An extraordinarily formal and monumental Valentine's Day date rang in the holiday last Friday. Rutlee Stegall, an eight-year-old gentleman from Turbeville, planned and executed the perfect date for him and his lady, Emmie Coker. Rutlee, who has a severe liver and muscular disease, saw this as the perfect way to show that he cared.
"We were on our way to see his doctor at Duke," said Rutlee's Mother, Dee Stegall. "And he told me that he wanted to get her a ring and have a nice dinner with her. So, our trip to North Carolina also turned into a search for the perfect ring."
Rutlee insisted on a blue stone for his partner and got precisely that. The dinner was hosted in a private room at Becky's Cafe in Turbeville, where the two lovebirds dined in lavish excess. A four-course meal was brought to them; the meal included a heart-shaped shrimp cocktail, heart-shaped rolls, heart-shaped hamburger patties, and finally, a heart-shaped cake with strawberry ice cream to really top of the St. Valentine atmosphere.
"He knew what he wanted," said Stegall. "All we had to do was ask her mother if that was okay, and then we made it happen."
While they waited on their dinner to be served, Rutlee and Emmie engaged each other in a few rounds of Tic-Tac-Toe.
After dinner and before dessert came the real show, the valentine's gifts. Emmie first presented Rutlee with several items, a USC Gamecock blanket and stuffed animals among them, with Rutlee smiling all along. Afterward, Rutlee presented Emmie with his specially selected ring in grand fashion.
"He was so excited, and I'm so excited for them," said Stegall.
