Chapter 10

I cleared my throat and was ready to begin:

“Mrs. McArthur, Mom, and Claire — I have something to say to all of you,” I said with my hand tightly clenched around the ring box.

I was sweating, my stomach was turning over, and I was sure my heart rate had at least doubled, if not tripled. I went on, “Four weeks ago, due to my mother’s insistence, I went to the Bradshaw Family Cotillion. Jimmy Bradshaw, the host, had asked all the boys to walk over and select someone to dance with.”

I turned towards Claire and went on, “I glanced around the room ... and I saw a girl with pretty red hair that reminded me of my own mother. I introduced myself and we had shared some small talk, until Jimmy had asked the boys if we had all picked out a dance partner.”

Turning to the Moms, “I realized I hadn’t yet asked Claire if she would be my dance partner — I turned towards her and before I even finished asking, she said ‘Yes!’”

“Next, Jimmy asked if anyone knew anything about the Waltz? The next thing I knew I had raised my hand because I had gone online to learn some terminology on some dance steps for the waltz.”

“Take another breath, Charles — you are doing fine,” mom said smiling at me.

“In a matter of minutes, I was showing Claire how to Waltz, and I promptly found out that I loved to dance. I was also drawn into Claire’s beautiful brown eyes and dimpled smile.”

I turned back to Claire and stared at her for a long moment.

“It’s been almost four weeks now and I find myself still loving to dance. However, in the process, I have made my own Mother and just as importantly, Claire, uncomfortable, due to some remarks that I have recently made that were inappropriate.”

“At this time, I would like to officially declare, myself ‘Non compos mentis,’ (Insane) and I sincerely hope that all of those involved, can find it in their hearts to forgive me.”

I took another cleansing breath.

I walked over to my mom, choking up a little and asked, “Do – Do you forgive me, Mother?”

“Yes, I forgive you, Charles,” she replied touching me on my hand.

I took a step and a breath, turned towards Claire’s Mom and asked, “Do you forgive me, Mrs. McArthur?”

“Claire told me what you said Charles, it was obviously from your heart. Yes, Charles ... I forgive you.” She smiled at me, reminding me of Claire.

I ambled over to the chair Claire was sitting in, took a big deep breath and asked her, “Claire. I have never said anything to you that I didn’t mean with all my heart and soul — do you forgive me?”

She was a bit choked up as well, but she stood up, touched the left side of my face and ever so quietly said, “Yes, X — I forgive you.”

I bent down on one knee, which startled them all, especially Sarah. She had opened her mouth — about to say something, when Mom said, “Wait a minute. It’s not what you think?”

I reached into my pocket, squeezed the little red box for a moment, took it out and opened it and said, “Miss Claire McArthur. This is a Friendship Promise Ring — if you choose to wear it, it will mean that we promise to be both friends and dance partners forever. I have voluntarily grounded myself from Boy Scouts and Scouting for one full year, in reparations for my remarks from the other day.”

“Also, I would consider this ring a promise to keep you in my mind and heart at all times. I will be your boyfriend when we go to school together and if we end up at a college that offers a Dancing Degree — I want to be your partner, forever. I will never dance with another girl in my life without your permission ... except for my mom.”

This evoked a nervous giggle from everyone.

“Finally, as we grow up together, attending dances, birthday parties, and Family BBQs, I will love you appropriately. Until then, Claire McArthur, will you accept this Friendship Promise ring, with all the love and affection that goes with it?”

It got so quiet you could hear the clock on the wall ticking ... and maybe even my heart beating.

Claire lost it and was crying very much — her mother motioned to me to go to her. I got up and did. I put my arms around her and said, “Lei mi ama Ancora, Clara?” (Do you still love me, Claire?)

“Yes — Oh yes, Charles, I promise back to you everything you asked for and this...”

I should have seen it coming, but she blindsided me. A full kiss on both lips and she wouldn’t let go. I didn’t mind and was returning the kiss, adding some pressure.

Our mothers had to pull us apart.

Best-kiss-ever!

“While Charles is here, Mom — can he stay, so we can practice a little?” Claire practically pleaded.

Sarah said what Annie was probably thinking, “You mean practice ... dancing?”

“Yes, you silly goose! What else would we be ... Oh — Mother, that’s just goofy.” She smiled deliciously though.

Both Moms giggled. Mrs. McArthur said, “Annie, why don’t you stay as well? Has anybody had lunch yet?”

“Well, if it is not a big inconvenience, I would love to stay, Sarah. Let me help you make some sandwiches for these future Ballroom Dancing Champions.”

They wandered into the kitchen and Claire turned to me, put both hands behind my neck, and said, “Thank you, Charles!”

“For what, Beautiful?” I responded with my hands around her waist, pulling her close.

“For that wonderful speech and, by the way, ‘Yes!’”

“Yes, to what?”

“If we stay together as a couple, and lovers, this would work as an engagement ring, too,” she giggled, smiled and we started another great big kiss.

HOT DAMN!

Hopefully, I am past being so stupid and emotional. I know exactly how much I love her. I just need to rein in my emotions for the short term, keep my mouth closed and focus on our dancing. Especially, if Claire and I hope to go to a college that has a Dance Program.

We first needed to get through Cotillion, the Summer Dance, then two years at Independence Junior High School, high school somewhere, and finally college not too far away from our mothers.

Well, the last dance we worked on before my ‘meltdown,’ was the Viennese Waltz. That’s where we should start things up.

“Claire,” I said, “Let’s recap the Viennese Waltz first, please?”

“Certainly, Charles. I don’t think I remember much about it since...”

“My brain fart?”

That made her laugh out loud, but she agreed. Claire’s laugh brought Annie out of the kitchen, followed by Sarah.

