‘ “Sure,” I said’

We, Like Sheep:

Asaf ordered all of us over to a flat area to take a photograph. After we all posed, he said my name, and then, “Will you come over here, please?”

Good grief, I thought. I knew what this was. I had said that this wasn’t necessary, based on my reading of an etiquette book by Judith Martin, but Asaf insisted on all of the conventional American practices of the time.

He kneeled or knelt on the ground. Sarah came over and produced a candy ring from a package. He then asked if I would marry him, based on the new laws of the State of New York, and then gave the exact date, time, and location that we had already agreed upon.

“Sure,” I said.