Summary

The short story “The Arcade” by Alan Gillespie begins with Bill, an elderly man, waiting in the rain outside the Argyll Arcade. A woman appears and introduces herself as Gaynor. Bill and Gaynor are meeting for their first real-life date after talking online.

Bill steps into the Arcade, which is full of jewelry stores. In front of a display window, he asks Gaynor which ring she would choose for herself. When the sales assistant asks them if they are looking for anything specific, Bill replies that he wishes to buy an engagement ring for his fiancée. Gaynor is surprised and at first seems unwilling to take part in the lie, but Bill tells her to trust him. 

The sales assistant offers them champagne, and Bill tells her a made-up romantic story about how he proposed to Gaynor. He says they w...