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Dear Reader,
Tell me a story. That's all you need to do to enter my 14th Annual Write a DearReader Contest. Need inspiration? Let me share a story with you that I wrote several years ago...
The parking lot was full and buses were dropping off seniors near the front door. My mother's friends had invited Mom and me to go with them to the big senior dance in Platteville, to listen to the Busch's Swing Band. It was Mom's first outing since Dad died. It was a huge dance hall, decorated with crepe paper and balloons. A sign on the way in read: "Get Your Name Tag And Sign Up For Door Prizes!" We were lucky, we found a big round table near the front. The band had already started playing, but no one was dancing. I was thinking, 'This is pretty much like the beginning of every dance I've ever gone to. Who is going to be the first couple on the dance floor?'
Two songs later, when the slow beat changed to a swing, the first couple, two women who must have been in their late seventies, braved the dance floor. Hands clasped together, not the least bit concerned--all eyes were on them--they held the dance floor alone, and when the song finished they stayed put, anticipating the next number. But when the music started again, couples (mostly women dancing with women) flooded the dance floor. "If you want to dance," one of my mother's friends advised, "you'd better not wait around for a man to ask, because there aren't enough of them to go around."
I noticed my mother tapping her foot and there was a remnant of a smile on her face when she leaned over and whispered to me, "May I please have this dance?"
Now it was a very strange thing to be dancing with my mother. At first I just stood on the dance floor staring at the five-foot-tall woman, my dancing partner, my mother--whom I'd never, ever seen dance before. I was shocked. Who was this woman? Her hips swaying side to side, shoulders loose, keeping time to the music. Just when did my mother learn how to do this? I had no idea how to do these dance moves, but it didn't matter. The next thing I knew, my mother took me by the hand and I was twirling around the dance floor. I could have sworn her dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was sporting white bobby socks and saddle shoes.
Breathless and a bit stunned, I started walking back to our table when the song was over, but instantly the music started again and so did my mother. We danced another dance, and another dance, and another dance. After that--it was all kind of a blur, and finally when the music moseyed its way into a slow song, I was so thankful, thinking I'd finally get to sit one out.
But my mother stood her ground, grabbing my elbows then gently looking into my eyes, letting me know that for whatever reason, she had to keep dancing. Then she slid her arm around my back, our hands came together, my mother closed her eyes, and some of her sadness melted into a smile as we glided around the floor.
It was the most memorable dance of my life. Slow dancing with my mother.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Waiting to read your story,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
P. S. Enter this year's Write a Dear Reader Contest. Deadlines, winning entries from last year and prizes. You'll find all the info here.
** AUTHORBUZZ **
SURRENDER (Fiction) by Elisabeth Naughton
I'm thrilled to share the newest story in my House of Sin series! If you're new to the House of Sin, don't worry. This is a great place to start. Danger, intrigue, romance and suspense--this series has it all. If you've already read the series, then you're familiar with Marco and Felicity. This book takes you back in time to their first meeting and a friendship that shaped an entire series.
Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on SURRENDER to read more and to email author Elisabeth Naughton, you'll get a reply.
This month's Penguin Classics book is THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF JOAQUIN MURIETA, by John Rollin Ridge. I have a Penguin totebag to share with a lucky reader. Read this month's Penguin Classics book and enter-to-win for your chance to win the adorable totebag.
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