Show i. i THE GIMMICK By Dy Norman A A. A Disher I IVE I'VE V VE never believed In this love and the tha girl next door stuff tuff but Ill I'll be darned If It the gal that just moved In In next door Isn't the prettiest thing Ive I've ever seen Trouble Is h. h she wont won't even give me a glance Ive I've stood on my head done done somersaults somersaults of oil off the porch and dashed about the yard looking masculine No dice What I need Is a gimmick You know something to make her admire me Ive I've never had this trouble before but she Is worth It Just to think about her makes me feel nice all over I 1 suppose I ought to net act more grown grownup grown up about this but when a aguy aguy aguy guy Is eighteen he should be allowed al lowed to be a little adolescent when It comes to things like love It must be love It must be love I 1 dont don't know why else I 1 would go so far out of my way to attract attract at at- tract a girl There she is now Hello I say real friendly Hello she replies coldly I Nice evening isn't it IU Yes She answers disinterest edly Where are you from I ask my voice eager Were from up north near She's warming a aUt lit tle tie This Is better Where is I asked Well its it's Its It's she starts to explain explain ex plain but an authoritative voice calls caUs herI herI herI her I have to go now goodnight ahe she says dashing into her house Just when Im I'm making progress I Oh well tomorrow Is Saturday and I shall shan make plans Today is Saturday and my plans are made I have a gimmick I Ahl Ahi There she is Is sitting on the front lawn Hello I say feeling clever Hello she replies She Is smiling mil smil log ing today I II I hope you wont won't think me rude but may I sit and talk awhile Since were we're neighbors we ought to be neighborly I 1 I think that would be nice t I She smiles again I 1 look took deep into her brown eyes I think she is melting Well Wetly she asks ask Oh Oh er er oh yes yea I 1 play foot foot- balU bail That nice It didn't Impress her I 1 am desperate Do you like books books' Why yes I do What sort do you like Adventure I answer glorious glori ous adventure and dark mystery fine but I like romance I like romance too Im I'm not all muscle and courage I have my sensitive side I can tell this makes an impression In fact I have a copy of Peryl Peryy Callings Callings- i worth's latest novel The Tearful Woman on my desk Its It's great I like her books very much may I see it In she asks You certainly may I reply jumping up and bounding off across the lawn like a young panther I approach the hedge and turn a little lit tle Ue to see if It she is watching my jumping form She is I spring into the air deer like deer like but my foot catches on the top of the hedge and I come crashing to the ground on the other side The ground resents my intrusion and slaps me firmly on the jaw 1 I remember no more all is darkness Out of the darkness comes a as s sweet et melodious voice Are you all aU right are you hurt I dont don't know I reply Then I realize my head is on the lap of the girl next door so 80 I relax and groan Such pain I Oh you poor thing she Is saying Ill be all aU right I say She holds me closer I groan again She is worried I sigh sith She strokes my head and smiles down at me Thank you I say youre so kind She knows I am better now but she does not move I feel wonderful wonder wonder- ful I even forget my gimmick Who needs a gimmick Tonight we shall shan go dancing |