Dirty Dancing

Prologue

It was the summer of 1963, when everybody called me Baby
and it didn't occur to me to mind.
That was before President Kennedy was shot, before the Beatles came.
When I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps, and I thought I'd never find a guy as great as my dad.
That was the summer
we went to Kellerman's.

I look around as soon as we arrive. I let my eyes skim over the big resort, golf course, and everything. A guy my age walks past us with a megaphone in his hand.
"Ping-Pong in the west arcade, softball in the east diamond. All you Sandy Koufaxes, get out there! Complimentary dance lessons in the gazebo."

I smile. I will enjoy our vacation here. My older sister Gemma spots all the cute guys helping new arrivals with their luggage. University students with summer jobs.
"Oh, my God. Look at that! Mom, I should've brought the coral shoes. You said I was taking too much."

"Well, sweetheart, you brought ten pairs." Our mother Anne replies with humor.

"But the coral shoes matched that dress." Gemma pouts.

Our father Desmond speak up.
"This is not a tragedy. A tragedy is three men trapped in a mine or police dogs used in Birmingham."

"Monks burning themselves in protest." I add teasingly.

"Butt out, Baby." Gemma huffs.

The blonde guy with the megaphone walks by again.
"Okay, we got horseshoes on the south lawn in 15 minutes! We've got splish-splash the water class down by the lake. We have the still life art class. We got volleyball and croquet.
And for you older folks, we got sex!" He shouts, laughing at his own joke. I shake my head in amusement.

"Doc! Doc!" An older man yells excitedly.

"Max!" Our father replies, smiling widely.

"Doc, after all these years I finally got you up on my mountain." Max proclaims.

"How's the blood pressure?" Our dad asks.

The man turns to Gemma and me.
"I want you to know if it were not for this man, I'd be standing here dead." Max says dramatically. Then he turns to the young man next to him.

"Liam, get the bags."

"Right away, Doc." Liam replies and hurries over to the car. I decide to help him.

"I kept the best cabin for you and your beautiful children." Max says.

"Hey, thanks a lot. You want a job here?" Liam jokes and I smile sweetly.

"There's a merengue class in the gazebo in the next few minutes. The greatest teacher. Used to be in New England dance ensemble." Max informs us.

"It's his first real vacation in six years, Max. Take it easy." Anne replies, putting a hand on her husband's arm.

"Three weeks here, it'll feel like a year." Max promises.

While Liam makes sure that our luggage comes with us, Max shows us to the cabin. I sneak off to check out the dance class and decide to give it a try. A cute brunette is in charge.
"One, two, three, four! Stomp those grapes and stomp some more!
One, two, three, four! Listen to the music!"

I try my best but manage to stomp someone on their foot.
"Sorry."

"Move your caboose and shake it loose! One, two, three, four!
Start the train! Come on, men!
Follow me into a round robin!
Ladies, the inner circle! Come on, ladies! God wouldn't have given you maracas if he didn't want you to shake them!" The brunette yells and shakes her boobs. I giggle in amusement.

"Okay now, ladies, when I say stop you're gonna find the man of your dreams. Stop! Remember, he's the boss on the dance floor, if nowhere else." The dance teacher yells.

My dance partner is a short, cute, and very old lady. I think she's the one leading me. I can't dance.