Chapter 5

Jimmy called a stop to what was going on and told everybody to take a break. He motioned us both up to talk to him for a minute.

“Charles, by any chance, have you checked out the Foxtrot online like you did with the Waltz?”

Claire was about to answer for us, but I cut her off and said, “Actually, Jimmy — I did, but I never had the chance to show it to Claire.”

Claire looked at me with her dimpled smile.

“Well,” Jimmy said, “Do you want to show it to her now? As quick a study as you two seem to be, she should learn it in what-Maybe ten minutes?”

Claire was about to tear me a new one when I said to her, “No time to get mad, Beautiful. Let me show you this dance.”

We went into the corner of the hall, and I explained to her that she went backwards this whole dance. Then, I explained to her that it was a four-step dance instead of the three steps that was the Waltz. Slow — slow — quick, quick; slow — slow — quick, quick; that’s the rhythm of the Forward Basic Foxtrot.

We did it about four times, and then she looked at me saying, “Charles Newman, if you weren’t such a good dancer — and so darn cute, I would be really mad at you for fibbing to me about the Foxtrot.”

We walked back over to Jimmy, and I said, “OK Jimmy, I taught her the Forward Basic.”

Glancing at his watch, he said, “You taught her in three minutes? I had better hire you before you go out and start your own Cotillion.”

“Yeah, right, Jimmy,” I said as my girlfriend beamed at me.

Jimmy got everyone’s attention and told everyone that there would be a demonstration of the next dance they will be learning.

“Charles & Claire will now be demonstrating the Basic Forward Foxtrot step. It is a traveling dance meaning that instead of staying in one place, like the Waltz. The Foxtrot moves quickly around the floor. Listen to the music as Charles & Claire show us all how it’s done.”

He put on the song “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Frank Sinatra and gave us his usual command, “Dance!”

I took Claire’s hand, and we assumed the position and literally danced around the rest of them going counter-clockwise, as I found online. After we had made a complete circle, Jimmy started a light applause and began teaching the rest of them as the song went on.

Brian and Susan came up to us, and he said, “You have been holding out on us, Charles!”

“Brian, all I did was look at the steps on the Internet, and then my mom helped me learn the dance.”

Claire turned to look at me and with a wicked smile said, “So — there is another woman — how could you?” I thought she was going to slap me, but instead, she hugged me. Go figure women ... even twelve-year-old’s.

Claire and I went back to dance the Foxtrot in the same counter-clockwise circle that everyone else was. Once or twice, someone almost stumbled upon us, but the ‘International Dance Panic Signal’ came to the rescue.

It actually does come in handy sometimes. It’s funny that when you are learning a new dance, you worry about counting or the other person’s feet and, of course, the rhythm of the music being played, but when you know the dance, I mean really, truly know it, you can, in fact, concentrate on your partner, her beautiful red hair or her pretty brown eyes.

I was dancing with the prettiest girl there, and I was just in a different place. I smiled at her, and she smiled back. We had gotten so comfortable dancing with each other; we became physically closer to each other than the rest of the other couples. My conscience, and my mother told me, they may be the same, must maintain ... distance ... from Claire.

The song was over, and Jimmy got everyone’s attention.

“All right then, we have learned the Left Box Turn and The Progressive Movement Turn as well as we have begun the first of many Foxtrot steps. Let’s give a great big thank you to Charles & Claire, for demonstrating for us this evening.”

Applause rang out. Jimmy continued, “Now, we are going to finish our hour with some Waltz. Feel free to use all the different steps you have learned. Charles & Claire, please come forward for a moment?”

I took Claire by her hand, and we hustled over to Jimmy and asked, “Yes, Jimmy, what do you need?”

“Well, I first want to say thank you for showing up ready to dance and for being my demonstrators. I don’t know why, but I was positively certain you had learned those other steps. Would the two of you be interested in being my official ‘Dance Demonstrators’ each week? I can give you my list of dances and steps I plan to teach in advance. You two can learn them during the week and demonstrate them on Tuesday nights. This would mean you would have ‘homework’ each week. Would that be all right with you?”

Before either of us could respond, Jimmy went on to say, “Oh yes, and it would mean your entire cost of the Cotillion would be refunded, provided you show up and are ready to demonstrate each week throughout the rest of this year’s Cotillion schedule.”

I looked over at Claire, and she had the biggest smile, and she said, “Of course, Jimmy! Charles and I would love to help you!”

Jimmy responded, “I haven’t had a decent demonstrating couple in almost eight ... no nine years. Sometimes, I have had a good young man or perhaps a fine teenage girl, but I haven’t seen a twelve-year-old couple who ever picked it up like you do ... for as far back as I can recall.”

He gave us a list of what he was going to be teaching the next couple of weeks, and then we joined the rest of the waltzing couples.

