Turning to Elma, he requested, "Elma, could you find me some paper and a pen? I want to give Sheldon my phone number."

"Right away, sir," Elma responded, moving quickly to fulfill the request.

Still staring at Lyndon, the boy shared, “Dad, Tilda might have joked about waiting for me to grow up to be her boyfriend, but I'd rather see her as your girlfriend first. You could persuade her, couldn't you? I believe you can!"

Slightly amused, Lynden gently tousled Sheldon's hair in a fatherly gesture.

With the sudden realization of fatherhood, he found the matter of pursuing a romantic relationship less pressing than ever before.