EPILOGUE
It was late afternoon, mid-October. The air had a crisp chill and there were smells of fall in the air.
Bertram and Jeanine were just finishing a picnic lunch down by the river. Shelley and her pup were frolicking near the edge of the water.
"Oh, Bertram, it was such a lovely day at the County Fair yesterday," she said with a sigh.
"Yup, sure was," he agreed. "I can't believe it. I got twelve orders for my chicken feeder. And Mr. Barrett, all the way from Jefferson City, wants to order some for his and his brother's huge poultry farm. That could be a huge order."
"I'm so proud of you, Bertram," Jeanine said. "You must be very excited."
"I sure am," he answered. He picked up the last of the dishes and placed them into a basket. He stood up and reached for Jeanine's hand, then led her to the log on the edge of the water. Shelley came over, wagging her tail. Bertram reached over and scratched her ears.
"What are you going to name the puppy, Jeanine?" he asked. "He can stay here with you tonight. I think he's old enough."
"Oh, that's wonderful," she answered. She laughed as she watched the little pup trying to pounce on a frog. The frog was staying just a step ahead and trying for a fast get-away into the water. "Since you read that book to me," she continued, "I've been thinking of calling him Victor - after Victor Frankenstein."
Bertram laughed. "That's perfect," he said. "He's definitely a hole digger. Don't take him near any cemeteries."
Jeanine was caught between laughing and being shocked. "Bertram, don't even suggest such a thing."
Bertram sobered up. "I was thinking, Jeanine," he said tentatively. "Now that I'm a real inventor with contracts for the chicken feeder, well . . . now might be a good time to ask . . . I mean, I can support you and a family now, and I was thinking . . ."
Jeanine bit her lip and hid a smile. She had her arms up around his neck and leaned into him. "Yes, Bertram? What were you thinking?"
"Well, I was thinking . . . will you . . . will you m-marry me?" He stood back and looked at her and took her hands in his. Then he got down on his knee and reached into his pocket. "Look - I bought a ring and everything."
Jeanine smiled, and her eyes filled up with tears. "Yes, Bertram. Yes, I'll marry you."
He stood up, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Then he put his hands on her hips and swung her around with a celebratory yell. Sensing celebration in the air, even the dogs joined in.