It was a simple act, something he recalled from his scouting days, and though he had finished boy scouts in high school, a lot of what he learned simply stuck with him. So now when most of the guys his age would ignore an old lady needing to cross the street, Gerry paused, watching he light and then gently took the woman's arm and helped her across the street. The intersection was busy, so he took her half way and then they waited through another cycle of lights to cross.
While they stood there the lady said, "I thank you for your help, there is no telling how long I would have had to stand there waiting to get across."
"It's no problem ma'am," he answered politely, "I used to be a scout, this is kind of what we do, among other things."
"You know, my daughter Cara, was a girl scout, but that was a pretty long time ago. She always did good things, and you know I have a granddaughter just about your age. You are twenty?"
"No, nineteen," he replied, wondering a bit about this granddaughter. "Is your granddaughter going to college?" he asked hopefully.
"No, she couldn't afford it, she has a job and wants to earn enough to pay for school. Say's she's just about there."
Looking closer at the old lady, Gerry's interest in the granddaughter increased. In spite of a few wrinkles, this lady was fairly attractive for her age. Her hair was the silvery, white that looked so stoically beautiful on older women especially. With deep blue eyes and high cheekbones the woman must have been absolutely beautiful in her day.
The light changed interrupting Gerry's perusal of the woman so he took her arm again and walked her the rest of the way across the street. He was about to say goodbye to the woman when she spoke, "You're such a nice boy, I wonder if you would like to come by my place, Maggie, my granddaughter might be there. Funny, she always acts so mad when I bring a young man home to meet her, but you are so nice, she's bound to enjoy meeting you."
"I don't know ma'am, I mean..."
"Oh come on, take a chance. You don't have a girlfriend or anything do you?"
"Well no, not at the moment..."