The bathroom was impeccably clean and gleaming under the bright lights.
I stood there, bewildered, as my boyfriend’s mother smiled warmly at me from the doorway. “Dear, please freshen up a bit,” she said gently, gesturing towards the shower. “We have a family tradition of cleanliness before meals.” I glanced at my boyfriend, who looked somewhat embarrassed but nodded in agreement. Feeling a mix of curiosity and a need to respect their customs, I complied and stepped into the bathroom. As the warm water cascaded over me, I couldn’t shake off the strangeness of the situation. Two showers a day had seemed like an arbitrary demand from my boyfriend, but now it made sense—it was ingrained in his family’s way of life. They valued cleanliness to an extent that exceeded the norm. After drying off and changing into the spare clothes I had brought, I rejoined my boyfriend and his mother in the living room. She smiled appreciatively, seemingly satisfied with my compliance with their ritual. Over dinner, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. My boyfriend’s mother, Mrs. Wilson, regaled us with stories of their family traditions and the importance they placed on hygiene. She spoke fondly of her late husband, who had insisted on the same rituals, passing them down to their children. As the evening progressed, I found myself growing more comfortable with their unique family dynamics. It became clear that for them, cleanliness was not just a habit but a deeply rooted tradition that symbolized respect and consideration for others. As I bid Mrs. Wilson goodbye at the end of the evening, she pulled me aside with a knowing smile. “I’m glad you understand our ways, dear,” she whispered warmly. “It’s not