Bert could not believe his ears at her pronouncement, but was game, though he was half a head shorter than the other fellow and not nearly as muscled. He knew something that the other fellow did not know. Bert was light weight boxing champ at his university. He might not be able to match Bobby's muscles, but he could probably out maneuver him.

The two combatants circled each other for a moment, but did not shake hands. It was not that sort of fight. It was the kill or be killed sort, at least at Bobby's end. Bobby swung wild hay-makers, which Bert avoided easily, and then dove at him, trying to grab him. Bert knew this was trouble. He was no wrestler. He dodged to one side and stuck his leg out, tripping Bobby. Bobby flew into the ground face first, before coming up with a red face. By now, a few people from the dance were outside watching.

Bobby dove at Bert again, avoiding the same trick twice, but Bert managed to punch him in the kidneys a few times, and then in the face, as he turned around. The fight progressed predictably, with Bobby growing more and more tired, until Bert finally was able to clock him with an upper cut. The blow sent Bobby backwards on his butt, and he did not get up again for a good five minutes.

Bert turned to Rose, his shirt half untucked and one sleeve of his new suit half-way off, but uninjuried. "Miss Tyler, can I drive you home?" His cousin Sally was one of the onlookers and rushed up to make sure he was O.K. She hugged him for a moment, and then looked at his suit coat. "Awe Bert, you looked so good in that suit."