So, for the remainder of the week, Cathy acted like a stranger in her own house. She did her household chores, she did her studying, she answered her parents civilly when they spoke to her, but she acted like a little lost soul. She kept to her room most of the time.
Her parents plied her with presents, promised her outings. Her brother found her a date, finally, after a desperate search. He was a nice guy, and Jimmy, without telling anyone, had bribed him, with a full week's allowance.
"I'm not going to the prom. Thank you anyway," she said to her shocked brother.
"Cathy! How can you?" her mother asked. "You wanted to go so badly."
"I don't want to go to the prom," Cathy said, toying with her food.
Cathy had lost her appetite, and with it a little weight. Her face was slightly pale.
Her mother and father were now hovering over her like worried birds over a baby bird who has fallen out of the nest.
"Damn!" Jimmy exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table. "That date cost me a whole week's allowance."
Cathy's pale face flushed as she stared angrily at her brother.
"You bribed someone to take me to the prom? What about my pride?" she screamed. She started to cry, and ran away from the table.
Mr. Jones shook his head. "Son, your intentions were laudable but I happen to agree with Cathy."
"Well, he's a nice guy, and a terrific dancer!" Jimmy said, defensively.
"That's not the point," Mrs. Jones said, patting her son's arm. "The fact of the matter is, you did bribe him, and Cathy's pride has been hurt."
"Not to mention her heart," Mr. Jones said. "What in hell does that Troy bastard have? He's the biggest heart-breaker in town!"
"I don't know," Jimmy said, his mouth set in anger. "But I'm going to find out! I think he seduced her."
"I doubt very much that he did. Your sister said he respected her promise to your mother," Mr. Jones said.
"Oh, he's the typical heart-throb," Mrs. Jones said, smiling slightly.
"He certainly appeals to me. Have you ever seen him? He's so tall and dark and handsome and…well, rakish! And he's a boy after a mother's heart. He's been supporting his mother and his two sisters since he was fourteen in that automobile shop!"
"Yeah, where all those bikers hang out!" Jimmy snarled.
"If I were you, I wouldn't tackle him," Mr. Jones said, pointing his fork at his son with a stern warning look on his face. "I've heard that he's a superb boxer, and that he's already been offered scholarships to two Ivy League colleges on those merits alone."
"Not to mention his skill at basketball," Jimmy said sarcastically.
He rose from the table, discouraged, and heart-sore. He couldn't understand Cathy! She wouldn't have anything to do with him in the last week.
He called up Sam Appleby, and canceled the deal. Sam didn't really care, but he invited Jimmy the next week to play soccer in his back field with some of the other boys in his set.
Jimmy went back to ask his parents if it were all right.
"Sure," Mr. Jones said.
Jimmy went back to the phone, and made the date firm. Then he went up to his sister's room.
He knocked on the door.
"Cathy?
"What?"
"Can I come in for a minute?"
"Yeah."
Jimmy opened the door, almost timidly. He walked over to the desk where Cathy was studying. He stood behind her chair.
"I'm sorry, Cathy," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. Her flesh felt warm, and Jimmy felt his cock lurch to life. He wanted her so badly!
"I just wanted you to be happy. That's why I did it. I thought it would make you happy."
"It's all right, Jimmy," Cathy said, softly. Jimmy got frustrated. He pulled Cathy out of the chair, and shook her.
"Well, what's the matter?" he cried, gripping her tightly by her shoulders. "Tell me what's wrong!"
"Nothing's wrong," Cathy said, in that soft, listless voice, when Jimmy stopped shaking her.
"Oh, yes, something's wrong. What is it? Did I do something bad?"
Cathy shook her head, feeling her eyes well up with tears.
"Don't you want to go to the prom?"
Cathy shook her head again.
"Well, what do you want, Cathy?" her brother exclaimed, thoroughly exasperated.
"I want Troy," Cathy said, simply.
"Shit! You're crazy, you know that? He's the worst hoodlum in town!"
"Who says, and why?" Cathy cried out.
"Well, ask Mom and Dad!" Jimmy exhorted.
"You ask them!" Cathy retorted. Jimmy's face flushed.
"How come it's all right for you to go out with Suzy and Lorraine. How come it's all right for you to come home at all hours, after fucking someone, or cutting up or drunk? And how come it's not all right for Troy?" she demanded fiercely.
"I don't know," came the deep voice of her father, who had been listening in the open doorway.
Cathy turned, her eyes flaring at her father.
"You had to bail him out of jail one night when he started a brawl at that dance at Edgemoor! I never heard anyone say that Troy was ever in jail."
"He's just never been caught yet!" Jimmy exclaimed.
Cathy sat down at her desk, and rested her head on her arms. Jimmy didn't like being reminded of the time he had been in jail, along with Ron, and Wayne, and Whitey, for breaking up the dance hall.
He stormed out of the room, and out of the house.
"Jimmy!" his mother called after him, as she saw his stormy progress.
She went upstairs, and into Cathy's room.
"Now what's wrong?" she asked, a hint of exasperation in her own voice.
"Jimmy just stormed out of the house."
"Sure! And nobody cares. He can go and get himself jailed again, or he can go fuck the school whores. You don't care! Only you've got this silly notion that it matters for me, and Troy, because he doesn't live on this end of town!" Cathy retorted.
"Young lady, I think I've had all I can take from you!" Mrs. Jones said. Mr. Jones put his hand on his wife's arm.
"She's right, June."
He led his wife out of the room, and closed the door. He was frowning.
"Bob, what is it?"
"I don't know. But I have an idea. I'll be back later, dear." He kissed his wife, and left the house himself.
Jimmy was hot. He hadn't seen as much of Suzy as usual, so he went to her house. Suzy answered the door.
"Hi!" Jimmy said.
"Well, well, well, Jimmy, lover-boy!" she drawled, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing her.
"Cool it! Where are your mother and father?"
"Out, as usual. Come on in, and let's make it."
"O.K. Where's Steph?"
"She went downtown with Gerald. They're going to go dragging on Route