They had been to a dozen jewelry stores shopping for his wedding ring. She planned a small ceremony with close friends and family. Today, he wasn’t helping with the preparations. He petulantly repeated that none of these were men wedding bands. She couldn’t seem to motivate him further.

She repeatedly asked him why he thought they didn’t look manly enough for him. All he said was he didn’t know but they just looked too feminine. She couldn’t imagine how a simple gold band with no decoration on it could look either manly or girlish. She asked him what he thought the alternative should be. He gave her a blank look.

She recalled her parents on the first night they met him. After he left, they asked questions like can he get a higher-paying job and even asked if she know what is IQ was. She couldn’t admit all she cared about was how handsome he was. All that blond curly hair and those tepid blue eyes compensated for a deficiency in the brains department.

She did wonder what would happen if they had children. But, she theorized that her higher IQ would compensate for his and the kids would be smart. About him finding a better paying job, that was something they could work on later. She didn’t want to plan that far ahead. They went on to a furniture store.

She did plan for them to sleep in a massive, carved cherry-wood sleigh bed. He turned toward the low cost modern furniture. But, she was going to have the one she wanted. Actually, she would have enjoyed sleeping with him in a loft bed. In fact, it sounded quite romantic. They could always use it later for the children’s room.

The led him over to the bed she wanted. Although they couldn’t afford the whole set, the salesman said it was open stock. She could get the chest, dresser and two night stands later on. She wasn’t so sure they’d be available in six months as he said, but they ordered the bed and arranged delivery.

They went next door to yet another jewelry store. Standing in front of the large display case she asked the salesman to show them the most masculine wedding bands for men that they sold. Urging her fiance in her most appealing way, she said the first row looked manly to her. They had never found such manly rings in the other stores. He finally agreed and chose the one he liked. They paid for it and went home after the long day of shopping.