Penny liked Jerry and she liked the kiss. Best of all, she appreciated his consideration in never forcing serious attentions upon her. With a gay “I’ll race you!”, she ran ahead of him to the road.
Jerry took Penny directly home. Mrs. Weems had gone to bed while Mr. Parker had not returned from downtown.
“Will you come in and have a cup of chocolate?” Penny invited the reporter.
“Not tonight, thanks,” he declined. “See you tomorrow at the office.”
Penny went into the house, and after fixing herself a snack from the refrigerator, switched on the radio to catch the weather report. The news commentator, on a national hookup, warned that the hurricane continued to sweep toward the Atlantic coast, and that inland cities also were endangered.
“It really sounds serious,” she thought, turning off the radio.
As she went upstairs, Mrs. Weems called to her in a sleepy voice, so Penny stepped into the housekeeper’s bedroom for a moment.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Mrs. Weems said. “Is there any news about the approaching storm?”
“Nothing definite. The latest radio report said it’s still heading this way.”
“When will it strike?”