Waltz of Her Life

Perhaps unfairly, Linda compared Ron to the mysterious gentleman in her dream as he talked to her and showed her around. Ron was shorter, first off, only a scant few inches taller than her. Rather than a gorgeous, shimmering tuxedo, he wore a vest with a gabardine pattern and a burgundy silk tie to go with stylish, cuffed cotton and pleated slacks. He clapped his hands together and said "Let's dance!"

Linda was mortified. She knew that at some point they'd have to hit the floor but she also knew her feet would refuse to move in the carefree, patterned way she'd done in her dream.

Ron gazed back at her with wide eyes, his mouth forming a small "o." He gently touched her wrist. "It's dancing, darling, not brain surgery. We're going to have so much fun."

"But I don't know how to dance at all!" she protested.

Ron leaned back and let out a hearty, reassuring laugh. When he returned his attention to her, he said "You know how to walk, don't you?"

"Well, yes, of course."

"All dancing begins with walking. Let me show you what I'm talking about.

Here, grab the top part of my arm, you know, the bicep, the thing those muscle men flex."

Linda laughed as Ron guided her hands to the top part of his arms, just beneath his shoulders.

"Now push back on my arms hard, like you're closing a refrigerator door."

She worried about pushing him so hard that he would fall over. More surprisingly, he stood his ground, even pushing back. Linda took a step back and Ron continued to push, looking into her eyes. "Oh my god," she said, as she swung her chin down to look at her feet.

With a delicate, gentle touch, Ron reached down and lifted her chin, to look up at him. "We're walking! We're dancing!"

"We are?" Linda said. She was starting to feel like she did on the roller skating rink, with Tom.

"Yes, we're dancing," Ron announced, triumphantly. He stopped and she followed his lead, stopping along with him. "Now you know how to step to the side, right? Like you're moving along a really, really, narrow hallway." She side stepped with him, laughing at how fun it felt.

Still continuing to lead, Ron said "Now let's walk twice and step to the side once." They continued the sequence a few times, until they reached the other side of the room, and the music bay. "My dear, we have just danced!"