THE PROPOSEL
It is February of 2001 and it's nearing Valentine's Day. The Camdens are all busy getting ready for the special day except for Matt, who doesn't have a girlfriend, and Sam and David, the twins, who are too young.
Lucy, age 10, is up in her bedroom making valentine hearts out of different colored paper and glitter to give to her classmates at school. She enjoys doing crafts and loves holidays where she can use her artistic abilities to express her feelings of the season.
John, who has a new girlfriend, name Tracy, is getting ready to take her out for their first Valentine's Day date. They have plans to go to a romantic restaurant for dinner and then to a movie afterwards.
Linda, who isn't anxious to get involved in a serious relationship at the moment, has plans to go out with some of her friends for the evening at a friend's house. She is in her own room getting ready to go, while chatting with one of her friends on the phone, laughing about the stupid things the guys at school do.
Allison has plans to go out with her boyfriend, Mike Dolan, who she met in school a few years ago. They are going to a fancy restaurant for dinner, and after that, they're going for a long, romantic walk together.
Matt, because he doesn't have a girlfriend, isn't going anywhere for Valentine's Day. Allison knows this and wishes he would go out with his friends anyway. Before she heads into the bathroom to get ready for her own date, she decides to go talk to Matt about it.
Eric and Annie, while they are staying home to watch their three youngest children, Lucy, Sam and David, also have plans of their own for after the kids are in bed. They're rather glad most of their children are going to be out of the house for the night, because they don't want to be disturbed while they enjoy each other's company in the privacy of their bedroom.
When Valentine's Day finally arrives, everyone who is going out somewhere gets ready to go. Linda and John fight over the bathroom until Lucy tells them to grow up. While they are doing that, Allison is trying to convince Matt to go out and do something, even if it's just go see a movie, instead of staying home and doing nothing.
Allison glances down at her watch and gasps, realizing that she and Matt have been talking for an hour and if she doesn't hurry, she won't be ready for when Mike shows up to take her out. She goes to her room and opens her closet, taking out a beautiful red dress with spaghetti straps. Allison bought the dress just so she could surprise Mike with it for their date. Knowing it will get cold, she makes sure to take a sweater with her as well. Then she fixes her hair and puts on just the right amount of make-up to highlight her features and goes to find Linda to get her opinion. Linda, who is just getting ready to leave herself, thinks Allison looks stunning.
"Hey Linda," Allison says, knocking on the door of Linda's bedroom with a smile. "How do I look?"
Linda looks up at her sister and her jaw drops as Allison spins around in the doorway. "Wow, Allison, you look amazing! Has Mike seen that dress?"
Allison grins. "Nope. I bought it just for tonight and didn't tell him about it. Think he'll like it?"
"If he's got a brain in his head, he'll do more than like it, he'll love it." Linda tells her, crossing her eyes. "I'm surprised Mom and Dad are letting you out of the house wearing it. You're bringing a sweater, right?"
"Yeah, of course." Allison replies. "And they can't really stop me from going out in it...I am an adult, you know."
While the girls are talking, they hear the doorbell ring downstairs, signaling that Mike has arrived. Allison giggles and stays where she is, not wanting to seem too eager to go. She knows she doesn't have to answer the door, because Matt is downstairs and can do it himself.
Matt opens the door to find a very nervous-looking Mike standing on the doorstep.
Matt laughs. "Oh come on, it's only a Valentine's Day date. Don't look so nervous." he says.
"I know, I know..." Mike replies. "But I can't help it."
"Yeah. Well, come on in. You may as well sit for a minute. I don't even know if she's ready or not." Matt says, holding the door open for Mike to enter the house.
"Thanks." Mike says, taking a seat in the living room.
Matt heads for the stairs. "I'll go get her for you, okay? You just wait right here. I heard she's got a surprise for you."
Matt goes upstairs to look for Allison. He checks her room first and finding it empty, he goes to the next logical place. Sure enough, there she is, talking with Linda and trying not to look nervous herself.
"Is he nervous?" Allison asks Matt as they leave the room.
"Yep. Don't know why though." Matt replies with a grin. "It's not like you guys have an audience with the Queen of England or something."
Allison wonders why Mike is nervous, but puts the thought out of her head as she walks down the stairs to join him.
Mike is totally blown away when he sees just how beautiful Allison looks in her dress. He looks every bit as stunned as Allison had hoped and she is secretly relieved. She spins around for him, causing his mouth to drop open.
