The Catch Of Texas. Lass Small

She didn’t look at him at all.

      Sadly, Frank said to his buddies, “She doesn’t like me all that much.”

      Mark soothed, “She’s shy.”

      Tim agreed. “She’s woggled by all us males. Some of us ought to move back and quit looking at her.”

      “You get back.” That was Mark.

      Tim shook his head. “I have to stay close to Frank so’s he won’t bungle the entire encounter.”

      Mac gasped. “The entire encounter.” And he put his hand to his chest in shock.

      Tommy said, “Cut it out.”

      “—of the paper?” Mac gasped again.

      Tommy groaned and laughed.

      It went on thataway. Long past the time that Geri Jones had disappeared. Gotten into her car. Left them. Gone.

      The males all noted that she had TGIF on her license plate. They smiled. They were not functioning correctly or they would have known it wasn’t Thank God It’s Friday but Thank God I’m Female.

      That would have boggled the men.

      

      Sometime back, in spite of her mother’s tears, Geri had moved from home and gotten an apartment of her own. She lived in a large old apartment house that was back from the river.

      When she got home to her apartment after work, she liked the quiet. She took the elevator to the third floor, or she walked it. Whichever she wanted.

      She chose which TV programs she wanted and adjusted the sound to suit her. She was tidy. She liked her apartment that way. She’d chosen the third floor because she could see over the TEXAS trees to the river.

      Twice a year, Geri had her family there for her mother’s birthday and her father’s birthday. She was becoming a solid woman. She was twenty-eight. Still single. Alone.

      Her parents had given up on her. She would be a single woman all the rest of her life, they grieved. They had discussed her from the time she’d left them.

      Geri gave bridge parties now and again. She included men. They liked cards. They visited with the other men. The males paid little attention to the women.

      However—

      Two of the men thought Geri was a good partner. She worked, she had her own apartment, she had a car, she was very well set financially. They smiled at her and each separately offered to bring the bread and wine for supper—each told her that would be between just him and her.

      Geri smiled. She said, “I’ll call.”

      She never did.

      Geri went to visit her parents before the drive home. Her mother Ann told her, “You’re too picky. Find a man you can endure and get married.”

      Geri replied, “I’ll see.”

      It was a nothing reply. Her mother was aware of that. It silenced her. She realized Geri probably wouldn’t ever be interested in any man. There were women like that. Ann looked at her husband and thought he wasn’t at all difficult.

      When Geri left, her mother saw the TGIF but then she realized it was different.

      That made her mother think for a while. She said thoughtfully to her husband John, “I wonder if Geri will ever marry.”

      Her husband lifted his eyebrows without moving his eyes from the evening paper and said, “Ummmmm.”

      Ann looked at her husband and breathed in indignation. But she said nothing.

      Geri drove to her apartment house and thought about what and who she had to consider seriously. Frank? She thought about him as she drove into the open garage under her apartment.

      She nodded to people who called to her without replying vocally. She was lost in time. She stopped and looked out to the river. The land between was kept empty of houses because the river rose and flooded.

      If houses were in that area, they would be a part of the mess. She didn’t consider it because her mind was on her own life. What did she want?

      And at that time, two cars came along and honked as they stopped. It was Frank Scheblocki and some of his friends.

      Frank got out of his car and stood, allowing her to admire his body and his smile. The other guys got out also, but they stayed closer to the cars.

      Frank moved slowly to Geri.

      Geri sighed silently. There were men who liked concerts and men who studied newspapers and magazines to know what was happening where. But this male saw her, and he followed her, and he noticed her. He made her feel special.

      She smiled and turned out her hand. “Are all those males along to take care of you?”

      Soberly watching her, Frank asked, “Could I come back by myself? Would you mind?”

      She looked at him and nodded. “I’ll fix you supper.”

      He grinned. “I’ll be back.” Frank went back, calling openly, “In the cars. I’ve been invited to supper.”

      Some male gasped, “You have?”

      And Frank nodded. “Just me!”

      As the various males got into their cars, they protested not being invited, too.

      Geri slowly shook her head, being sure the rest of the males would not come back, too.

      They laughed and protested and called out, but they all left in the two cars.

      Geri wondered what she’d done. Well, she could control any male. She’d feed Frank after all, and she’d shoo him out after they’d eaten. If he walked over to her place, or someone came by and dropped him off, she’d call a cab for him when the supper was finished.

      So she went inside her apartment to the kitchen and looked at what all was available to eat. Shocked, she saw she had very little. And Frank was coming right back. So she went next door to another apartment and asked her neighbor, Paul Gorden, “May I use some of your goodies? I’ve asked a young man to have dinner with me. He is willing.”

      Paul said, “Only if I can share the supper you’re preparing.”

      She laughed. “Do you suppose that there will be enough to eat?”

      Paul said, “I’ll help. Of course, you’ll have to include me for dinner. Not to eat me, you realize, but to feed me also.”

      She tilted her head and said, “Okay. It’s a deal. What all do you have to eat?”

      So they searched out what was available. She put the things aside that she wanted. Then she heard Frank’s car door slam. And he was walking up the stairs to her apartment!

      She told Paul, “I’ve got to hurry. I didn’t realize he could be here so fast.”

      “I’ll bring the other things over. Be sure to set me a place at the very table you’re fixing.”

      “Done.” And she grinned as she left.

      

      Geri got to her door as Frank got there, grinning widely and his eyes sparkling with anticipation. That was for food, but Geri thought he was anticipating something romantic—and Paul would be there! She laughed. How hilarious.

      Frank thought she was delighted to see him and his grin widened.

      Geri looked over at the approaching Paul. Paul was serious and his head was down like a bull’s as he watched the intruder.

      Now Paul knew she was having a guest. What was the matter with him? Geri took a deep breath and looked at Paul with some hostility.

      Paul didn’t notice. He was watching Frank.

      Understanding the males’ hostility to each other, Geri