The Christmas Victory

As he lay down on his bed his head was spinning as tried to think what to do. He knew down deep that she wasn’t the girl for him. They just didn’t click somehow. But, he realized that apparently she liked him a lot. He could string her along and enjoy her affections for a while. He toyed with the idea for a few minutes. Yet, he knew down deep that that just wouldn’t be fair somehow. He also knew he needed to devote himself more to his writing at the time and a relationship now would not allow for that.

Then his mind went back to that frog that had jumped up, and then he also happened to remember story he had promised Artemus. He knew now what the bet in the story would be---it would be on how high a frog could jump.”

********

The next Monday night at the local saloon Bret tried to pump Mark about the picnic. “How'd it go, yesterday?”

“Yeah, how far'd y' get with her?”

Mark snarled. “It's really none of your business, but if you must know, we were interrupted by invading ants.”

They both laughed. Then Bret said, “But, how far did y' get with Ina?”

“As I said, that’s none of your business. But I don’t think I’ll be taking her out again.”

“What's th' matter?” asked Artemus. “Don't y' like the gal?”

Mark sighed. “Oh, she's alright—not really my type, though.”

“Well,” sighed Bret, “That's that, then, I guess.”

Then Steve, who was silent up till now said, “Well, Mark, if you don't want her, I'll take her.”

“Well,” sighed Artemus, “I guess y’ didn’t have much time to work on that story.”

Mark frowned. “No, I didn’t. But I will. I got a dandy idea for what the bet’ll be about. I’ll get to work on it right away. That’s another reason I’m breaking it off with Ina. I'm not really ready t' get tied into a serious relationship now. It’d take too much time away from my writing. Maybe later when I’m more established as a writer, I can think about settling down with a woman.”

Artemus smiled. “That’s a wise decision, Mark. So, I’ll be expecting that story soon.”