backwards and in heels

“You dance like me,” she said on the way out of the bar.

It was the first time we’d danced. The first time I’d danced, period, in a long time. I always forget how much I like it. That feeling that I’m someone much badder or wilder or sexier, just because it’s dark and I’m waving my arms in the air (but not like I don’t care, because I do. I always care. It is my downfall).

“How do you dance?” I asked. Although I’d just watched her: a shoulder-y, knees-bent, mellow-but-still-enthusiastic style. I considered my own style. “I think I put a lot of arms in there.”

“Yeah, usually I do too, so I had to tone it down a little.” Maybe this was like her thing about not wanting to order the same dish at restaurants. Two people eating the same omelet and dancing the same dance is just too unoriginal. I think anyone with a sibling can relate to that position.

But she can swing and salsa and two-step. No chance of me copying that.

“Only if someone leads me, though,” she said.

All my attempts at partner-dancing came flooding back to me—the spidery hands of Chris, my seventh grade square dancing partner; the time Jenessa’s friend Todd tried to teach me to swing dance while waiting in line at Knott’s Scary Farm; the awkward salsa lessons I endured at Bally’s because they were one-fourth of a hip-hop/salsa class, the hip-hop component of which rocked.

It’s weird, we both agreed, dating a full-on girl. But what if my past partner-dancing experiences only sucked because I was following? Maybe I was meant to lead this whole time. I mean, I just knew that guy in my salsa class was turning me the wrong way. Of course, there’s also a good chance I was meant to sit down and quietly drink my drink. But I think it at least warrants more research, the kind of research that involves a good DJ and a girl who’s got some moves, even when censoring her arms.

Comments

you are NOT meant to sit and quietly drink your drink. You are meant to take to the floor like a girly Fred Astaire, and lead your cutie Ginger to stardom.
CC said…
More kitties! Less posts about the girl! Does your blog audience really care how she orders at restaurants?
Tracy Lynn said…
Well, I, for one, do care about The Girl. I am fascinated by The Girl.

And I agree with Schro-although I would have made the Gene Kelly/ Cyd Charisse reference instead of Fred and Ginger.

That's really just me being difficult. I love Ginger. And Fred's alright, too.
Anonymous said…
Fred/Ginger? Gene/Cyd? Kitties? C'mon, people!

Clearly this scene has Patrick/Jennifer written all over it:

"Nobody puts Cheryl in the corner!"

"I carried a watermelon."

"Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you."

[okay, I totally had to IMDB that last quote]

Sounds like you had the time of your life. (Stop me now!)
Anonymous said…
That was hot!
Cheryl said…
Wow, I thought I was the musical theater freak here, but you guys give me a run for my tap shoes.

Don't worry, Ackleykid, there are some cats on the horizon. But my peeps have spoken--The Girl is popular.
More kitties, More Girl and More musical theater references!

Ohh...there's a blog challenge - combine all three!
erin said…
are the polls closed? i vote more girl, more kitties, more musical theater references (does dirty dancing qualify as musical theater? hmmm...) either way, i do love me big dancin' finale! which is why i love dirty dancing, bring it on (cheerleaders are sort of like dancers), center stage, and on and on and on.
Cheryl said…
You have my word that I will continue to try to make Bread and Bread one-stop shopping for all your cheerleading, musical theater, dirty dancing and kitty-cat needs. Just doin' my job.

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