Tuesday Tale: in which Kate & Karl are introduced

Kate and Karl had been "dating," if people their age did indeed date, for six months or so, when Kate informed Karl of a fundraising event she had to attend and wondered if he'd come with her.
"Of course Kate, I'd love to come with you," Karl responded ever so quickly when she asked.
"You'll have to wear a shirt with a collar and a tie," she noted.
"No!" Karl answered. "I haven't put on a tie since the day I retired. I hate them, I won't wear one."
"Listen Hon," he loved when she called him Hon, " it's formal, and a tie is a necessity. You really will need to wear one."
"Or what," he challenged.
"Or, very simply I will go without you. "
"You would do that?" he asked rather surprised by her answer.
Kate carefully told him, " Yes Karl, I will go with out you. A formal affair, is a formal affair, and the rest of the world might not care that you don't like ties, but if you're going with me, you have to put on a tie. Besides, a nice suit and tie, adds a couple of points to the package and can be.... exciting, if you know what I mean?"
She smiled at him in that way she had, and let the whole tie matter drop for the rest of the evening.
A couple of days passed and by the weekend, Kate figured she'd be going to the fundraiser without her man. As she walked along to Karl's place she thought about his stubbornness. It was legendary and frankly, she didn't think a tie was worth fighting about. But she believed in the dress code and this particular fundraised was practically black tie. She really wanted Karl to go with her, but if he wouldn't dress up, what could she do, expect go without him.

She arrived at Karl's and they made a bee line for his bedroom. It had been at least a week since they'd had time to make love and he ran with her up the stairs to the second floor. His touch was electric and she could barely contain herself as they tore their clothes off.
"Just give me a minute Hon," he whispered in her ear.
Kate lay down on the bed and waited not too patiently for Karl. Not more than a minute later he walked into the bedroom.
"All right," he said, "I'll wear the damn tie."
And indeed there was Karl. Wearing a lovely silky candy apple red striped tie and not a stitch else.