I was still on Cloud 9 when I floated through the front door of Gillis Grocery, smiling at the glances I received from Mom and Dad.
"Hello Dobie. You certainly look happy!" Mom said. I kissed her cheek and headed for my apron. "I am happy, Mom. In fact, I'm completely euphoric!"

"Well that's nice dear." Mom replied and I suddenly got the feeling that she had no idea what the word euphoric meant.
"In fact, I'm so happy that I feel like I can do anything at all!" I continued.

Dad glared at me with his hands on his hips. "Well, if you're so darn enthusiastic, why don't you try doing some work around here?"
"With pleasure, Dad!"

I marched right past him and headed straight for the storage room. When I returned moments later holding a box full of canned corn, Dad looked at me as though he might faint. I probably should have stopped right then because I didn't' want to put my dear dad in the hospital. But I was too worked up. I had to finish the job and then some. Doing my best to ignore the stunned looks of my parents, I carefully stocked the shelves and when the box was empty I went back for more.

Five trips later, the store was filled with capacity with every kind of dry and canned good known to man, or at least this man anyway. I had to admit that I was pretty proud of my efforts.
"Well, now that the store is full, whadda ya say I go to the stock room and get that mess cleaned up?"

My father's jaw dropped and I could see my mother holding him to keep him from passing out.
"I've gotta kill that boy. I've just gotta..." He said repeating a phrase I had heard all too often.

"Why Herbert, why would you say such a thing? Dobie's working hard!"

"That's what I mean, Winnie! He wants something, I'm sure of it!"

"Oh Herbert, really! Dobie's not like that! He's a very sweet boy and-"

"The heck he is!" Dad yelled. "He wants something and I want to know what it is! But whatever it is, I'm sure as heck not going to give it to him!"

"Herbert, why are you always so negative?" Mom asked. "Just because Dobie comes in here and without a word starts stocking the store and cleans the stockroom… Oh… I see what you mean."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Mom!"

"Well Dobie, what do you expect us to think?" Dad asked. "You're a lazy bum, Dobie. Always going on about girls! Is that all you ever think about?"
My mother and I exchanged glances. "Well, yeah Dad. What else is there to think about?"

"Ha!" My father scoffed. "I thought so!"

"But Dad, I-."

"Herbert, please! You're ruining Dobie's good mood!" Mom yelled. "Now Dobie, your father doesn't mean what he's saying, so w why don't you tell us why you're so happy?"
My thoughts returned to Thalia and once again I was smiling from ear to ear.

"Well Dobie, aren't you going to tell us?"

I smiled at my father and took a long deep breath. "Mom, Dad… I'm in love!"