It was a typical Wednesday afternoon. The band, the Monkees obviously, had just finished practicing for a local concert series they were going to take part in a month or so. They were going to perform with four other local bands. The pay wasnt going to be much but it was going to be more than what they had been getting lately. It was really gonna make their landlord, Mr Babbitt, happy cause they hadnt paid rent in two months.
"I hope we get more gigs." Micky said to Mike as he sat in back of his drum kit, tooling with his drum sticks. "I'd like to have some money here for a change."
"I know what you mean. We get back from a gig, hes right there waiting for it." Mike sighed. "At least we're lucky enough to still be living here."
"Yeah, he's a pain in the butt, but he hasnt kicked us out yet." Davy said.
The doorbell starting to ring. It started out loud then quickly went silent. There was a "Bzzt" sound from behind the door. Peter got up from the harpsichord and went to the door. He opened it. There was some sort of delivery man standing before him, looking a little fried. His finger was still out in front of him, as if he meant to push the doorbell again.
"Hi!" Peter said.
"Hi." The man said. "You gotta get that fixed."
"I know." Peter said. Mike overheard him and got out a notebook labeled "things to fix" and listed "Doorbell" under 135.
"Can we help you?" Peter asked as the delivery man shook off his light shock.
"Oh yeah. Delivery for the Monkees?" He said.
"Thats us!" They all said. He handed a clipboard and pen over to Peter. He took it and signed his name.
"Maybe its something real cool." Micky said.
"I don't remember ordering anything." Mike said as Peter handed him the clipboard. "Do we all need to sign?"
"No." The man said. "Be right back." He left the doorstep and went to his truck.
"Maybe its a girl, one of them mail order brides." Davy said dreamily.
"I doubt it." Mike said.
"Yeah," Micky said. "How would we all share her anyway?"
"Flip for it." Davy said.
"Do you mean the girl or a coin?" Peter wondered.
"The coin, Pete." Mike said as the delivery man returned with an envelope.
"Thats it?" Micky asked as Peter was handed the envelope.
"Yep." The man said. He stood there for a moment. He looked at them. He made a coughing sound.
"I think the man wants a tip." Mike said Peter went inside with the envelope.
"If its not too much trouble."
"Well we have no money sir, but we'll be glad to show you our impressive collection of dryer lint." Mike said pointing in back of him.
"Thanks, but no." The delivery man said. "Have a nice day."
Mike closed the door. He went over to Peter who already had Micky and Davy gathered around him.
"Whats in it?" Micky asked.
"Its too small to be that mail order bride." Davy said sadly.
"Maybe its a pigmy." Peter said.
"Then Davy would be taller than someone for a change." Micky added.
"Thats right." Davy replied. "HEY!"
"Someone open it. We can't all be Johnny Carson and read it still in the envelope." Mike said.
Peter nodded. He took a letter opener and opened the envelope across the top. He then reached in with his hand and pulled out two slips of paper.
"Congratulations entrant." He read. "Guess there is no name." He said. "You are the winner of the third prize in the Brickmans Hardware store contest."
"Contest?" Mike asked. "When did we enter this contest."
"Remember when we had to fix the bedroom door ourself?" Micky asked. "One of us must have filled out the slip."
"Yeah." Mike said. "I remember now. Davy was on contest kick then. He signed up to any and all contests."
"If I remember, there was one for the perfume store downtown too." Peter said.
"Hey, you never know when you want to smell good for a girl." Davy said.
"Davy, you're already swimming in perfume and cologne." Mike said.
"Whats the prize?" Micky asked.
"Maybe its a coupon for a mail order bride." Davy said.
"Will you get over the mail order bride already??" Mike asked.
"S-orry!" Davy said.
"What is the prize Peter?" Micky asked.
"A weeks worth of dance lessons at Madame Truffants in downtown." Peter said. "Exclusive, only one person can go."
"Bumm-ah man." Davy said.
"I know." Micky said.
"Whos going to go?" Mike asked.
"Not me! You remember the last time I went to dance lessons dont you?" Davy asked.
"Yes, we do." Mike said prefering not to go into details.
"What about you Peter?" Micky said.
"I was born with two left feet...on backwards." He said.
"I don't want to go. I'd have to have a girl to dance with." Micky said.
"What about you Mike?" Davy asked.
"Me?" Mike asked getting a glass of water. "Why me?"
"Cause you havent been out with a girl since Sabrina, that teenaged witch." Micky said.
"He's right. We have to air you out. You don't go anywhere anymore. You only go out on gigs, and thats it." Davy said.
"I like being alone." Mike said. He crossed his arms. "Solitude suits me well."
"You say that but you don't mean it." Micky said.
"I think I know why he doesn't go out." Peter said.
"Why Petah?" Davy asked.
"I think Mike knows too." Peter said.
"What?" Mike said. "Do tell, Peter, I'm sure we all want to know."
"One word..."
"Plastics!" Micky said. Peter looked at him. "Sorry."
"Carole." Peter said. "You wont go out because you think that there is a chance that Carole will come back from art school."
"Yeah." Micky said. "And you want to be the one that is there to sweep her off her feet."
"Don't be silly." Mike said. "I am over Carole." He said waving his hands. "Wayyyy over. I am so over her I am in Cinncinati, and shes in Timbuktu." Mike said. He frowned. At least he thought he knew what he was talking about. "Shes not even on my mind. I don't even remember her name."
"Carole." The trio chimed in.
"I didn't ask for help." Mike said. "In fact, I am SOooooo over Carole I will take that coupon to the dance lessons, and I will go." He said. He reached forward and took the envelope from Peter. "I will go, I will learn to Tango, Fox Trot, waltz, whatever." He said looking over the coupon. "It's tomorrow." He continued. He went upstairs toward his room. "The next time you see me, I will be a dancing fool!" He said at the top of the stairs.
"Well, at least he'll be half right." Micky sighed.
Across town
A young woman came off the bus at the bus depot. She slung her shoulder bag over her shoulder and walked toward a waiting car. Two blonde women were waiting for her. They ran toward her and hugged her.
"Carole!" The both cried.
"Britney, Christina." Carole said. "Its so good to see you."
"How was the art school?" Britney asked as she took her sisters shoulder bag. Carole at first resisted but then let her take it.
"It was wonderful." Carole said. "I felt so alive. I made so many drawings. I brought some home with me to give to you."
"That's great." Christina said.
"So how is everything?" Carole said.
"You mean how is mom?" Britney asked.
"Yeah, I do." Carole said. "Is she still pissed? About me not getting married to Scott?"
"She was for a while." Christina said. "Then once she saw what a jerk he was, she changed her mind. He ran off with one of the bridemaids!"
"Oh my god!" Carole said.
"Moms glad you didnt marry him. He would have done it to you, and she would not have gone for that." Britney said.
"Amazing." Carole said as they got into Britneys car. Britney just barely got her license.
"Put your seats and trays in their upright position." Christina cracked.
"Thats for planes!" Britney said. "I am not that bad of a driver."
"Okay, whatever. Something tells me I'd rather be a pedastrian right now." Christina replied.
Carole chuckled to herself. It was so good to be home.
"By the by we have a present for you." Christina said opening her purse.
"What?" Carole asked.
Christina took out an envelope and handed it to her. "Your graduation present."
"You don't graduate art school." Carole said. "You only leave when you feel all the angst come out of your system. Then you go back when you collect some more."
"Whatever. You're home." Britney said.
"Watch the red light." Christina said.
"I AM, it hasnt moved."
"Yeah, but that semi IS moving, so watch it."
Carole opened the envelope with one flick of her finger. She pulled out two slips of paper. It was a coupon for a weeks worth of dance lessons at Madame Truffants. Carole looked it over. It started tomorrow.
"What do you think sis?" Christina asked.
"I don't know. Dancing isn't really my scene." She said.
"We thought you might want to get out and meet some new people, maybe even a guy." Britney said turning in the seat.
"Watch the road!" Christina said.
"All right! Jeez!" Britney said focusing her attention on the road. "Christina and I thought you would like a little fun once you got back. Sitting in your room drawing can only be fun for so long. You gotta get out in the world. Then you can go back and draw what you see. You see, then you draw."
"So what do I do, draw dancers?" Carole said.
"Plus theres the guy factor." Christina said. "You never want to forget that."
"Course around sis here, you don't." Britney laughed as they pulled into the driveway at their parents house.
"Meet a guy? I havent been with a guy since I left." Carole said. There wasnt a lot of guys at the art school, mainly a lot of girls who used their canvas to convey their feelings about their various ex's. Carole had drawn about some of her experiences. All except one, him. The man she managed to run into not once but twice. He helped her realize that she wasnt ready to get married yet, and encouraged her art school dream. Was he still in town? No, I can't think about him. I can't think about Mike. Maybe the girls are right, she thought as she got out of the car. It was time for a fresh start.
"I think I will take these dance lessons." Carole decided pocketing her coupon.
"Thats the spirit." Britney said. "Maybe someone will waltz into your life and sweep you off your feet."
"Maybe." Carole said. "That would be nice."
Thursday
Mike came down the stairs in his favorite light green shirt and blue jeans. He went to the mirror and combed his hair and sideburns. He then placed his green hat on. He then turned and looked at his three friends.
"Here I go." Mike said. "I just hope I don't need to bring a partner."
"I'll be your partner!" Micky volunteered suddenly popping up in a dress and a wig.
"For the last time Micky, no!" Mike said. "I know what you want to do, you want to meet girls."
"Don't we all Mike?" Davy asked.
"We do, most of all you." Peter said.
Micky reappeared without the dress and wig. "Maybe you won't need one. It didnt say anything about bringing a girlfriend."
"True." Mike said.
"Maybe they will pair you off, and like you get a really pretty bird, and you get real close and your just about to kiss and you end up doing something REALLY stupid like burping in her face." Davy said."Not a good way to start off."
"Yeah, but they'll have something to tell the grandkids!" Peter said. They all looked at him.
"I gotta go. I don't want to be late." Mike said reaching for the knob. He felt a light chill. He shuddered. "Its cold. I oughta bring a jacket." He took a light blazer and went out the door.
Across town
"I gotta run!" Carole said.
"Want me to give you a ride?" Britney asked.
"Thanks sis, but I would rather live to make it to this dance lesson." Carole called out. "So I can die of humiliation on the dance floor." She muttered.
"Okay!" Britney said. "Don't say I never offered!"
Carole checked her look in the mirror. She was wearing her hair down tonight, but had a hair clip in case she needed to get it out of her face. She had a light yellow dress on, it had flowers all over it. It was a loaner form Christina. She trusted her sis enough to let her have it. Carole dabbed a little makeup on at her mother insistance. She wanted her darling little girl to meet a guy, hopefully none like Scott! Maybe he will be there, she mused thinking about another man. "Nah, wishful thinking. Whats the chances of running into the same man a third time?"
She reached forward for the doorknob. She felt a slight chill. She shuddered.
"Must be cooling off." She thought. She grabbed a shaw off the coat rack and went out the door.
"Ready or not, here I come." Carole said.
Madame Truffants
Mike sat down in one of the folding chairs after having turned in his coupon. It turned out that the coupon expired yesterday but since they didnt get it till late in the day, the dance instructor decided it would be best to honor it. Mike was given a nametag which he promptly wrote "Mike" on and sat down. He avoided mingling with the 6 other people in the class. He was number 7, which would make him the odd man out for a partner. He would have to share if no one else showed up. The class was to start at 6:30 and it was almost 6:28.
The instructor didnt look like he was gonna wait for any stragglers to come in. He stood in the middle of the dance floor and clapped his hands to call everyone to attention.
"All right everyone! We're ready to start. Everyone grab a partner." Madame Truffant said.
Everyone found someone to dance with. Everyone except Mike that was.
"Ah, poor fella." Madame Truffant said. "Don't worry. Someone will trade with you sometime during the lesson. Everybody gets a chance to dance."
"Swell." Mike said turning to take a seat. There were times after a gig where the guys would get a chance to hang out with the girls. No girl ever wanted to hang out with Mike. He was entering fairly familiar territory.
Then the door blew open. Mike looked up. Apparently it hand started to rain since he came in, it was pouring outside. A little thunder could be heard in the distance. Madame Truffant went to close the door but then saw someone rushing through it. This person immediately went to Madame Truffant. They gave her a coupon. From where Mike was sitting it was the exact same one that the guys won at the hardware store contest. Madame Truffant looked like she was gonna turn this person away. The newcomer had a shaw wrapped around their head, which was slightly damp.
"We already accepted one expired coupon." Madame Truffant explained. "If I take one, I will have to take them all."
Mike approached the duo. "Ma'am its only right that you take this. It doesn't look like anyone else is coming. Besides it would be unfair and bad business for you if its heard that you dont help out people at least a little bit."
Madame Truffant looked at Mike. "Very well." She said. "You can stay. May I take your shawl? I can get it dry for you."
"Thank you." The person said taking off the shaw. It was a girl. Mike thought. I will get to dance after all. He wasnt entitrely crazy about sharing a dance partner. The girl had long black hair in her face. The girl reached up and shook her hair lightly. It flew around her head. As each hair came off of her face, Mike could see a little bit more of her face. Then all at once her face was completely clear of hair as she put it back in a twist. He recognized her.
"Carole?" Mike said softly.
Carole turned to Mike. She knew she heard that voice before, but she thought she was crazy. It wasnt him. But it was.
"Mike?" Carole said.
"Oh my god, what are you doing here?" He said.
"I might ask the same of you." She replied.
"I won a contest at the hardware store. Third prize was the dance lessons."
"Doesnt seem like you to enter a contest." Carole said with a slight smile.
"It was Davy." Mike said. "And you know Davy."
"I'm afraid I do." Carole I laughed. "Thats very scary."
"Anyway they thought..."
"Less talk! More dance!" Madame Truffant said. "You have partner, you can now dance the cha cha."
"Cha cha?" Carole asked. "I thought we were getting to learn several dances. A weeks worth according to this." Carole said holding out the coupon. Madame Truffant looked a the coupon and scoffed.
Madame Truffant looked at them both, then she started to laugh. "Did you think, that with one coupon, I would turn you into Fred and Ginger? Be real. Coupon gets you one dance taught. One dance, one night."
"We'll take it." Mike said. Carole looked at him. "Hey its better than nothing."
"Get into position." Madame Truffant said. Mike took Caroles hand and led her out to the middle of the floor.
"You were saying before?" Carole asked.
"The guys thought it would be fun for me to get out." Mike explained. "So they gave me the coupon for the dance lessons. "What about you?"
"I just..."
"Okay!" Madame Truffant said. "Now the cha cha is very simple. Very easy, a moron can do it!" Madame Truffant went over to a record player. "I will put on some music, and show you the elementary steps." She busied herself looking for the right record.
"We'll talk later. This lady doesnt seem to be a fan of conversation." Mike muttered.
"I'm with you." Carole said looking at him. Mike slightly blushed.
(The Cha Cha Sequence, "Let's Dance On" Plays)
Mike and Carole were being assisted by Madame Truffant. She put Caroles hands on Mike shoulders, and did the same for Mike. She did a little demonstration of what they had to do.
