A year has passed. I have saved enough to buy my first car, dark brown 55th Buick. I seemed a king to myself . I could sweep by with the girl in my own car!

   My best friend was my stepbrother . We helped each other and did everything together. He called me Jack or Joe Jack. He) too has grown up in Arkansas, but not in the same part, that I, and he was a good hunter, therefore we have decided to hunt together in the woods of Arkansas. Here and there the wood was such dense, that even in midday it was dark there. Here must were panthers about which I heard so much. I very much wanted to hit one, that's why we have bought 22d rifle and ammunition.

   One day I sat near the window and dreamed of our trip to hunting, and suddenly I saw a harmonious girl with wonderfully beautiful features on the other side of the street, she went on a bicycle along the sidewalk. Her skin was yellowish-brown, like the sweetest honey. It was the most beautiful shade which I ever saw at a girl. She has reached to the end of street, then stopped, has looked back and went back again. When she passed by my house, she lifted her eyes and looked at me. After that she has irresolutely stopped at the end of a quarter, she probably wondered if she should pass there again to let me speak to her. At last she decided to so it and has stopped precisely opposite to my house on other side of the street. "Hi! ", I have shouted.

   And she actually responded and had passed through street to talk to me. I have asked, what her name is and where she lives. Her name was Katherine Scruse and she was visiting her mother which lived in the next quarter, and the reason why I never before seen her, was because she all the time, lived in the house of her stepmother in Indiana Harbor, for 10 miles away from here. She seemed to me so mild and lovely, that I have by all means wanted to get to know her better. So I have invited Katherine to come upstairs so my mum, brothers and sister Lula have got acquainted with her. She has willingly agreed. To my surprise, Lula already knew her by sight, and she at once really liked Katherine.

   Well, if my sister liked her than I was on the right way.

   I took her to the movies in my car, and we have made friends.

   I have found out, that she has younger sister. She was fuller, and her face was more round. She was a good pupil, played basketball, and even tried to play football. It was a strong girl, she could struggle. After a while I have introduced her to my stepbrother. We everywhere went together, and certainly my stepbrother has fallen in love with younger Katherine's sister whom all called just Kate.

   Kate's mother got married in 2d time. Just as my parents and generally all parents then, her too were very strict. For Kate's stepfather it meant, that he without ceremony can start to shoot, if I will fight with him because of her. Despite of it, I wanted to be together with my new girlfriend more often, and I have decided to get acquainted with her family, including the stepfather.

   Kate was so shy, that she never looked me in the face. When I talked to her, she always allocated the sight aside, and glanced at me secretly when thought, that I will not notice. Once, when I and Kate walked, I have told to her: " I will come to visit you because I want to get acquainted with your parents ".

   "No, don't. You do not understand ", she has murmured sacredly.

   By then with my stepbrother and her younger sister everything was rather serious. I saw, how they, hugged, go along the street or walk in park. But Kate did not want to walk with me. She did not bear to be exposed on a general review.

   When in she in 1 time has agreed to take a walk with me, she all the time looked at me with fear to find out, whether I have noticed, that she limps. Certainly, I have noticed, but to me generally it was indifferent. I have asked her, what has happened to her and she has explained, that in childhood was ill with a poliomyelitis and she was operated many times, so she could walk better. Katherine so well could express her ideas. And she was the good friend who always supported me.

   I was afraid of nothing and was rather reckless. Kate was a complete opposite of me, she needed somebody who would protect her. One evening she has invited me to a party. I put on the best suit and a tie, and have gone there.

   When I have come, the party was in the heat, and everybody danced. Kate sat behind table and waited for me. Other girls have left their partners on a dance floor and have gathered around me. Probably they, have thought, that I am a movie star or something in this sort because I was so well dressed. I have seen, that Kate has lowered her head with sadness because all of them courted around me but when she has noticed, that these girls do not interest me, and I go directly to her, she has smiled again. And guys who thought, that I want to take their girlfriends away, have again calmed down. I have helped her to get up, and we danced slow dance. Suddenly I have felt, that Kate shivers all over her body.

   " Why are you shivering? ", I have asked.

   " Forgive me, I so am nervous ", she has answered so silently, that I hardly have understood her.

   " Why? "

   " Because all of them observe us ".

   I have turned back, and to my amazement have seen, that anybody except for us does not dance, and all closely examine us. But it did not bother me. I have drawn Kate closer to myself, and we have continued to dance. She has told me that because of a children's paralysis she had to wear a splint and consequently the leg has not grown any more. It didn't matter to me, what others thought of her because of it. I knew, that she was strong, and I loved her.

   Around the midnight I have brought Kate home and led her to the front doors. She stood there and looked at me like she thought, that I will come in together with her.

   " Forgive me, but I have to go ", she said.

   " Ok, call me in the morning ", I have answered.

   On the way home I could not take her out of my thoughts; the way looked, the way she spoke, even the way she shivered. And the way she patiently sat there and waited for me. All night long I did not sleep and thought about Katherine. The anticipation of pleasure of our long time planned hunting which recently so occupied me, has been superseded by thoughts about Kate.

   Finally the morning has come. Mum and the stepfather already were up when in 8 o'clock in the morning the phone has rung near to my bed. It was Kate, she asked, if I slept.

   " I could not fall asleep ", I have answered.

   " Joe, I too could not fall asleep "

   " Why? "

   " I all time thought of the party, and how we danced. I simply laid in a bed and thought of it. And also I have written to you letter ", she has added.

   " But you live in the next quarter, we can meet and talk ", I have answered.

