Chapter 11

The next couple of days were something of a haze, with the practices, the new routines and such. Mom repeated that the musical guidelines for time are, to avoid a penalty, between 150 and 210 seconds. “Annie’s Song” was 180 seconds, but a song that goes 223 seconds, like “Footloose” does, might be stretching it just too much.

Claire told me that Josiah could trim music from the front or the end of the song to make it fit the 210 maximum. So, I asked her to have him cut the opening eight measures and we will just move all our dance steps back.

Josiah did a wonderful job, sending me the ‘shortened version that is now 209 seconds exactly to ‘Everybody cut, everybody cut ... Footloose.” It’s back on my IPod again.

This time our group going to the event included:

Shirley, Karen, Brian, and Susan, her mother Esther. Josiah and his girlfriend Cassandra and Sarah. Jimmy Bradshaw, Kalista, Annie and finally, myself and Claire. We may need our own bus soon.

We got to the Convention Center ... splitting into two separate groups, Claire, K, myself, Annie, and Sarah went to check in, while the rest of them went to the stands. This was the first time Sarah was part of the Charles/Claire inner-circle.

When it was our turn, the same lady from the last competition was there, smiling at us.

“Hello again, and what are the Future NDCA National Champions doing today?”

“Wow,” Annie said. “Thank you ... We were asked to provide Certified Birth Certificates on these two, apparently somebody thinks they’re eighteen, trying to pass off as thirteen-year-olds. They are doing the Jive today and here is their music.”

“The Jive. Oh my, that can only be incredible. I was told to ask if they had an extra dance ready, for if ... when, they win today.”

“An additional dance! No one told us about that?” I said looking at Claire.

“Well, when a couple in the Open Class breaks any NDCA record — which is likely to happen today — they are asked to perform a sort of curtain call, or an encore number, just to show off to the crowd. If you don’t have one, or don’t want to do that, it’s entirely up to you. Oh, and there are only two fourteen-year-olds here today, so they’re having a single Junior Category.”

Before she could ask us, we told her we wanted to perform last again.

Mom turned to us and before she even asked, we said, “Viennese Waltz.” Mom gave her the CD labeled ‘Annie’s Song’ and we went off to get ready.

Do you perform first and wait to see what the rest are doing, or do you perform last, to be the final impression on the minds of the judges? Claire and I will always want to be last, when given the choice.

Many of the same kids were in this group again and this time, there were the two Junior II couples, joining us, making for a longer and more stressful day. Claire and I talked and listened to the other dancers’ music but didn’t watch any of them.

After over an hour of waiting, the Announcer said, “And now, going for their record Fourth Consecutive NDCA competition, are Charles & Claire performing a Jive — to music from FOOTLOOSE.”

We walked out to the center of the dance floor, with the crowd already being a little noisy. I got my kiss and the music started.

We clapped and did the first eight count open, getting the crowd into it and we started the closed footwork and as we danced, the entire crowd starting to sing the song with the recording, inciting us to pull out all the stops, dancing all over the large hall. Claire was sporting a tremendous smile as we went from one step to the next, adding a nice flair to the dance we didn’t have when we rehearsed.

There were shouts from the crowd, “We love you!” which just spurred us on. The final sixteen measures were coming, and we had added something no one would have expected, a Jive spin turn, eight of them, consecutively ... to end the dance. Claire was fabulous, and nailed it, precisely with the end of the song.

The second the song was over, the crowd went bonkers, screaming at the top of their lungs, “Number Four, Number Four, Number Four,” over and over. We waved to everyone, especially our group that were giving each high fives and ran off the floor to the arms of Annie and Kalista. Sarah was crying the most.

“Oh my god, you two,” Annie said. “That was as good as any dance I have ever seen, in public or the TV! Of course, I am a little biased, but that rocked out!”

“Charles,” Kalista said beaming, “I can’t wait to learn that routine.”

