Present Purpose, Part 2

I wanted to laugh. 

As loud as I can, as hard as I can. 

The simple notion of my Father bundling the ring up with a pretty red bow to send to me, wearing goo-goo gaa-gaa eyes thinking of wedding chimes and white doves was enough to send me wheezing till my face turned blue.

But for his sake, for his feelings, I swallowed the down the urge, and just asked instead.

"Dad, are you trying to tell me something?"

"Like what?" He asked blankly. 

"Shit, you really just handed me an engagement ring and you're gonna ask me 'like what'?" 

He took a few seconds' silence to think. A few second's silence very subtly pestered by whispered laughter.

"Oh," He finally caught on. "No. I don't mean it like that." 

As if seeing his stoic face right in front me, I gave him a dubious frown. 

"So what do you mean by it, then?"