An Amazing Dance

For quite many years John had been attending the Christmas Ball at the community centre next to the church.

Like every time, he would sit on a chair in the same corner of the community centre and watch the lovely pairs dance. The peppy foot tapping music which made the people shake a leg, did not excite him a bit.

He would sit and look intently at the people having a good time. He would glance from one couple to the other in a manner of sequence as if he was watching a movie.

But like every time, he would be seated with a poignant expression of longing. Maybe with time, his expressions were not clear anymore, if he was indeed waiting or just sad.

And like every time, after a while he would turn his gaze to face the door awaiting someone to enter.

The door faced west and as she entered, the rays of the Sun seemed as if they emanated from her. She would look at the crowd and give a gorgeous smile. She had long black tresses on her side and beautiful brown eyes to contrast her hair.

And like always, as she entered, her eyes would waver looking for someone. But John would get up from his seat and push the chair back to its place. Avoiding any eye contact with her, he would pick up his walking stick and slowly trudge out of the community centre to wait another year.

But this time it was different.

John woke up feeling much better and fresh than usual. He was excited to attend the ball. He was eager to reach there. He quickly opened his cupboard to pull out a neat tuxedo. After he was ready he checked himself out in the mirror for any flaws in the suit or his neatly combed hair.

His excitement could not be contained.

He walked in quick steps towards the community centre. As he reached inside, he walked towards the usual corner and sat down. The music was peppy as usual but this time it made his foot tap a bit. He smiled.

He straightened his hair and turned to look towards the door.

She entered again, but this time John did not get up. He stayed on his seat. Something had gotten in to him. He waited.

She walked inside and looked around. Her eyes got fixated on John. She slowly walked up to him with her hands behind her back.

“Hello John..” she said as she leaned a little towards him.

“Hi Nancy..”

“Where have you been.. I have been waiting for you..”

“I know dear..” said John as he held her beautiful hand and stood up, “would you like to dance?”

“Oh! Finally!.. I thought you would never ask.”

“I’m sorry it took me a while.”

“Better late than never!” she said as she held his hand and they walked towards the centre of the crowded community hall.

A little boy with a bell ran past the house of John making an announcement that Mr. John Summer, the only survivor of the fire that had burnt down the community centre 30 years back had finally passed on to a better place.