At the close of Friday afternoon classes my good friend Tony invited me to a party that night. "Let's double date. I'll take Mamie. You bring Flora like last time." "No thanks, Tony!" "What's that? You mean to say you have another date with Ruby Terry? I can't believe it Harold! Why Ruby?"

"She is a pretty girl. I think we will have a nice time tonight at the silent movie," I replied. "You are a brave one!" Tony said. "Haven't you heard that Mrs. Terry threw boiling water on my brother when he brought Ruby's sister Ethel home? They were only a few minutes late at that! Mrs. Terry frightens all the guys away from her beautiful daughters. I wouldn't risk it, Harold."

Mrs. Terry seemed friendly enough to me. The last time I brought Ruby home she had freshly baked molasses cookies and hot chocolate waiting for us. She treated me well as we visited in their living room.

I was a little late in picking up Ruby on this third date. I was in a hurry and afraid we might be late for the movie. The Terry house set back from the main road about 500 yards. The narrow lane leading to their house was smooth for travel. I wanted to hurry alright. But speeding doesn't pay. Halfway down the lane Terry's flock of ducks suddenly appeared crossing the road in front of my car. Wow! I tried to stop but one unlucky duck hit the front of my new car. It was thrown to the left out of the narrow roadway.

Flapping of the ducks wings and wind blown feathers assured me that at least one duck was killed. "Oh my! What shall I do? Shall I make a quick turnaround at the lane's end and escape? If I don't say anything, when the dead duck is found I will be in hot water," I thought. "If I tell at all I may not have another date with Ruby!" I decided to tell Mrs. Terry I had killed one of her ducks and suffer the consequences.

I was surprised when Mrs. Terry said, "Harold, come early tomorrow for duck dinner!"