Were's the Love?

Chapter 30: Doing the Robot and Missing My Date

I bob my head to the music as I watch everyone celebrate. The colorful lights reflect off the mirror ball hanging from the rafters into the streamers and onto the crowd of students dancing below. Everyone looks really nice in their homecoming dresses and suits, and they seem like they are having so much fun. Honestly, it's been hard not joining.

Well, I did join in a few times, but only a few. I love dancing, but I know that I'm here as a chaperone, not as a participant. Still, it's great.

You know, I've never understood how some people hate dancing. I know some people feel self-conscious when they step onto a dancefloor, but I could never figure out why. Sure, there are folks who are amazing dancers. I've seen a few shows on television that were filled with some of the most incredible moves I've ever seen! They were doing all these amazing flips and their footwork! It was the best!

But I've always thought there was something in our instincts that compelled us to do dance. It's so easy to feel the music course through you and lose yourself to the rhythm. However, as I look out at the crowd of teenagers, I can see so many of them holding back the natural desire to move.

That's why I danced earlier in the night.

I thought that if they saw a few of their teachers out there dancing like idiots, then maybe they wouldn't be so worried about how they looked. It worked for a little while, but after about an hour, a lot of the kids went back to being wallflowers.

Maybe it would have worked better if I had been able to convince a few more teachers to join in. Allison and Bethany joined me for a couple songs, along with Mr. Franklin and his wife. He and his wife are wonderful people. He's been teaching chemistry and physics at this school since my parents were teens. He's old, but he doesn't act like it. And that man can dance! He was spinning his wife around the gymnasium floor like they were still teenagers themselves. It was amazing!

I hope Allison and I are like that when we're that age. That would be great.

Speaking of Allison, I think something happened to her while I was helping decorate the gym for this dance. Ever since she came to pick me up after school Friday, she's seemed more relaxed than usual. I'm not complaining. It's been amazing! She's smiling and laughing more. She even agreed to go to the football game with me last night! I don't think I've ever seen her at a game, so it was great having her there. And, before we went to sleep, she kissed me goodnight.

It was just a peck on the cheek, but that's better than nothing, right?

I hope that means she's finally comfortable around me, but my gut tells me it's for a different reason. I just don't know what that reason is.

I suppose I could ask her, but I won't. She seems happy and that's all that matters.

"Mr. Smith," one of my students says quietly as she taps me on the shoulder.

I turn to see Claire staring down at her feet. She's a freshman and really shy. Her family just bought a farm near the edge of town and she's had a little trouble adjusting to the unique makeup of our school. I've had a few conversations with her during class. She's a sweet girl.

"Hey, Claire. What's up?"

"I, um..." she continues talking, but her voice is so soft I can't hear her over the music.

"What?" I ask.

"I wanted to ask if you would dance with me."

"Sure!" I smile, flag down Bethany, and walk with Claire out to the center of the dancefloor.

Now, I know that some people might think it's inappropriate for a teacher to dance with their students, and normally I wouldn't. But I haven't seen Claire dancing at all tonight. It's homecoming and she should at least have a few good memories of the dance and there's only about thirty minutes left before it's over. Plus, it's a fast song and we'll be surrounded by other students. Hopefully, by spending a little time dancing with her, she'll get comfortable enough to stay on the floor once I return to my post.