The inspiration:
A story:
“Want to dance?”
She had spotted him through the gym doors. Others made fun of his silence, bowed head and shuffling gait.
But she had math with him, watching him when he didn’t know. He was no dummy.
She moved closer, put her hands on his shoulders. “No one can see us out here. It’s a slow dance, easy.”
He looked up, his cornflower-blue eyes alight with wicked, scary intelligence. He placed his hands lightly about her waist.
So lost in his eyes, she missed the point where their feet left the ground & they danced above the tree tops.
*****************************
Now, your turn.
“Bring your flowered hat. We’ll take the trail marked on your father’s map.
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight.”
“That isn’t twilight.”
“It can be if we want it to be.”
He was glad he’d summoned the courage to ask Elaine – “Laney” – to the dance. The world was on the brink, and if it had to end, he wanted to be sure it ended with her. Total annihilation has a way of focusing one’s mind and avoiding looking foolish no longer held sway.
As the warning sirens wailed he lead her outside for a last embrace. He was oblivious to the still-glowing city and the radioactive ash that fell as he held her. Her own oblivion made it all worthwhile.
“Want to dance?”
She turned and giggled. “It’s snowing! And I’m cold!”
She came to my arms anyway. I tried to pull her in “just to keep her warm” but she resisted the final few inches.
“People will see us under the streetlight. People will talk!”
“Let them talk,” I replied, and put my hands about her waist. “Wiiii-iise men saaa-aay,” I crooned, and started to shuffle my feet.
“Oh Lordy, you’re crazy!” She giggled again. The hem of her gown was soaking him the wet snow. But she danced with me in the street, in the snow.
Aargh — last sentence was mangled. Trying again:
“Want to dance?”
She turned and giggled. “It’s snowing! And I’m cold!”
She came to my arms anyway. I tried to pull her in “just to keep her warm” but she resisted the final few inches.
“People will see us under the streetlight. People will talk!”
“Let them talk,” I replied, and put my hands about her waist. “Wiiii-iise men saaa-aay,” I crooned, and started to shuffle my feet.
“Oh Lordy, you’re crazy!” She giggled again. The hem of her gown was soaking in the wet slush. But she danced with me in the street, in the snow.
The Anniversary Waltz
Waves of the Danube
As she looked into his eyes, she still couldn’t believe it.
“How did you even find a screaming hairy armadillo?”
(For reference: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/SmallMammals/fact-SHarmadillo.cfm)