The Catch Of Texas

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So Geri went to her apartment with all the goodies for supper. She sorted out things and put some into the oven and some into the refrigerator.

She set the table and had everything ready when her three friends arrived, already caught up in a marvelously complicated discussion in which they included Geri. They all talked and listened and laughed. They washed their hands and settled down to eat.

They told Geri that they’d found a cat on their way over that had been lost. She was skinny and big-eyed. The three women had dogs, so they’d brought the cat to Geri.

Geri looked at the rather tacky animal and frowned. “I’m supposed to keep this creature?”

And the other three were startled that Geri was surprised. Margaret told Geri. “You’re to find a place for the cat.”

“Oh.”

And it was Marian who said, “Feed her right.”

Dorothy commented, “Don’t bring in a dog for a while.”

Indignant, Geri objected, “I haven’t had a dog.”

“—yet.” All three said it at the same time and laughed.

Geri mentioned, “We’re not allowed to have dogs and cats here.”

“Well—” they were entirely logical “—see to it that you get her a home right away.”

The next day, Geri asked Paul if he knew of anyone who would like a cat.

Paul said, “Give her to the pound. You can tell your friends that she has a good place to be. They’ll never know.”

Soberly Geri looked at Paul. She listened to his words, said, “Thank you” and left. He called to her but she didn’t respond.

She went to see Frank. He was pulling out roots at a job site. He was so pleased to see her. He listened to her tell about the cat. He nodded. “I know an old woman who likes cats. She has a couple. She’ll find somebody to take a good cat.”

Geri told Frank, “She needs help. She’s skinny and has been abandoned.”

“I’ll fix her up with some food. Don’t worry. It’s easy.” Then he asked, “You okay?”

She smiled. A tear came out of her eye.

He was alarmed. “What’s going on? Who’s pushing you? Tell me. I can handle it.”

“I don’t have any problems...now. If you can find the cat a place, you’ve solved my problem.”

He watched her seriously. He said, “I get a kiss.”

She tilted her head several times quite sassily and she felt in her pockets. She looked in her purse. She said, “I had some kisses ar—”

So he kissed her.

There were cheers and claps and hoo-hahs and guys who hollered, “Me next!”

Nothing seemed to reach Frank, but the guys hollering made Geri laugh and blush scarlet!

Frank told her soberly, “They’re young. They don’t know about love...yet. They will.”