"Well, what do you think?" Allison asks with a smile. "And I hope you don't let your mouth hang open like that at the restaurant."
"Allison...you're...wow...beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." Mike manages to say. "And I'll try not to. Shall we go?" he offers her his arm and she takes it, allowing him to escort her out to his car and feeling like a princess when he opens her door for her, like any true gentleman would do.
Mike drives them to Red Lobster where he had made reservations weeks ago. The hostess takes them to their seats and gives them their menus.
"The specials this evening are the salmon platter and the steak platter." The hostess tells them. "Your waiter is Stephen and he will be with you momentarily to take your order. Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you." Mike replies. When the hostess leaves, he looks across the table at Allison. "What would you like to have?"
"The steak sounds good." Allison says. "What about you?"
Mike grins. "I think I'm going to go for the salmon. I wonder what comes with them?"
A few minutes later, a young man in a waiter uniform comes over to them. "Good evening. My name is Stephen and I'll be your waiter for this evening. Have you decided what you'd like, or do you need a few more minutes to decide?"
"What comes with the specials?" Mike asks.
"The steak comes with your choice of mashed or baked potato, rice or french fries, gravy, a side of mixed vegetables and your choice of garden or caesar salad." Stephen explains. "The salmon comes with your choice of mashed or baked potato, rice or french fries, a side of mixed vegetables and your choice of garden or ceasar salad."
Mike looks at Allison and she nods, so he places their order. "My girlfriend will have the steak special, and I think I'll have the salmon."
"Very good." Stephen says while writing their order on his pad. He looks at Allison. "What kind of potato would you like with your steak?"
"Mashed, please." She tells him. He writes it down.
"And what kind of salad would you like?" He asks.
Allison thinks for a moment before choosing. "I think I'll take the garden salad, please." She replies. He writes that down and asks her one last question.
"What would you like to drink with your meal this evening?"
"Water is fine, thanks." She says. Stephen writes that down and turns to Mike.
"Same questions for you, Sir." Stephen says. "What kind of potato would you like?"
"I think I'll have the rice." Mike says with a laugh. "And for the salad, I'll take the caesar."
"Very good." Stephen says, writing the order down. "And to drink?"
"I'll just have water as well, please." Mike replies.
"Okay. Would you like some rolls to start with while you wait?" Stephen asks them.
"Sure, that would be great, thank you." Mike says.
"Okay, I'll be right back with them." Stephen says as he starts to walk away.
While Mike and Allison wait for their meals, they chat lightly about various topics of interest for both of them. Mike is still nervous, because he has a special present for Allison and he knows if he doesn't go about it just right, it won't work.
Near the end of their meal, Mike decides to just go for it. He gets up from his seat, much to the surprise of Allison, who has no idea what he's doing.
"Mike, what are you doing?" she asks.
"You'll see." he replies, kneeling down by her. He pulls a small jewelry box out of his pocket and says "Allison, I've been putting this off for too long, but I wanted it to be special. I love you with all of my heart and I would be honored if you agree to become my wife. Will you marry me?" he asked, opening the box to reveal a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
Allison, who totally did not see this coming, is in a state of total shock. A huge smile crosses her face and her eyes light up as she realizes what she had been dreaming of for all this time is finally happening. "Yes! Yes I will marry you Mike Dolan!" she exclaims happily.
With a happy sigh of relief, Mike puts the ring on Allison's finger. Allison admires it and can't help but notice how beautiful and perfect it looks on her hand. The patrons and staff of the restaurant join in their celebration by clapping their hands for them. Stephen comes over with a surprise for them.
"Because of the happy occasion, my manager says you can have dessert on the house." he tells them with a smile as he hands them a dessert menu. "You may choose whatever you want from this menu."
"Oh wow." Allison breathes. She and Mike look over the dessert menu and finally choose what they want. Allison orders the chocolate truffle mousse, while Mike decides he feels like a slice of coconut cream pie with lots of whipped cream.
After they finish eating, Mike pays for the meal, leaving an extra generous tip for Stephen and the manager for being so nice to them. Then he and Allison drive to the shore and park the car, having decided during dinner to take their nighttime stroll along the beach.
Mike opens Allison's door for her and helps her out. He takes her hand and they start walking down to the shore, feeling like the only two people in the whole world at that very moment.
