Page 11 of Moonlight Over Mistletoe
“You have more registrations for me?” she asked.
“Yes, but that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you.” A gust of wind caused Caleb to shiver. “I was wondering if you'd consider teaching some dance lessons. A bunch of us have gotten together to practice what we watched online, but to say it was a disaster is putting it mildly.”
Eleanor's lips pursed into a thin line. “That was a lifetime ago. I haven't taught in years.”Nor have I taught without Carl. How could I do it alone?
“Please consider it. We could use the high school gym. I already cleared it with Principal Smythe. She said the gym is empty on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and that she might join in. I also thought we could offer a prize for the beginner group. Best new dancer, or something like that.”
“That's not a bad idea,” Eleanor said. Caleb certainly had put some thought into all of this. Her resolve wavered. “Fine. One class to start, and we'll see how it goes. Next Tuesday, at 7pm, in the gym. Don't be late.”
“Thank you, Eleanor,” he said, leaning down and quickly planting a kiss on her cheek. “You won't regret this.” Caleb then turned and crossed the street.
“I hope not,” she muttered, stunned by both her agreement and by the appreciative kiss.
***
The following Tuesday, Eleanor pushed open the heavy gymnasium doors, her dance shoes tucked under one arm. The sight that greeted her stopped her in her tracks.
More than two dozen eager faces turned towards her, the room buzzing with excited chatter. Adults, young and old, and even a few teenagers packed the space, all waiting expectantly.
Eleanor's stomach churned. She'd expected two, maybe three people.
She scanned the crowd, searching for Caleb's familiar face. When she found him, her eyes narrowed.
He shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "Word got out. Turns out a lot of people want to learn.”
Eleanor closed her eyes and inhaled the familiar scent of polished wood floors. Instantly, old memories stirred—Carl's laughter, the swish of skirts, the thrill of perfecting a difficult step.
I can do this, she thought, standing tall. For Carl. And maybe for the person I used to be.
With newfound determination, Eleanor strode to the center of the room, her stern expression sweeping over the assembled crowd. “All right, everyone. Let's start with the basics.”
The group quietened and circled Eleanor. She became so nervous she wondered if she could even speak. But she had to do this. So, taking a sip from her water bottle, she began.
“Since we don't have much time, we will have a crash course on the basics. Now, we're going to review the most important elements of ballroom dancing. First, let's focus on posture. With posture comes grace and poise. Without it, you might as well be stumbling around like a drunken moose.”
She demonstrated, drawing herself up to her full height, chin lifted. “Your spine should be straight, shoulders back. Think of a string pulling you up from the top of your head. See what I'm doing, copy me.”
Everyone did their best to copy her posture. “Excellent,” she said. “Another fundamental aspect of ballroom dancing is that it is based on structured and standardized movements. The dancers follow specific steps and patterns.”
Eleanor moved across the floor in a box step, her footwork precise and measured. “Experienced dancers add their own flair to the movements, but the dance steps are always the same.”
The crowd's eyes followed her movements, curiosity and apprehension on their faces. Eleanor suppressed an eye roll. This was going to be a long night.
“The last key point I need you to remember is the connection to your partner. You need to work in harmony. This comes with practice, trust, and communication.”And chemistry, she thought. She and Carl had plenty of that. “Based on our limited timeframe, I think it best that we have three lessons, and you learn a new dance at each one. Tonight, we will cover the waltz. Next time, the foxtrot and lastly, the rumba.”
“I watched a couple on TV do the Argentine Tango. Can we learn that?” a teenage girl with blue hair asked.
“Ah yes, that is quite the dance, passionate and intense, and a bit beyond the beginner's skill level. Let's start with these three and see how it goes.”
The girl nodded.
“All right. We'll start with the basic box step.”
Once they practiced the step individually, Eleanor used Caleb to demonstrate how to hold your partner. After which, Eleanor directed them to partner up. As the participants scrambled to pair up, her attention zeroed in on a young couple. The man's hand resting awkwardly on his partner's waist. Eleanor slid it up to the woman's shoulder blade.
“Remember, this isn't a barn dance,” she said to the entire room, not wanting to embarrass the couple. “Proper frame, please.” Eleanor moved through the crowd, adjusting postures and repositioning hands. With each correction, she felt a familiar spark ignite within her.
“Eleanor, why do we need to keep our elbows up?” a middle-aged woman asked, her brow furrowed in concentration.