“What’s so funny, kids?” Annie asked.

“Yeah, did something else happen we don’t want to know about?” Mrs. McArthur said causing my mom to start to laugh out loud.

“Actually, all we did was talk about my BF and how I needed to not do that anymore,” I said.

Annie and Sarah looked at each other quizzically.

“BF, Mom — Brain-Fart? You know ... the ‘Hyphenated Term’ that brought us over here today?”

“I see, Charles. What are you two working on, the Paso Doble?” she asked.

“Nope ... we’re going back over the Viennese Waltz first. Mrs. McArthur, could I please look over your music selection to find something for us to practice to?”

“Certainly, Charles ... above the stereo are some cabinets with CDs in them. Please, call me Sarah?” she divulged, with a perfectly matching dimpled smile to her daughters’.

“Thank you, Sarah.”

She is such a doll, but I shouldn’t use that term out loud. I would have both Mom and Claire pissed off at me.

I looked over their music and I found a most wonderful song, Doris Day’s “Whatever Will Be, Will Be.”

After starting it, I reminded Claire of the step sequence and then we started to move together, using the Natural to Reverse and after that, the Reverse to Natural.

After a few minutes of this, I decided to cover a few additional steps, the Closed Changes, both Natural and Reverse, going until the song was over. We finished and our ‘audience’ applauded. Along with Annie and Sarah; Josiah, his girlfriend Cassandra, Daniel — Claire’s Dad, and Kalista ... all showed up.

Kalista came up to me and asked, “Can you teach me that dance, Charles, please?”

Everyone went quiet, as I thought that she really was too short, so I put her on my shoes, again. Claire started up the music and K and I started moving together across the floor. Of course, there were some ‘oohs’ and ‘awws’ from everyone.

After we were all done, Kalista curtsied and said, “Thank you very much, Charles.” Everyone scurried back to wherever they had come from.

Claire came up to me, gave me a little peck on the cheek and said, “I am actually getting a little jealous of her, X. You should see your face when you dance with her.”

“What do you mean?” I reacted.

“You know, you told me how you almost had a sister and that she would be about Kalista’s age. Let me tell you about the circumstances of K’s birth. Her mother was Sarah’s older sister.”

“Was? What happened to her,” I asked.

“June, that was her name, June McArthur-Johnson. She had two children rather quickly after marrying Randall Johnson. Then, at the age of forty, she found out she was pregnant again. The doctors told her that she couldn’t have the baby. It wasn’t safe at that age.”

“She insisted, and when Kalista was born, there were massive complications and June died, but they saved Kalista. Randall helped support her, but my parents raised her, and she lives here with us. I consider her ... my little sister.”

“When was she born, what’s her birthday?” I asked.

“October Fifteenth, why?”

“Just a minute. I’ll be right back.”

I walked until I found my mother. “Mom,” I asked. “Can I ask you a ... a deeply personal question?”

“Sure Charles, but I reserve the right not to answer!”

“OK. The baby girl you lost over eight years ago. What might have been her birthday?”

“Interesting question, Charles — Why do you ask?” she put a look on her face, telling me she was trying to figure it out.

“Can I answer that, after you answer me, first?” I rejoined.

“I guess. Let me see ... it was after Labor Day, but not yet Halloween ... hmm-mmm-mmm ... mid-October, Charles ... Yes, October 15th, 2003. Now, why did you ask me that, Charles?”

Claire had followed me over to Annie and heard my question to her, along with her answer. She blurted, “OH — my god, Charles! That’s just so terribly romantic!” She quickly was sobbing, her hand over her mouth in astonishment.

Everyone clamored in at Claire’s outburst. A mixed chorus of ‘What’s going on?’ filled the room.

“Mom, can I share this story with everyone? You probably won’t believe it or may possibly just write if off to sheer coincidence.”

“I don’t completely understand what you are talking about ... you hooked me in — now tell us all, please?” mom responded.

“Everybody. Listen up for a minute, please? My mother, Annie, a little over eight years ago, got pregnant with a little girl. Everyone was excited about this, especially me, because I had always wanted a little sister, really badly.”

This generated a number of chuckles. Claire took hold of my arm.

“Unfortunately, her baby girl died the same day Kalista was born. The day this happened was on — on October 15th, 2003. That same day, Kalista was born to her mother, June McArthur.”

“The same day ... the same year!”

This final bit of information silenced them all.

Kalista came through the crowd, came up to me and asked, “What’s going on, Charles?”

I–I couldn’t answer her. I was so overwhelmed with emotion.

Kalista said, “Aunt Sarah, why is Charles crying? What happened?”

I was just sobbing in Claire’s arms ... I got it together enough and went over to Kalista and picked her up into my arms and told her, “I love you, Special K. I will explain this all to you when you get old enough to understand, I promise.”

“I am going to be nine years old in only three months, X. You can tell me now – please?” I saw confusion in her eyes.

Sarah came over and took Kalista from me and told her “Later, dear.”

The crowd dispersed again. Mom came up to me and we held each other for a while, both of us could be heard to cry. She patted my back and said, “Charles, you have such a kind heart, so does Kalista. As she grows up, you need to explain to her what happened that day, but you had better wait until she’s probably a few years older.”

“Yeah Mom. It’s amazing how I connected with her the first time I saw her. She is the ... essence of my little sister. One more question, please Mom ... what were you going to name your daughter?”

“You won’t believe this — I am quite certain of it, Charles. I was going to name her Callista, with a C and two Ls.” She spelled it out adding her name as the unborn child’s middle name.

That did it. We both started crying again. So, did Claire, who had overheard everything.

Finally, we went back to dancing. I thought we should now practice the Cha-Cha and the Tango. Those were the dances we were expected to know for Cotillion later.