Oh no, I was late for an important meeting. I gathered up my notebook and my papers, grabbed my handbag and ran. Running in high-heels is an art form that I haven't quite mastered yet so I know I should've slowed down.
Around the corner I went and then crashed into a human wall. My papers went flying everywhere. I quietly muttered "So sorry" and heard the same come back at me. He gathered up the papers and handed them to me. I looked up with a "Thank you" about to leave my lips when my eyes met his and I froze. I know that face I thought, I know those eyes. But how could I? I had never seen him before. He smiled and walked on.
The meeting was so boring, I couldn't wait to get out. Each face I looked at morphed into his. "Concentrate," I told myself, but my mind started to wander and I suddenly found my thoughts drifting back to 39 years ago ...
My first high school dance was coming up. There was so much excitement everywhere. I was a shy, quiet girl, chubby, awkward and timid. I wanted to go but I didn't want to be the one who no one danced with. Tickets were selling fast and I still hadn't bought mine.
We were lining up for assembly, supervised by school prefects. Each class had 2 allocated. They were both standing near me. All was quiet, then I heard the dreaded, "Suzy, I hope you bought a ticket 'cos I've sold all of mine." Relief, tickets were sold out, I had an excuse not to go. I shook my head. "Oh, he'll be sad if you don't come," she said, looking at him cheekily. I glanced at him quickly and caught his eye. "I've kept one for you," he said quietly. Then a ticket shot out at me. How could I refuse? I took it slowly and muttered that I would pay for it the next day. He wouldn't take the money.
We were all lined up in the school hall, nervous 13 year olds, excited and scared. I hid behind the girls in my class hoping no one would see me. And then I saw him, making his way towards us. I slowly inched behind the pillar praying, "Not me, please not me". He wove his way through the throng of my classmates and then he stood in front of me. "Would you like to dance with me?" he asked softly.
My heart was beating so fast. We danced quietly, not a word was said. And then a slow number came on. We stood looking at each other for a few minutes. I had no idea what to do. Did he want me to stay or did he want me to go? Questions went around and around in my head and then my little 13 year old brain panicked. So I turned and walked off the dance floor. He never asked me again. I watched him dance with one girl after another and I felt the sadness wash over me.
The meeting was finally over. I walked back to my desk and saw the message light flashing on my phone. One missed call was the message showing on the screen. I checked the missed calls and saw his name come up. I looked at it for what seemed an eternity and then I picked up the receiver. I pressed the message button. "Enter your password," came the command. Tap tap tap tap, I entered the password. My heart was beating wildly. "You have one message, press 1 to hear your message," the voice said again. My finger hovered over the number 1 and then slowly I pressed it. "Hello," said a deep quiet voice, "Would you like to dance with me?".
It's Saturday morning and I'm having breakfast out on my patio. The sun is shining, the skies are blue and the hills look so serene. My cup of tea in hand, I savour every sip as I watch him read the paper. Now and then he reads out a snippet that makes me laugh. I love the sound of his voice. My thoughts drift once again to that day in high school and a smile creeps over my face.
He puts the paper down, and looks at me with those beautiful, warm eyes. I'm sure he can read my thoughts. He stands up, walks to my side and takes my hand. "Would you like to dance with me," he says, with a twinkle in his eye.
Warm Regards
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