“I feel so special!” Claire said

“You are. And you dance very well too, CC,” I said looking into her beautiful brown eyes.

“When you look at me like that and talk to me like that, I just want to kiss you so badly, Charles Newman,” she giggled leaning very close. Close enough to kiss.

I put my hand up in front of her face and said, “Hold that thought. We do have an example to set for the others.”

“Oh! All right. What’s next on the list, X?” she asked kissing the palm of my hand and breaking into the smile with dimples that has found its way into my heart and my life.

I took my right hand off her hip while still dancing and went into my pocket and read the list off to her, “The Foxtrot has a lot of variations; the Forward Basic we already know, the Left Turn, Promenade, Box Step, Turning Box, Side Step, and the Right Turn. We can learn them all by next week, can’t we?”

I went on, “One of us will have to travel to the other’s home. Your place, or mine, Gorgeous? Sorry, I couldn’t resist saying that. Out of all the Cotillions in the world, you had to walk into mine.”

“Oh Charles. We’re going to be his demonstrators. That sounds like so much fun.”

“Claire, the best part of all of this is that I will be able to keep dancing with the prettiest girl I have ever met.”

The song ended, but we didn’t realize it as Claire placed her deliciously cute lips on mine.

The place erupted into applause, and a couple of ‘awws’ came from the girls.

I took Claire to the drink table and told her we needed to be more careful. Of course, to her that meant to kiss me again. She hurriedly cleaned off my lips.

My mother arrived early to see what was going on and saw Jimmy. He had motioned at her to come over to him. She did, and he informed her how good he thought Claire and I could become.

He finished by saying, “Mrs. Newman, I see your son must have gotten his grace and style from you. Let him tell you what I have asked of them. It should be their surprise.”

Claire and I were talking, and my mother walked up behind Claire putting a finger up to her lips to keep me quiet. She said with a fake cry in her voice, “So, this is the little hussy that has taken my boy away from me?”

Both Claire and I were dumbfounded by this remark. (I had to play my part.)

Mom continued on, by talking directly to Claire, “I’m kidding, sweetheart. You two are so cute together. You are going to be the King and Queen at your upcoming dance.”

“Mom,” I blustered, “Jimmy has asked Claire and I to be his ‘Dance Demonstrators’ for the rest of the Cotillion season. You will get your entire season’s money refunded at the end of the summer!”

“Mrs. Newman,” my lovely lady said, “We’re supposed to learn the steps ahead of time and then show them off ... demonstrate them in front of the rest of the kids. We said yes, if it’s all right with you and is also OK with my parents?”

“I have got no problems with that at all. Claire, go ask your mother? We will wait for you,” mom said.

“Thanks Mom. You are the best,” I said as I hugged her.

“Save your flattery for your girl, Honey.”

“My ... what? What did you call Claire?” I sputtered.

“You heard me — It’s written all over your face,” she laughed.

I broke into a great big smile, saying, “Thanks, Mom. I love you; you know?”

“I know, X,” she said touching my nametag.

We heard a shriek coming towards us, and its name was Claire.

“My mom says ... it’s OK with her. We have to figure out where, when, and how ... often ... to practice.” Claire was out of breath, but still stunning.

“Find out if we can take you home with us,” mom offered. “You can work tonight and then I will get you home around ten-thirty or so?”

“That sounds wonderful Mrs. Newman. Let me go ask my mother?” Claire said walking briskly away.

“That’s awfully nice of you, Mom. I would like to go with you when you take her home, if that’s all right with you?”

“You know it will be, Charles. I am so happy for you. She really is a lovely girl.”

“Yeah, Mom, I think so, too. She might be the one.”

“What do you mean, the one?” mom said with a worried sound in her voice.

“The one ... you know, the one to spend my whole life with, Mom. Don’t worry? I know I’m only just 12, but I plan on having the best grades in my class, just as long as Claire will be alongside me ... to dance with me.”

“Now Charles, be careful what you ask for?” mom said, putting her hand on my shoulder.

My girl joined us, having brought her mother with her, “Mrs. Newman, this is my mother, Sarah McArthur. Mom, this is Charles’ mother, Antoinette Newman.”

“My, what a beautiful name. Do you have a nickname? Like Annie or Toni?” she asked, looking her over.

“Actually, when I was these kids’ age, that was what my first boyfriend called me, Annie.”

“So, that young man turned into your husband?” Mrs. McArthur casually speculated.

“No, actually my fourth boyfriend turned into my husband, but that’s a long story,” mom said with a girlish laugh.

Mrs. McArthur responded, “Well, with our children becoming the Dance Demonstrators, I suspect I will hear the story eventually. Why don’t you and your family along with Brian and Susan’s, all come over this next weekend for a BBQ? We can all get to know each other better that way. Claire has your number. I will call tomorrow and set it all up. We love to have BBQs and my husband loves to cook. Think about it?”