read my mind, Rich. Want to come along?"

"No, thanks," Richie said, "you're on your own."

The two spilt up and headed to their cars and drove away.