After retirement, a man aged about 60 married a young 25 year old woman. Now he was spending less time with his friends, his concerned friends enquired if there was a problem. "I'm eager to

After retirement, a man aged about 60 married a young 25-year-old woman. Now he was spending less time with his friends, his concerned friends enquired if there was a problem. "I'm eager to spend every waking moment with my lovely young wife!" he declared, a twinkle in his eye and a noticeable bounce in his step that hadn't been there in decades. "She brings a youthful exuberance to my life! We're exploring new hobbies, traveling, and staying up until all hours discussing… well, everything!"

His friends, a skeptical bunch who'd known him since his "early bird special" days, exchanged dubious glances. Frank, the most outspoken of the group, leaned in. "Arthur, old chum, we're your friends. You can tell us. Is she making you do aerobics at dawn? Has she replaced your comfortable slippers with rollerblades? We heard you sold your prized collection of vintage fishing lures – was that her doing?"

Arthur chuckled, a sound surprisingly full of vigor. "Nonsense, Frank! She loves my fishing lures! Well, she tolerates them. And as for aerobics, we prefer vigorous walks in the park! It's invigorating!" He then patted his slightly reddened face. "And frankly, gentlemen, I'm feeling like a new man! I've lost weight, I'm eating healthier, and my Spotify playlist actually has songs released in this century!"

George, another friend, who was slowly chewing on a biscuit, chimed in, "But Arthur, you used to complain about walking to the mailbox! And your idea of a late night was staying up for the 10 o'clock news! What's the secret? Is she a sorceress? Did she find the fountain of youth in your backyard?"

Arthur leaned back, a smug grin spreading across his face. "The secret, my dear friends, is simple. It's the power of persuasion! You see, every night, around 10 PM, when I'm just about ready to drift off to sleep, she looks at me with those big, innocent eyes and says, 'Arthur, darling, I'm feeling a little peckish. Could you possibly pop down to the grocery store? I'm craving those organic, gluten-free, locally sourced, artisanally baked lavender scones they only have at the 24-hour place across town.' "

His friends stared at him, bewildered. "And you do it?" Frank asked, aghast. "At 10 PM? For scones?"

"Of course!" Arthur declared. "Because the alternative, my friends," he lowered his voice to a dramatic whisper, "is her getting bored. And when a 25-year-old gets bored, she starts reorganizing the garage. Or painting the living room neon yellow. Or, worst of all, suggesting we take up competitive ballroom dancing. So, yes, I'm eager to spend every waking moment with her… because if I don't, I might wake up to find my golf clubs have been turned into macrame plant hangers. The physical exertion of a late-night scone run is nothing compared to the sheer terror of that!"

His friends burst into laughter, suddenly understanding the true nature of Arthur's newfound vigor. "Well, Arthur," Frank managed, wiping a tear from his eye, "at least you're getting your steps in. Just try not to get addicted to those lavender scones. We don't want to find you glowing in the dark."