Disclaimer: I do not own any of the GG characters.
Summary: Rory's Canadian pen pal, Melissa Chen, is visiting her in Stars Hollow. Melissa has been invited to Friday dinner at Richard and Emily's
Rory: Grandma, this is Melissa Chen, my pen pal from Toronto.
Emily: Pleased to meet you, Melissa. Do come in. Beatrice, will you take the young ladies' coats?
Beatrice: Yes, ma'am
Melissa: Mrs. Gilmore, you have a lovely home (they head into the living room where they take their seats)
Emily: Thank you. Would you like something to drink, Melissa? Rory?
Melissa: Yes, a ginger ale, please.
Rory: Club soda, Grandma.
Emily: (makes drinks) Melissa, Rory tells me that you're an English major. Is that correct?
Melissa: Yes, I've just completed my bachelor's degree at the University of Western Ontario.
Rory: Melissa wrote her thesis on women and culture in 19th century literature, grandma.
Melissa: Rory tells me that you went to Smith, Mrs. Gilmore. I went to a women only school, well an all-girls high school myself.
Emily: Oh, how nice. Richard! How glad of you to join us. This is Melissa Chen, Rory's pen pal.
Richard: Yes, you're the Melissa that Rory was talking about. You're from Canada, right?
Melissa: Yes, Toronto.
Richard: Ah yes. You don't happen to know Charles Austin, do you? (Melissa and Rory giggle) What's the matter?
Rory: Grandpa, Charles is Melissa's boyfriend. Well, Charles, Jr. is
Melissa: He prefers Chuck. We've been dating for a few years. Chuck's sister, Katherine, was in my class at Havergal.
Richard: Well, Charles did mention something about his son having a girlfriend, but I didn't think that she'd know our Rory!
Beatrice: Mrs. Gilmore, dinner is served.
Emily: Thank you, Beatrice. Come on everyone, we're having roast chicken.
(They head to the dining room and sit down)
Emily: Now Melissa, Rory tells me that you're joining the Ladies' Association in the fall. How did you end up doing this?
Melissa: Well, a friend of mine is third generation in the Association and invited me last break to attend a day long event, helping sort prom dresses for less-privileged girls. I fell in love with what the Association does and stands for, and will be going to meetings this fall.
Emily: That's very nice. I was in the Association too.
Rory: I thought you were only in the DAR, Grandma,
Emily: I was in the Association until your mother was 15, Rory.
(Beatrice brings the salads)
Richard: So Melissa, what will you be doing now that you've finished college?
Melissa: Well, Mr. Gilmore, that's a good question. My father wants me to follow his footsteps in law, while my mother wants me to "pursue my dreams." Whatever that means.
Rory: Actually, Grandpa, Melissa starts an internship with an art magazine next week.
Emily: How lovely!
(awkward silence)
Richard: Are you enjoying Connecticut, Melissa?
Melissa: It's very lovely, Mr. Gilmore. It's a nice change from the big city.
(The main course is served. Will there be continued polite/awkward conversation, or will things get a little more interesting at the Gilmore table? STAY TUNED!)