It is February of 2001 and it's nearing Valentine's Day. The Camdens are all busy getting ready for the special day except for Matt, who doesn't have a girlfriend, and Sam and David, the twins, who are too young.
Lucy, age 10, is up in her bedroom making valentine hearts out of different colored paper and glitter to give to her classmates at school. She enjoys doing crafts and loves holidays where she can use her artistic abilities to express her feelings of the season.
John, who has a new girlfriend, name Tracy, is getting ready to take her out for their first Valentine's Day date. They have plans to go to a romantic restaurant for dinner and then to a movie afterwards.
Linda, who isn't anxious to get involved in a serious relationship at the moment, has plans to go out with some of her friends for the evening at a friend's house. She is in her own room getting ready to go, while chatting with one of her friends on the phone, laughing about the stupid things the guys at school do.
Allison has plans to go out with her boyfriend, Mike Dolan, who she met in school a few years ago. They are going to a fancy restaurant for dinner, and after that, they're going for a long, romantic walk together.
Matt, because he doesn't have a girlfriend, isn't going anywhere for Valentine's Day. Allison knows this and wishes he would go out with his friends anyway. Before she heads into the bathroom to get ready for her own date, she decides to go talk to Matt about it.
Eric and Annie, while they are staying home to watch their three youngest children, Lucy, Sam and David, also have plans of their own for after the kids are in bed. They're rather glad most of their children are going to be out of the house for the night, because they don't want to be disturbed while they enjoy each other's company in the privacy of their bedroom.
When Valentine's Day finally arrives, everyone who is going out somewhere gets ready to go. Linda and John fight over the bathroom until Lucy tells them to grow up. While they are doing that, Allison is trying to convince Matt to go out and do something, even if it's just go see a movie, instead of staying home and doing nothing.
Allison glances down at her watch and gasps, realizing that she and Matt have been talking for an hour and if she doesn't hurry, she won't be ready for when Mike shows up to take her out. She goes to her room and opens her closet, taking out a beautiful red dress with spaghetti straps. Allison bought the dress just so she could surprise Mike with it for their date. Knowing it will get cold, she makes sure to take a sweater with her as well. Then she fixes her hair and puts on just the right amount of make-up to highlight her features and goes to find Linda to get her opinion. Linda, who is just getting ready to leave herself, thinks Allison looks stunning.
"Hey Linda," Allison says, knocking on the door of Linda's bedroom with a smile. "How do I look?"
Linda looks up at her sister and her jaw drops as Allison spins around in the doorway. "Wow, Allison, you look amazing! Has Mike seen that dress?"
Allison grins. "Nope. I bought it just for tonight and didn't tell him about it. Think he'll like it?"
"If he's got a brain in his head, he'll do more than like it, he'll love it." Linda tells her, crossing her eyes. "I'm surprised Mom and Dad are letting you out of the house wearing it. You're bringing a sweater, right?"
"Yeah, of course." Allison replies. "And they can't really stop me from going out in it...I am an adult, you know."
While the girls are talking, they hear the doorbell ring downstairs, signaling that Mike has arrived. Allison giggles and stays where she is, not wanting to seem too eager to go. She knows she doesn't have to answer the door, because Matt is downstairs and can do it himself.
Matt opens the door to find a very nervous-looking Mike standing on the doorstep.
Matt laughs. "Oh come on, it's only a Valentine's Day date. Don't look so nervous." he says.
"I know, I know..." Mike replies. "But I can't help it."
"Yeah. Well, come on in. You may as well sit for a minute. I don't even know if she's ready or not." Matt says, holding the door open for Mike to enter the house.
"Thanks." Mike says, taking a seat in the living room.
Matt heads for the stairs. "I'll go get her for you, okay? You just wait right here. I heard she's got a surprise for you."
Matt goes upstairs to look for Allison. He checks her room first and finding it empty, he goes to the next logical place. Sure enough, there she is, talking with Linda and trying not to look nervous herself.
"Is he nervous?" Allison asks Matt as they leave the room.
"Yep. Don't know why though." Matt replies with a grin. "It's not like you guys have an audience with the Queen of England or something."
Allison wonders why Mike is nervous, but puts the thought out of her head as she walks down the stairs to join him.
Mike is totally blown away when he sees just how beautiful Allison looks in her dress. He looks every bit as stunned as Allison had hoped and she is secretly relieved. She spins around for him, causing his mouth to drop open.
