Tolik was silent almost all the time, leaving his parent to sing his praises. At some point, Nadya’s mother could not stand it and asked:

– Anatoly, please tell us about your work.

Tolik instantly turned poppy-colored and began to hum, cough and stutter:

– Uh… well… recently we completed a p-project for… ahem, a large residential complex. Hmm! And… well, uh, I, ahem, designed p-almost the entire sewer system in it…

His voice was quiet, uncertain, as if he was pronouncing a poorly memorized text. At the same time, Tolik constantly glanced at his mother, as if she were his prompter.

Tatyana Dmitrievna nodded approvingly, but this did not help her son become more confident. In the end, she took the initiative:

– Yes, yes, and the chief engineer in their company praised Tolik very much, he said that the sewer system was designed flawlessly, that he didn’t even have to fix anything.

– This is cool! – Nadya decided to support her potential groom, and at the same time build bridges with her potential mother-in-law. – You probably inherited your mother’s talent in this matter…

Tatyana Dmitrievna smiled flattered, but then Tolik, apparently from an overabundance of feelings, blurted out:

– No, I just pored over this sewer all day and night, and took it home, and my mother helped me…

Tatyana Dmitrievna gave her son such a hard look that Nadya even wondered if the boy would get a belt at home for this simple-minded sincerity.

After tea with homemade cake, which Tolik almost didn’t get (his mother said that sweets were bad for him because he had bad heredity for diabetes), the older generation, under a plausible pretext, left the young ones alone. The potential groom, pale as a sheet, was completely speechless, and Nadya had to take the first step herself:

– It’s strange that we didn’t meet in church, although our mothers have known each other for a long time…

– Why? – Tolik objected. – I saw you.

– Address me as you please.

Otherwise, she felt with him like a teacher with a student.

– Fine. I saw you.

Nadya remained silent in response. And what to say? “Why didn’t you come?”? This is a provocative question. Tolik will either have to admit his shyness, or that he didn’t really like her appearance.

There was silence, which Nadya again had to break herself:

– What other projects have you done at the company where you work?

Tolik shook his head:

– I’ve only recently worked there. This was my first project.

– So you just graduated from college?

– Yes.

How old is he? He is hardly older than Nadya… However, he looks even younger – without glasses he would pass for a teenager.

Nadya tried to stir up the young man again:

– What was your favorite subject at school?

But they didn’t give him an answer – the parents returned to the room from the balcony, where they allegedly inspected mother’s greenhouse (however, it is quite possible that the guest was really interested in this, unlike dad).

– Well, doves? – Mom asked friendlyly. – When is your next meeting?

Nadya and Tolik looked at each other in bewilderment.

– Tolik! – Tatyana Dmitrievna said sternly. – Didn’t you invite Nadya on a date?

The guy looked at the potential bride in confusion, but clearly could not come up with any sensible proposal.

– Clear! – his mother sealed him. “Again, we need to take everything into our own hands.” I know the day after tomorrow there will be a ballet at the Winter Palace…

Nadya’s mother clasped her hands:

– Tickets are probably already sold out…

– Don't worry, I have friends there. I'll get the tickets.

Mom smiled dreamily: