It was the Grade 12 farewell dance and Maya had been enjoying herself in the gay party atmosphere. She had laughed, joked and teased and been teased so much by her class mates that she, for a moment, had forgotten the sadness of knowing that they were now in the final days at the school and all were about to go their separate ways.
She had been invited by various youths to dance that night but had quite soon come to the conclusion that the school had not, during that particular year, produced many great dancers. So she declined most invitations and was content to sit at her table chatting with her friends.
On the way back from a visit to the cold drink stand, she found her way blocked by someone. She looked up... into a pair of the most amazingly penetrating eyes. She never forgot that first experience of the power of that gaze nor the colour of the eyes... a luminous grey.
"Hello Maya. You're alone. That's so unusual. You're always surrounded by people. Always the centre of attraction. Let's grab the moment. Let's dance."
Almost mesmerised, she barely managed to nod her head. Perhaps a little too soon and too eagerly she let herself be led by him and was promptly swept away onto the dance floor?
For the first time in her life, she realised what dancing was really about. It had nothing to do with the feet. In fact, if you kept thinking about your feet, you weren't dancing at all, she thought.
She realised at that moment that dancing with the right partner could be a metaphysical experience. The moment embraced her, filled her with sublime joy and then left her breathless. At the end, she recovered her composure just in time to hear his words.
"Thank you, Maya. I enjoyed that. My name is Jason, by the way."
She was momentarily uncertain of herself.
"So you are not just a monkey boy... Oh! I'm so sorry. Forget that I said that. I wasn't thinking!"
"It's OK, Maya. I know what you mean. Sometimes when I'm out on the cliffs, I feel like a monkey. In fact, I watch them closely and try to learn from them how to climb."
He was laughing as he spoke.
"Did you enjoy the dance, Maya?"
"Yes yes Jason. I loved it."
He turned around quickly and walked lithely away.
She looked at his departing back and had a strange thought.
"Papa would love that guy."
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 28
No no Amy. As seasoned critic/editor I need more from you than one line. Tell me this. Does the storyline work for you. Is it real for you? Does it get you involved?
Hahaha Anita. Did the story remind of your school dance? Always keep it in your memory. It's a treasure.
I hated school dances.....but this one seems interesting. :)
I like the two characters.
Perhaps a little too soon and too eagerly she let herself be led by him and was promptly swept away onto the dance floor?
Yes flit...yes, no "that's". Glad you noticed. Glad too that you liked it.
Yes JoAnne they are awkward but Maya was never the same again after that dance. I may publish the sequel.
Thank you Debbie. There is more. Let me think about it.
Thank you Jennifer. That was good advice. I've done the editing and the question is out.
Thank you Sherry. Viva la romance. Glad you came by.
Tonia...you want more? You shall have more. Thank you
Thank you Ginger. I'm glad that you enjoyed this escapade.
Hi Dawn. How can I say No to a texaspoet? There'll be more.
Jason spends his breaks climbing trees and swings from branch to branch like a monkey very often. Because he always ignored Haya, she referred to him as the monkey boy.
The dance was their first real meeting and they didn't talk during it. When you dance with Jason you just don't talk. Hmmm what a guy.
I'm glad that you asked all these questions and gave me an opportunity to clear things up.
My problem is that I simply can't print out the whole book in one go.
its apparent that this is a part of a very romantic story and you leave the readers asking for more ...
I loved the part when you Maya realised that dancing has nothing to do with feet ..
I love to dance and all my friends feel that I dance alone , lost in my world ..... no one can keep my attention for more than 10 min ....until I danced with him and in the end was amazed that we danced for 3 hours ,without taking eyes off each other ...thats love , thats its magic ... its truely a metaphysical experience if you are with right partner ....
Yes its about unforced endearment and when we are left with moments that will not be forgotten. Thank you for seeing what you did. You saw what the story was really all about.
That makes me feel very rewarded
I loved the picture that you painted. You dancing all alone in your own world oblivious of all the young men...until the right one came along. Then you had your wonderful metaphysical experience. Wonderful.
Of course your father would have loved him. Thanks for the visit.