"Let's dance on, oh baby come on"
Mike nodded and stepped forward. Carole hadnt had a chance to move yet so he stepped on her foot. Carole grimaces, and said "ow" through her teeth. Mike quickly apologized.
"Let's dance on 'til the dawn,Have fun 'til the music's all gone."
Carole then accidentally stepped forward and stepped on Mikes foot.
"Me too." She mouthed. Mike pointed down, cowboy boots. She didnt hurt him. I should get a pair, she thought. It would make learning easier.
"We've been dancin',Nearly all night long.Let's keep it up baby.'Cause the music's still strong.We're doin' the Pony. Now you're doing the Jerk. A come on, baby,Let me see how you work."
Mike and Carole quickly start to picking it up, and start dancing around the room. No one is stepping on anyones feet. Mike had a smile on his face, he was actually starting to have a good time doing this dancing stuff. Why didnt he try it before? Oh, thats right, he thought as he looked at her, he never had anyone he really wanted to dance with before.
"Let's dance on,Oh, baby, come on.Let's dance on 'til the dawn, have fun 'til the music's all gone."
They dance in the middle of the room, cha chaing with all their might. The song slowly stops.
"Let's dance on,Oh, baby, come on.Yeah, let's dance on 'til the dawn, have fun 'til the music's all gone."
Carole and Mike stop dancing at the same time. They look around. They are all alone. The lesson had ended twenty minutes ago, and Madame Truffant was sitting in chair dozing.
"Wow, I guess we outdanced everyone." Mike said.
"I guess." Carole said.
"We oughta go." Mike said pointing at the door.
"Yea." Carole said going to grab her shawl. Mike beat her to it and draped it around her. "Thank you."
"No problem." Mike said.
"Look it stopped raining." Carole said.
"Yeah." Mike said. "Its cooled it off a little bit. It was a little warm."
"Yeah." Carole agreed.
They stood there in the street for a long moment just looking at each other. Carole looked into his eyes.
"Tell me something."
"What?" Mike asked.
"Why is it that all of a sudden we're having trouble having a simple conversation?" She asked.
"I don't know." Mike said. "We did it so easily when we first met."
"Right."
"Then the wedding, we didnt talk much at all." Mike said. "It didnt seem..."
"Necessary." Carole said.
"Right." Mike said.
"Now it seems like we don't have to talk at all." Carole said. "Why is that?"
"I don't know. Maybe its because we're so comfortable, so okay with each other that we don't feel we don't have to talk to express how we feel. What do you think?" Mike said.
"What if we've run out of things to say." Carole offered.
"I hope not. I like talking with you. And not I like dancing with you." Mike said.
"Its not your type of dancing, though, right?" Carole asked. "The cha cha?"
"Nah, where I'm from we mostly do line dancing, square dancing. Course the guys would think its REAL square dancing. I never took it up much though. I never had a partner."
"You do now." Carole said. "Isn't that Madame Truffant said?"
"Yeah." Mike said. "She did."
"Why don't we give it a whirl?"
"Here? In the street?" Mike said. "Theres no music."
"You have music, in your head, in your heart." Carole said. "Anytime, anywhere, you always have music right here." She said placing her hand on her chest.
"Since you put it that way...may I have this dance?" Mike said bowing to her.
"I don't know, my card is pretty full. I don't think I have room." She laughed.
"Make room." He said taking her hand. "I think I have a better place to dance."
"Where?" Carole asked.
"You'll see." Mike said. He led her into a little trot. She tried to keep up, she was wearing shoes with small heels. They went for a short distance before she found out where she was being taken. It was a small gazebo nex to the beach. She recognized it, it wasnt far from where her parents lived.
"Our dance floor." He volunteered. Carole quickly caught her breath. "Shall we?"
"We shall." She said.
(Dance the night away romp)
Mike took her to the middle of the floor and stood across from her. "This is how you do it, I hope I remember. You usually have two more people so its an actual square"
"Have you seen her? So fine and pretty. Fooled me with her style and ease. And I feel her from across the room."