Sarah said nothing, only giving me a kiss that Claire had to stop. They both giggled, although Annie didn’t.

After what felt like was fifteen minutes, but was probably only two minutes, the announcer returned:

“In Third Place, dancing the Tango were fourteen-year-old Johnny Castle and Jennifer O’Reilly.”

A big applause was given to them from the audience.

“In Second Place, dancing the Cha-Cha were fourteen-year-old George Tennison and Nancy Evans.”

They got a really big response to the announcement.

You could feel the tension — the crowd was getting ready to erupt.

“In First Place, breaking a twenty-two-year-old record set by three different over-eighteen-year-old couples were, dancing the Jive, Charles Newman and Claire McArthur ... Let ... them ... hear ... you!”

We heard them, boy, did we hear them! You would think we were celebrities the way everybody screamed at us. It went on and on until the Announcer came back to say, “Would you like to see them do another dance?” The crowd, as one, yelled “YES,” there were a couple of “Hell yes’s” as well.

“Here they are again, NDCA Four-Time Champion Junior I dancers, Charles & Claire, performing for the first time anywhere, a Viennese Waltz.”

There was complete quiet — Claire gave me a kiss. The music began, and we started. I never felt so good in my life. If I fall over dead right now, I have done something important in my life. I learned how to dance. I met a girl — who I have fallen in love with ... make that two girls, and now — I am dancing to my mother’s favorite song.

I took a quick glance over to our posse. They were crying, as I suspect much of the audience may be as well.

After it was over, I called Annie out to join us on the dance floor and we all waved to the crowd. I yelled to the audience ‘Annie’ while pointing at my mom, which started new applause and I got such a look from my beautiful mother.

We received our trophy and our group all got back into the van. I had Claire to my left and Kalista to my right. I handed the Trophy to Kalista to hold and I grabbed Claire and gave her a great big kiss, causing everyone in the van to go, ‘Awww’ for a moment. Even Sarah let our kiss go longer than she normally would have.

“A great big kiss, after a great dance,” said Jimmy. “You two are going to be National Champs. I am positive of that now ... It’s just a matter of when.”

“When and where are Nationals held, Jimmy?” I asked.

“In the middle of March at Brigham Young University in Utah, Charles. You will be Junior II dancers then, but that shouldn’t make much of a difference ... because you are so good already. And you need to come in with at least five routines, ready to go.”

“Wow,” I said. “Well, we have four routines so far — Claire, is that our new goal, going to Utah next March?”

“You bet your sweet lips, Charles,” Claire said, causing a few chuckles in the car.

“Yeah, Charles — Sweet Lips,” said Kalista, causing me to blush a bright pink.

The following Tuesday night at Cotillion, Jimmy announced, “Boys and Girls, I would like you all to put your hands together for the record-breaking Four-Time NDCA Junior I dancers and very probable future National Champions soon, Charles & Claire.”

A nice round of applause came from all who were there.

“They will be performing their latest award-winning routine the Jive, to the song ‘Footloose.’”

Claire gave me ‘the kiss,’ and away we went as the rest of the kids quickly got into it clapping along with the music some even singing. We ‘cut loose’ all over the floor. We felt the love from the crowd and smiled at each other and just had a blast dancing. The end was coming, and I couldn’t wait to see the kid’s reaction to Claire’s final spins. here we go, pop — pop — pop — pop — pop — pop — pop — pop. Wow is the only thing to say!

What a spinner Claire is — she fell into my arms, and we kissed in front of the other kids. I thought we shouldn’t have done that, so I finished it quickly and straightened up Claire.

Everybody was applauding and yelling at us. She looked at me, realizing that as role models for these kids, it’s not proper for us to show too much affection for each other at least not in front of them.

I pulled her close to me and said, “Claire, I love you — we just have to pick our places to show it, OK?”

She smiled and said, “I know better than that Charles ... It’s just that dancing is great but dancing with my future husband feels so good inside.”

