A Short Story

Note:  Mr. KP (https://kparthas.blogspot.com) is the best story teller I have come across.  I always wanted to imitate him in story telling.  Finally, after several rough drafts, here is the story I wrote.

James nervously watched as his girlfriend, Emily, chatted with his parents at the dinner table. He had always been close to his family, and their opinion of Emily mattered deeply to him. He needn't have worried. Emily's warmth and charm had captivated his parents from the moment they met her. 

Over plates of home-cooked lasagna, Emily effortlessly engaged in conversations about art, her recent travels, and her passion for volunteering at the local animal shelter. James couldn't help but notice the fond smiles exchanged between his parents and Emily. They seemed genuinely impressed, and he felt a swell of pride mixed with relief. 

As dessert was served, Emily shared a humorous story that had everyone at the table laughing. It was then that James's mother, a woman of few words but sharp wit, leaned forward slightly and said, "If this doesn't work out, Emily dear, we're dumping him and keeping you." 

There was a moment of surprised silence, followed by laughter from everyone at the table, including Emily, who blushed slightly at the unexpected compliment. 

As they said their goodbyes that night, James's mother pulled Emily aside for a brief moment. "Thank you for coming tonight, Emily," she said sincerely. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you. And remember what I said earlier—we meant every word of it." Emily smiled warmly and gave James's mother a heartfelt hug.