"Well, what do you think?" Allison asks with a smile. "And I hope you don't let your mouth hang open like that at the restaurant."
"Allison...you're...wow...beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." Mike manages to say. "And I'll try not to. Shall we go?" he offers her his arm and she takes it, allowing him to escort her out to his car and feeling like a princess when he opens her door for her, like any true gentleman would do.
Mike drives them to Red Lobster where he had made reservations weeks ago. The hostess takes them to their seats and gives them their menus.
"The specials this evening are the salmon platter and the steak platter." The hostess tells them. "Your waiter is Stephen and he will be with you momentarily to take your order. Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you." Mike replies. When the hostess leaves, he looks across the table at Allison. "What would you like to have?"
"The steak sounds good." Allison says. "What about you?"
Mike grins. "I think I'm going to go for the salmon. I wonder what comes with them?"
A few minutes later, a young man in a waiter uniform comes over to them. "Good evening. My name is Stephen and I'll be your waiter for this evening. Have you decided what you'd like, or do you need a few more minutes to decide?"
"What comes with the specials?" Mike asks.
"The steak comes with your choice of mashed or baked potato, rice or french fries, gravy, a side of mixed vegetables and your choice of garden or caesar salad." Stephen explains. "The salmon comes with your choice of mashed or baked potato, rice or french fries, a side of mixed vegetables and your choice of garden or ceasar salad."
Mike looks at Allison and she nods, so he places their order. "My girlfriend will have the steak special, and I think I'll have the salmon."
"Very good." Stephen says while writing their order on his pad. He looks at Allison. "What kind of potato would you like with your steak?"
"Mashed, please." She tells him. He writes it down.
"And what kind of salad would you like?" He asks.
Allison thinks for a moment before choosing. "I think I'll take the garden salad, please." She replies. He writes that down and asks her one last question.
"What would you like to drink with your meal this evening?"
"Water is fine, thanks." She says. Stephen writes that down and turns to Mike.
"Same questions for you, Sir." Stephen says. "What kind of potato would you like?"
"I think I'll have the rice." Mike says with a laugh. "And for the salad, I'll take the caesar."
"Very good." Stephen says, writing the order down. "And to drink?"
"I'll just have water as well, please." Mike replies.
"Okay. Would you like some rolls to start with while you wait?" Stephen asks them.
"Sure, that would be great, thank you." Mike says.
"Okay, I'll be right back with them." Stephen says as he starts to walk away.
While Mike and Allison wait for their meals, they chat lightly about various topics of interest for both of them. Mike is still nervous, because he has a special present for Allison and he knows if he doesn't go about it just right, it won't work.
Near the end of their meal, Mike decides to just go for it. He gets up from his seat, much to the surprise of Allison, who has no idea what he's doing.
"Mike, what are you doing?" she asks.
"You'll see." he replies, kneeling down by her. He pulls a small jewelry box out of his pocket and says "Allison, I've been putting this off for too long, but I wanted it to be special. I love you with all of my heart and I would be honored if you agree to become my wife. Will you marry me?" he asked, opening the box to reveal a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
Allison, who totally did not see this coming, is in a state of total shock. A huge smile crosses her face and her eyes light up as she realizes what she had been dreaming of for all this time is finally happening. "Yes! Yes I will marry you Mike Dolan!" she exclaims happily.
With a happy sigh of relief, Mike puts the ring on Allison's finger. Allison admires it and can't help but notice how beautiful and perfect it looks on her hand. The patrons and staff of the restaurant join in their celebration by clapping their hands for them. Stephen comes over with a surprise for them.
"Because of the happy occasion, my manager says you can have dessert on the house." he tells them with a smile as he hands them a dessert menu. "You may choose whatever you want from this menu."
"Oh wow." Allison breathes. She and Mike look over the dessert menu and finally choose what they want. Allison orders the chocolate truffle mousse, while Mike decides he feels like a slice of coconut cream pie with lots of whipped cream.
After they finish eating, Mike pays for the meal, leaving an extra generous tip for Stephen and the manager for being so nice to them. Then he and Allison drive to the shore and park the car, having decided during dinner to take their nighttime stroll along the beach.
Mike opens Allison's door for her and helps her out. He takes her hand and they start walking down to the shore, feeling like the only two people in the whole world at that very moment.