He took her by the hand and twirled her around the room. Then he brought her close to him and took the other hand. They glided around the gazebo like that, the wind blowing through her hair.
"Yes, it's love in the third degree. Ooh, baby, baby. Won'tcha turn your head my way? Ooh, baby, baby. Come on, take a chance. You're old enough to dance the night away. "
"I don't think this is square dancing." She laughed.
"Its not, I call it Nez-dancing." He said.
"I like it, it might become a fad."
"Don't say that, some weirdo will be able to find a way to do it with a hula hoop." Mike warned.
"Oh, come on, baby, dance the night away. A live wire. Barely a beginner, but just watch that lady go. She's on fire, 'cause dancing gets her higher than anything else she knows."
Mike put his hands on her waist and lifted her up in the air. He then spun around. She held her arms up like if she was flying like an airplane. She was careful with her hands so she wouldnt smack him in the head by accident.
"Ooh, baby, baby. Won'tcha turn your head my way? Ooh, baby, baby. Well, don't skip romance, 'cause you're old enough to dance the night away. Oh, come on, baby, dance the night away. Dance the night away. Dance, dance, dance the night away."
He put her down and looked into her eyes.
"We should have you dancing everynight." Carole said.
"Yeah." Mike said. "You have to show me your etchings sometime."
"Thast an idea, you do mean the actual drawings right?" She asked. Mike slightly blushed."Oh god. That reminds me, I gotta get home." Carole said breaking from his gaze. "My sisters will wonder where I ent or if I was sucked into a black hole. I gotta get up early tomorrow too." She said as they walked down the steps of the gazebo.
"Whys that?" Mike asked.
"I'm thinking about signing up for another class. I'm not sure though." Carole said. "I havent decided."
"Ah." Mike said. "I gotta go too." He said. "We have a gig."
"I have never actually seen you play." Carole mused. "Though if I got married, I would have."
"Right." Mike said. They walked in silence until they reached the front door of her house.
"It was nice dancing with you, Mike." Carole said. "I hope you do it again."
"Me too." Mike said. He suddenly thought. "But what if I don't want to have another partner?"
Carole opened the door. She slipped in and shut it before Mike had a chance to say goodbye. Mike looked at the door for a second, then walked down the pathway and headed home. Carole peeked out from the curtains and watched him go. She sighed and let the curtains slide closed.
Midnight
Mike was in his bathrobe. He stood at the edge of the deck outside their pad. He then rose and started to pace. He had been doing this every few minutes all night. He couldnt get a wink of sleep and he knew why. Carole. Was she going away again? Just when he thought they were getting so close again. He heard the door open and slide shut behind him. It was Micky. Great, comic relief was just exactly what he didnt want at this moment.
"If you keep doing that, you'll make a large rut." Micky said. "We can have a jacuzzi."
"Mick..."
"I know, I'm sorry." Micky said. "But you looked like you needed a little cheering up."
"I probably do and just don't know it."
"Can we talk?"
"Sure." Mike sighed and sat down on the steps leading down to the beach. Micky joined him.
"Its about Carole isnt it?" He asked.
"You are very perceptive."
"I know." Micky said. "It couldnt be more obvious."
"She might be leaving again. She wants to take another course, but she hasnt decided." Mike said. "If she decides to go I feel powerless. And I havent even told her how I feel yet."
"Maybe you can help her decide." Micky said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you texan goofball, that if you go over there right now and tell her how you feel, that might factor in whether or not she stays or goes." Micky said. "If she thinks she has nothing to keep her here, then nothing will keep her from leaving."
What Micky said made sense. "Maybe I should wait till the morning." Mike said. "Then I can tell her..."
"Tomorrow morning might be too late." Micky said. "Don't let her sleep on it. It might be a long time before she wakes up again."
