Rules For Dating My Daughter
Rule One:
If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
Rule Two:
You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, solong as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keepyour eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.
Rule Three:
I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age towear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off theirhips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of yourfriends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open mindedabout this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to thedoor with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, andI will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes donot, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter,I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely inplace to your waist.
Rule Four:
I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizinga "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when itcomes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule Five:
It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know eachother, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of theday. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you isan indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at myhouse, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."
Rule Six:
I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities todate other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with mydaughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, youwill continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. Ifyou make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven:
As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear,and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want tobe on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter isputting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting theGolden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you dosomething useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule Eight:
The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter
laces where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a woodenstool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns withineyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there isdancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambienttemperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tanktops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, anda goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strongromantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chainsaws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule Nine:
Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding,middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter,I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask youwhere you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me thetruth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, ashovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake thesound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a ricepaddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices inmy head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bringmy daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exityour car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password,announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safelyand early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to comeinside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.