Characters

The people at the Blue Agave where we go dancing seem like caricatures of stereotypes.



Walter, the instructor, is an amazing dancer. He leads strongly but kindly. He's very forgiving when you don't get a cue. There's a sadness in his eyes that makes me wonder what he's lost.

Sara is beautiful, graceful, and polished. Her dancing is understated and fluid. Perfect. But she's young and she's still learning. Under Walter's tutelage, she looks like she was born with cloth heels on.

The rest don't have names in my mind.

The Man Who Never Dances sits at the first table by the rail, watching. He sometimes joins in the dance class, smiling at those of us who are fairly competent. His motions are smooth, quiet. He doesn't make you feel like he's taking the class so he can get his hands on you. He always wears cowboy boots and jeans. His dark hair is held back in a moderately long pony tail.

That Woman has about four dresses that she rotates. She's in her forties, I'd guess. Her hair is dyed blonde, but her roots are dark. Her body is not great, but she has no problem showing it off. Her dancing is flawless, but she never smiles.

The Funny Guy has a quirky smile and he always plays pool. Good for maybe one dance per night. He is an amazing dancer, so you're lucky if he asks you to dance. But it doesn't happen often.

The Short Guy is just a shade away from creepy. He never dances with a girl that he can properly lead. Part of me thinks that he dances with taller women just so he can get a hand on their ass and blame it on his height. He's a good dancer, but he never looks away from you. His eyes focus on yours until you blush.

The Nazi is not actually. He looks like that guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark with the hat and glasses and so I call him The Nazi. He dances well. But only ever with That Woman and anyone she brings with her.

Then there's US. Deanne is saucy and smooth. I'm fluid and detached. Sometimes we dance well, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we have good partners; it's hit-and-miss. We feel comfortable now turning men who ask us down, but not too often.

The end of the night, we look at each other, and say either "Yaaaaay!" or "Mehh."