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I took Spot onto the dance floor. He was quite a bit uneasy out there with me. The band was taking a break so there was no one out there.
"Okay, Spot, let's teach ya the basics."
"Da what?" he asked, a little confused.
"Da basics," I replied, mimicking his speech. "Okay, now, watch my feet. Once ya got it down, try it."
He watched my feet. I did a simple box step. Spot watched intently; then he tried it himself. He did it pretty well, but it still wasn't quite right.
"Spot, Spot." He looked up at me. "Say this with my while ya do the step. Forward, side, together. Back, side, together. When ya step forward, do so with the left foot. And step back with the right. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Okay, let's try it again. I'll call yer steps. Forward, side, together. Back, side, together......." I spoke slowly while he tried the steps, pausing between each command.
"Forward, side, tagedda. Back, side, tagedda..........." Spot repeated the words over and over while he moved his feet. He seemed to be getting it down pretty well. I thought that I'd spice it up a little.
"Okay, ya got that one down. Let's try the spinning part."
"Spinnin' pawt?"
"Yup. It's the same sequence, except ya gotta turn yer foot a little. When ya step forward, turn yer foot out. Like so," I demonstrated, "and when ya step back, turn yer foot in. Like so." I demonstrated again. Spot nodded. "Okay, watch me, then do it yerself."
"Shoa."
I demonstrated the step, and he mimicked me again. He was doing pretty well. He had almost completely forgotten about everything around him; he was concentrating so hard.
"Spot, Spot!" I yelled.
Spot stopped twirling and turned toward me. "Yeah?" he asked.
"The band's gonna start up again soon. Why don't we try this." I took one of his hands in my right and the other in my left. I placed his right hand at my waist and stepped closer to him.
He gulped. "Why d'we gotta stand so close?" he asked.
I laughed. "Spot, it's a bit hard ta slow dance without bein' close. Come on, it's not that bad is it?"
"Well, um," he stuttered.
"Spot, ya wanna lead or should I?" He said nothing. "Okay, I'll lead." I swtiched our hands and I started to move. Spot tried to watch his, or my, feet. "Spot, look here." I pointed to my eyes. He looked up.
I led Spot around the empty dance floor. He was doing pretty well. I was proud of him. The band was coming back from their break and getting set up in the pit.
"Once the band starts up again, yer leadin'," I said.
Spot got a worried look on his face. "I gotta lead?" he asked.
"Spot, it's really not that hard. Jist look into my eyes and show me around the floor."
"Wouldn't cha radda dance wit' Blink? He's a way betta dansah den I ever could," he said and looked at the floor.
I took Spot's chin and turned him up to face me. "Spot, I don't wanna dance with Blink. I wanna dance with you," I said sincerely.
"Really?" I nodded. "Awright," he concurred with a thin smile.
The band started up again. I switched back our hands and encouraged Spot to lead. He gulped once more. A few other couples joined us on the dance floor. Our friends watched us from our table.
"Come on, Spot. I know ya kin dance," I reassured him.
He nodded and began to move his feet. We danced all through the entire song. He led pretty well. He danced pretty well, too. When the song was finished, everyone clapped for the band. They soon started up another song, and Spot and I continued dancing. We danced together for quite some time. At some point, Spot got a little more daring and began twirling me around and dipping me and such. He wasn't nearly as good a dancer as Blink, but he was still learning.
A little while later we joined everyone at the table.
"Hey, guys," I greeted and took my seat. Spot sat down next to me.
"Hey, Boidie, Spot, you'se guys looked real good out dere," Jack said.
"Not as good as she looks wit' Blink," Spot mumbled.
"Spot Conlon!" I, apparently, was the only one who'd heard him. The others just looked at me. "Will you people not give me that look," I said, annoyed.
"Uh, so, Blink, where'd you learn all dose steps a yers?" Race asked, somewhat interested, and trying to change the subject.
Blink shrugged. "I jist loins 'em from people," he said.
"Ya think you'se could teach me some a dem steps, Blink?" Spot asked.
We all looked at Spot. He didn't often ask for help, and he certainly wasn't going to repeat himself. Blink answered him after a short pause. "Shoa, Spot, if dat's what'cha want," he said.
I smiled and took a sip from a glass of sasparilla that was on the table. I think it was Jack's, but I'm not sure. Anyway, Jax was speaking with us all at that time. I wasn't really listening. I was off in la-la land, thinking about back home. Well, I fit in better here, but I still missed my sister and father and mother, just barely.
"Birdie, Birdie!" someone called.
"Hunh? What?" I asked, coming back to reality.
"It's time ta go, hon," Jax said impatiantly.
"Already?" I asked. She nodded. "What time is it?" I asked and grabbed Spot's pocket watch from his pocket.
"Hey!" Spot potested.
"Aw, shut up, Spot," I said and clicked open the watch. I looked at the time and was amazed. "It's ten o'clock!?"
"Yeah," everyone said.
"How can it possibly be ten already, 'n' why're we leavin' at ten?"
"Time flies when yer havin' fun," Jax said with a smile.
I looked at the table. "Yeah, I s'pose so," I said morosely.
Spot held out his hand to me. "Might I escort da lady ta her coach?" he asked, being very gentlemanly.
"Ya certainly may," I replied. I took his hand and stood up. I followed the rest of the guys out the door. I walked slowly and stared blankly into space. Spot walked with me.
"Hey, uh, Boidie, what's da mattah?" he asked me quietly.
I turned to him slowly. I shook my head. "Nothin' ya could fix, Spot," I replied. We stepped onto the barren street.
"Ya shoah?" he asked with a grin.
I looked at him. "What're you up to?" I asked, suspicious of him.
Spot just grinned. He pulled me off the street and against a building. I looked at him curiously. He looked at me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I just looked into his blue-gray eyes. He leaned in a kissed me. It quite surprised me, but I wasn't going to complain.
A bit later, I walked into the bunk room that Jax and I shared. I was in a much better mood. Jax had already changed and was brushing her teeth. I walked over to Jax in the washroom.
"Heya, Jax," I greeted happily.
Jax looked at me. "Uh-huh, so, why're you so happy? Did 'e kiss ya yet?" she asked, extremely interested. She took a swig of water to wash out the last bit of toothpaste.
"Uh-huh," I replied with a dreamy look.
She pulled me back to the bunk room. She sat me down on one of the bunks and proceeded to drill me about the evening. "So, whatta ya gonna do 'bout it?" she asked.
I looked at her. "Before I tell ya anything, you gotta tell me 'bout you and Mush," I said.
"Well, Mush and I're goin' together now," she began.
She continued to explain about her evening with Mush while I changed. By the time that I had finished changing and washing my face and brushing my teeth, she was finally finished with her story.
"That's great, Jax," I said happily. I climbed into my bunk and pulled the covers up over me.
"What 'bout you 'n' Spot?" she asked, hungry for information.
I yawned. "I'll tell ya in da mornin'," I said and laid down. I turned away from her and shut my eyes.
"Birdie!" she exclaimed, somewhat annoyed.
I ignored her. I just kept my eyes shut and drifted off to sleep. I was looking forward to the next day. I wanted to see what Spot was going to do next.
Tune in next time for more Days of Yore.
© 1997 b1rd1e@aol.com
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