#0046 | this game of hangman

Submitted by Noelle in Madison, Wisconsin.

Here’s Noelle’s story:

“I went to visit my boyfriend on a Sunday afternoon after a grueling weekend.  I suggested we go out to eat at a nearby Italian restaurant that has paper tablecloths and provides crayons for drawing.

While waiting for our food to arrive, I thought it would be fun to play Hangman, so I set up the gallows and the blanks for the word puzzle.  It took him a while, but he finally guessed “xylophone.”

I handed the crayons off to him.  He very slowly and carefully drew the gallows and the blanks for two seven-letter words.  He even went over the blanks several times so they stood out very boldly. Before I could start the puzzle, he excused himself for a few minutes.  I waited.  In the meantime, our food arrived.  It was very tasty, but I was surprised when he didn’t finish his meal - typically he cleans his plate than eats whatever I have leftover.

Finally we finished and I started guessing letters.  E? One E…T?  No T’s…W?  Yep, one W.  I had this: WILL_O_ MARR_ _E before I finally figured it out - WILLYOU MARRYME!  Dumbfounded, I stared at him while turning beet red.  He gave me a beautiful Claddagh ring with a green amber heart (Amber is my middle name).  I said yes!”