Mike clapped his hands together. "I'll do it!" He said going up the stairs. He went into the loft and grabbed a jacket. "I'll be back!"
"Mike!" Micky called.
"What? I'm kinda in a hurry." He said putting his jacket on.
"You might want to get dressed." Micky said.
Mike looked down. He was wearing a pair of shorts, his robe and jacket. "Oh. Right." He said moving upstairs.
Caroles place
Carole couldnt sleep either. He couldnt get Mike out of her mind. She stood on the balcony that lead to her room. She had been out there for half an hour now doing nothing but looking at the stars. She had been looking at the stars all her life. Everytime she had a question she went out there and looked at the sky and hoped that the stars would have an answer for. But tonight she had so many questions tonight, she wasnt sure her precious stars would have an answer for all of them. Perhaps it was time to find some answers within herself. Maybe she was too old to think that stars could answer all her problems. What if they could never tell her what to do about a man called Michael Nesmith.
Then she heard a noise from the ground. It sounded like someone was walking around down there. All of a sudden a shadow moved from the bushes. Carole felt her heart soar. It was Mike.
Maybe the stars had an answer after all.
"Carole?" Mike called.
"Mike?" Carole answered.
"Can we talk?"
"Its kinda late. And I'm in my...oh my." Carole said darting into her room. She grabbed a robe. As she slipped it on she decided to go meet him on the lawn. She walked softly down the stairs so she would not wake any family members. She opened the door and went out onto the lawn where she saw him. He wasnt there. In fact he was trying to scale the rose trellis next to her rooms balcony. He was only a couple of feet off the ground.
"Hello police?" Carole said behind him,. "I have an intruder, but hes a very nice, very cute texan guy, can I keep him?"
Mike slid to the ground. He misjudged the distance he had left and let go. He tumbled to the ground and ended up on his back. Carole laughed.
"Oh sure, laugh, you're not on some thorns." Mike groaned.
"Let me help you up." Carole extended a hand. He took it and allowed her to help him off the ground. "What are you doing here? Not that I'm not glad." Carole said with a smile and a big laugh.
"I can't stop thinking about you." Mike said. Caroles smile fell slightly. "Let me finish before you say anything. I think I am in love with you. I do. I felt it the first time I saw you at the surf contest and then at the wedding..."
"Almost weddding" Carole corrected him.
"But it didnt take until tonight, till I danced with you to make me see that I can't see myself living in this town without you." Mike continued. "I don't want you to leave."
"I don't want to either." Carole said.
"And I...you don't?"
"No." Carole said. "I've decided to look around in town for something like what the art schools out of town would offer me. I've already found something in town that other places don't offer." She said pointing at Mike. "You."
"Well." Mike said clearing his throat. "I'm glad I convinced you to stay." Mike stood there for a minute thinking. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
"Today don't you mean? Its already tomorrow." Carole said.
"Okay, can I see you later?"
"Why not now?"
"Its after midnight."
"I know, but somewhere in the world someone is doing something at this time." Carole said. "Want to go for a walk?" She offered.
"I don't know..."
"We can make the early bird breakfast special. They got grits." She said.
"Its a date." Mike said. Carole started to walk off with him. He stopped her.
"What?"
"Get dressed." Mike said. "If Micky didn't stop me I would be out here in my shorts and a robe and jacket."
"You got a good friend." Carole said. "I'll be right back."
"One more thing." Mike said.
"What?" Carole asked.
He leaned in and kissed her on the lips.He slowly took her in his arms and pulled her closer. The kiss was brief but powerful. She pulled away from him with a smile. "What was that?"
"Incentive to come back." He said.
She nodded. "And I will." Carole said pulling away from him. "Be right back."
"I'll be waiting. I'm not gonna go anywhere." Mike said.
Carole waved at him and disappeared in her house. Mike waved back and sat on a small bench nearby.
"What a wonderful night." He said. "And just think, it all began with dance lessons."