“It’s saying things like that that’s going to get us in deep doo-doo not only with our parents but with the parents of all these other thirteen-year-olds, Claire,” she giggled at my use of words as she was wiping off my lips.

Later that night with all three McArthurs staying over again. Sarah called in to her hubby who seems to be OK with her being our ‘roadie.’ She remarked, “He can cook for a hundred people, but by himself, he typically goes out to eat.

Claire and I needed to have a talk about a few things. It needed to be in front of both Annie and Sarah, so the discussion wouldn’t go ‘off topic.’ Mom sent Kalista into the kitchen — to keep her busy — while this ‘adult conversation’ happened.

“Annie, I think we have been doing so well partly because we’re doing dances that no one else is doing yet. But, they are going to catch up with us eventually, so our technique needs ... To improve,” I said.

“I agree with you, Charles. What specifically are you leading up to?” mom replied.

“When I look at the best dancers on the Internet they’re not dancing with any space in-between them. They are dancing completely chest to chest. Now, I understand that Claire and I are only thirteen, but I firmly believe that we need to ‘upgrade’ our technique and dancing close together is something we need to do. I am not suggesting this for any immoral purposes. It’s just that we need to stay ahead of the pack.”

There! I said it. I can breathe again.

“Well,” Annie said. “I understand what you are saying. However, you two are already facing some boy/girl issues. Are you certain that doing this won’t just aggravate a previously touchy problem?”

“I don’t know. What do you have to say about this, Claire?” I asked.

Blushing, she said, “Gosh, Charles! I’m sorry I have been causing the both of you so many problems. I have no idea what dancing that close may do to me. All we can do is try it and see how it affects both of us don’t you agree, Charles? How do you feel about that, Mother?”

Sarah stood, with crossed arms, amplifying her own endowment, and said, “I have seen the National and International Dance competitions on PBS, and every one of them are dancing up tight against each other. At least as close as they can, depending on the extent of the woman’s bosom. I am aware of the issues Charles and Claire are having, but I am for anything that would help them be as competitive as possible. I have danced with Charles very close together and he seemed to be, quite the gentleman. It’s all OK to me, as long as I get a turn every now and then to dance with him.”

“Annie,” I said, “We don’t know what may happen, but all we can do is attempt to do it.”

“I agree!” said Annie. “Why don’t you practice your Waltz, dancing as close as you think is appropriate? Let me start the ‘Rainbow Connection.’”

“Claire, would you dance the Waltz with me up close and personal? We will likely have to adjust our hand positions.”

I brought Claire to me, chest-to-chest ... Whew Boy! This is awfully close. I will have to move my right hand further along her back.

Now, my hand reaches to the middle of her back. She giggled as I placed it there.

Her fingers now reached to almost the middle of my back as well. It wasn’t just very close. it was also a little bit ... waist-to-waist. This must be what Annie is so worried about. I certainly can see the sparkle in Claire’s eyes now.

We are close enough to kiss!

Mom restarted the song, and we began to dance. My goodness, we can truly move as one person now. Our steps need to be perfect now, or we will fall all over each other. Any pivot steps must also be in perfect sync, or we will tread on each other’s feet!

“Wow,” Annie remarked. “Dancing this way really shows how skilled you two are because you are already so comfortable dancing together.”

“How do you feel about dancing this close, Claire?” I asked the love of my life.

“I must admit it’s a little intimidating to be so close to you. We seem to dance well enough, so all we need to do is to re-work our dances to accommodate this new position, especially the Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep.”

“The other dances, Rhumba, Cha-Cha, Samba, Paso Doble and the Jive, use steps that aren’t possible dancing anywhere near this close together.”

Just then Kalista came out of the kitchen and after seeing how close Claire and I were, walked right back into it.

We all laughed out loud, and I said, “Come on out, K. It’s OK! Claire and I are just trying to get better.”