The Dance, a short story!

Perhaps it was the grey blue sky and the way the rocking chair stood by the front door, unoccupied, vacant, rocking gently on a Sunday afternoon! Perhaps it was the giant bushes filled with flowers, peering in from the windows and casting shadows upon large baskets filled with fresh laundry to be folded! Perhaps it was just that her chores would not be done, no way, never, in every point of time her very breathing seemed to create additional ones and on and on!

Either way, she gently pushed away the cup of tea and stood up with effort, pushing her wrinkled hands, laid flat with fingers splayed against the wooden table! Perhaps it was time to step out into the garden!

Meanwhile, the young neighbor sprayed himself with cologne as he hummed and whistled! First he parted his hair one way and then another, unsatisfied he ruffled it and shook his head smilingly! She loved his hair! She said so often! The blue grey day with looming shadows was perfect! The smile of the flowers caused him happiness! The candle light dinner organized in the corner of the Italian restaurant, the song of the opera, the soft music of flowing wine, he was sure! “Will you marry me?” he asked himself in the mirror. “Yes”, he replied smilingly brightly as he pressed his lips upon the cool surface of his own reflection.

He stepped out, did a jig and slid behind the wheel! Ah! Mrs. Old Lady was out in her garden, he waved, she didn’t notice, he drove away smiling! Mrs. Old Lady turned around; she only saw the rush of his car! “How rude?” she whispered! Perhaps he hates having an old lady for a neighbor, she thought and that set more thoughts in motion!

Perhaps he hated the color of her windows! Perhaps it was the grandchildren that visited over the weekend and caused a ruckus in the garden! Perhaps it was because she had accidentally forgotten to mail him a card for Christmas! Perhaps it was that old rocking chair by the door that spoke of resignation! Perhaps he no longer liked chatting with her! Perhaps it was Mrs. So and So down the road and her innumerable rumors! God knew what was being said about her!

She had seen them the young neighbor and Mrs. So and So, chatting by the side of the street! Perhaps the whole neighborhood disliked her! Sometimes in a rush to get to those doctors, her face was scrunched and she was too hurried to wave out or chit- chat! Oh! Did they all imagine she was rude? Oh! What was she to do?

Mrs. Old Lady sat upon her rocking chair and fell asleep pressing her tired and worried head against the same thoughts that felt comfortable!

Young Neighbor, returned! He drove slowly! He turned off his car and sat limp behind the wheel for a while! Tears were flowing down his firm young cheeks and his eyes spoke of sadness. He pulled out the ring from his pocket once again and cried even more hard! Suddenly embarrassed, he stepped out of his car and dragged himself to his front door. He saw Mrs. Old Lady on her rocking chair! He did not notice that she was sleeping and he waved out again and once again she did not respond!

“It is hopeless!” he said as he entered his home. He slumped upon the couch and lay still, frozen and weary! Perhaps he was unlovable! Perhaps it was just that he was not good enough! Perhaps it was how he dressed! Perhaps it was his home that was untidy or that his garden that was not pretty enough! Perhaps it would have been polite to go out and play with her grand kids the weekend before! Perhaps it was Mrs. So and So, she may have told all of them how vain he was and they had all believed it! His girl; she had said that she liked his hair! Yet she had refused! Well even Mrs. Old Lady seemed to dislike him! Ah! There was hope no more!

Mrs. Old Lady woke up from her nap! She was rested! She felt the day to be beautiful! Her body was energized! Ah! She would complete those chores and then she would feel wonderful! She stood up to go inside! There was something glittering by the road! She walked slowly towards it!

A ring! Ah! Maybe he was to propose to the nice young girl she had seen him with! These youngsters! Mrs. Old Lady picked up the ring and knocked on Mr. Young neighbor’s door!

His eyes were filled with sadness and his cheeks were wet with tears!

“Oh! Honey”, said Mrs. Old Lady! “Well the loss is entirely hers! Who in their right mind would turn down a good- looking fellow like you? A handsome man with a tidy home! She turned you down! She is clueless and she will come back crying! But I warn you don’t take her in! I always felt that you could do so much better! Look at that pretty brown hair! Who could ever refuse that?”

Mrs. Old Lady placed the ring on the young man’s table. “I have some left over pie, and I can make some tea,” she offered! They communed by her kitchen table. He thanked her and felt lighter as he left! He was lovable after all!

Mrs. Old lady, smiled, she was lovable too! How silly of her to worry herself tired!

The blue grey sky whispered to the smiling flowers in the garden, “Thank God the day is done! Perhaps tomorrow she will start with a whistle and he will be filled with sorrow! Perhaps he will find love and think himself lovable! Perhaps she will run into Mrs. So and So and she will be full of sorrow! Perhaps she will say she’s sad because I am grey blue! Perhaps, he will say he’s happy because of you smiling flowers! In the meantime I plan on wearing orange tomorrow and I know you will wilt and die pretty soon!”