   " I better write what I do not dare to tell "

   " And where is the letter? "

   " I will bring it to you and I will put on a porch "

   "OK"

   I stood on the stairs before the entrance door when Katherine has driven as a whirlwind on the bicycle and gave me the letter. When I went back, my sister smiled.

   " That girl is fine right? Do you like her? ", she asked.

   " Yes, very much ", I have admitted.

   When I stayed in the room, I have opened the envelope. Katherine wrote me how strong she loved me. And she has admitted, that there is one more guy which she liked. Since she has named him, I asked people which knew Kate, about her admirer. I was told that he knows her from school - they were holding hands, kissed and hugged. He was with her already 5 years and very much loved her. After that I was more than was ever full of determination, to win Katherine.

   She has come to me after a while and said:

  

   " I told to you about my friend. We have broken up "

   " What? ", I have exclaimed, trying to hide the joy.

   " I have told him how much you mean to me. And that I love you ".

   Then she constantly wrote to me, I myself asked her about it. " Write to me one more love letter ". I loved her letters, her feelings were clearly reflected in them. She really loved me very much. And I knew: if you loved by such girl, it is impossible to treat it thoughtlessly.

   By then we constantly were together. Other girls, certainly, tried to get close to me, but they did not interest me anymore. I felt, that Katherine - that woman whom I want to marry.

   And once I have collected all my courage and have gone to get acquainted with her parents. Bald man has opened the door to me. His voice was similar to a trumpet of Jericho, and he has greeted me with such tone as if he wanted to banish me from his veranda.

   Behind of him there was a lady slightly over 40, Katherine's mother. " You, are probably Joe! ", she has exclaimed. " Well, come in! ".

   So that means, the man with such loud voice which has barred the way to me - Katherine's stepfather. He has not moved from the place. Instinctively I have stepped forward, and I was very much surprised, when he without objections has receded aside and has le t me come in. But he did not lower the eyes from me and since I heard, that he can shoot at the one who he did not like, I too was on the alert.

   " I would like to talk to you about your daughter ", I have declared.

   " About what daughter? ", he yelled as he did not know with which one of the sisters I'm friends with. But, at least, he started to communicate with me, and when he has told, that is going to hunt for rabbits, he has really quickened. I have sighed with simplification - we have at least one common interest.

   " My stepbrother and I are planning to hunt for a wild boar. And I too would like to hit the panther ", I have told.

   " Really, and with what will you go on such a large animal? ", he asked.

   " We have 22d rifle with an optical sight "

   " You are both crazy", he answered.

   " What do you mean? "

   " With such an easy weapon they do not hunt on such game. You need at least a heavy Winchester "

   " I am good shooters. If I will hit it in the head, I will kill him."

   "And if you will miss? ", he asked.

   " I've never missed yet", I said proudly.

   " But the wild boar will not run away, if you will miss. It will jump directly on you. You still need another weapon ".

   " I have it."

   " And what is it? "

   "A Pistol"

   " You plan to go for hunting with a pistol?! "

   " Yes, sir. We have bought pistols and patrons ".

   I, probably seemed abnormal, to him but anyway he has offered me coffee and smiled, when I have assured him, that somehow next time I with pleasure would go hunting with him.

   Kate's mum was friendlier. She made food for us and even has made a baked pudding of a sweet potato. It was her who mostly kept up the conversation, while the stepfather closely examined me, as though estimated, what else he should ask me. I all the time thought with horror, that he for sure has a lot of guns, and he any moment can get one of them.

   I still didn’t see Kate, but she observed us from the next room and when she has noticed, that her parents start accept me, she dared to come out.

   " Come here! Your friend wants to see you", the voice of her stepfather has thundered. Katherine has obediently sat down near the table and has put her hands on her knees. She has looked down, but from time to time she threw sights full of love on me.

   Since her stepfather observed of me, it was not hidden from him.

   " Humm, Matt, the girl is in love ", he has noticed to the wife. (He called wife Matt)." She behaves not as usually. I observed her some time, and she is not as she was before. Is it clear, to you Matt that the girl is in love? "

   "Matt", certainly, has noticed it too, but she has somehow hushed up this topic so that her husband would not get mad. I have thought, that this is right moment to admit to the parents in everything - well, almost in everything, and I have told them, that me and Katherine have a lot in common, and that I like their daughter very much. I did not hold back, that my parents are divorced, and how I have grown.

   Later Kate's sister has joined our conversation, we communicated, and then the stepfather has had an idea to play checkers. I have never played checkers, and he was very happy, that he easily can beat me in it. Nevertheless I had to interrupt - I should prepare for work. When I began to say goodbye and have named this reason, Kate's stepfather has told:

   " What?! You have work? "

   " Yes, sir. I work in foundry to shop ", I have answered.

   " That's how? I work across it and if my memory does not lie, I've seen you there few times. I knew, your face was familiar to me. Visits us someday, I'll be glad if you will visit us ", he has declared and friendly patted my shoulder.

   I came back home with a relieved heart. Finally I did not need to be afraid, that I Kate's family won't like me. At home everybody already waited for me, but I at once have gone to the room. I couldn't get read of Lula so easily. she followed me and said:

   " Well, now you will get married for sure", she said.

   " Not right away. I have to consider and weigh everything seriously once again, all pro and contra ".

   With such important things I never hurried up.

   My stepbrother who has been seriously in love with Katherine's sister, did not have then any problems with her stepfather because I have blazed to him a path. And with me the stepfather was so closed because Kate was his favourite. And it is not surprising. Kate was a complete opposite of her sister. She never contradicted and did everything, her parents demanded. She was so lovely and gentle, that there was nothing else I could do, besides fall in love with her.