The Firemen's Dance by John Argo

= THE FIREMEN'S DANCE =

Dark Fantasy

by John Argo

"They're nice, aren't they?" Jane whispered. At the same moment, she noticed that Maureen took off a light blue silk neck kerchief and laid it on the table. Jane's eyes grew wide with desire as she regarded the kerchief.

Desserts came.

"Not for me," Jane said. Perry also raised his hand to signify no.

Maureen took two big pieces of chocolate cake. "That's how you stay so thin and healthy," she crowed, "never eat any cake or candy."

The band started up a lively reggae beat. Jane rose, pulling Perry along by the hand. "Come on, darling, let's dance. See you in a few minutes!" she called to Roger and Maureen. They waved their forks, smiling.

"Whirl me around," Jane urged through gritted teeth as Perry took her in his arms and moved her about in tight angles with the beat of the music. She gripped him in a sudden passion, hands behind his head, her lips on his, her tongue seeking his. Her mouth felt hot and wet, and it made him think of how good it would be to have sex when they got home. She whispered to him: "I want something of theirs."

"Darling," he said, "you know it's no good. Don't let yourself fixate."

"I'll try," she promised. She would take anything that belonged to them — a key, a coin, a wallet, a credit card, just something to remember them by.

A while later, Perry as a courtesy took Maureen out for a dance, while Jane joined Roger in a wild rock 'n roll dance.

Then they all sat at the table together, talking and laughing. A bottle of red wine warmed them, and they forgot about their troubles for a while. Roger and Maureen went to look for the potties. Maureen took her purse, but left her thin, silky kerchief on the table. Jane looked at it. "Oh, Perry, I want that."

"Sweetheart — ."

Tears tumbled down her cheeks. "I want it so badly, darling."

"Maybe if you ask Maureen then."

Jane dabbed her eyes. "Oh, my makeup is probably running. I'm a mess."

"No you aren't. But look at the time." The clock said 10:30.

She sighed. "It's getting late. I guess we'd better go. I'm getting incredibly tired."

He yawned. "Yes, me too. It's been a long day." He stroked her cheek, which felt chill. "We'll go home, throw on another log, and make love all the whole long night together. What do you say?" He nuzzled her ear, lightly biting her earlobe.

Roger and Maureen came back and sat down, but on the edges of their seats. "We're going home," Roger said. "It's been really nice meeting you young folks."

"It's been lovely," Jane said, shaking Maureen's hand. "That is the loveliest scarf," she said.

Maureen laughed. "What? Oh, this?" She held up her scarf carelessly.

"We've had such a lovely evening," Jane said, "I wonder if you'd mind — ?" She hugged the scarf to her bosom and glowed. At first Roger and Maureen looked shocked, then sympathetic.

"Dear, if it's that old scarf you want, keep it, sweetie."

"Thank you!" Perry said for her. "My wife can be so silly and sentimental."

"I understand," Roger said, rising. As he helped Maureen into her coat, he winked at Perry and Jane. "We were young once, and we understand."

"That's right," Maureen said, patting her coat and closing the buttons. "We understand. Though it's been a long time and we don't remember too well." She winked at Jane and dug an elbow into Roger's side.

He pretended to double over, making a face that said, "Ain't my wife a scream?"

"Do you kids have a car?" Maureen asked as if they had nothing — well, Perry thought, that was about what they had.

"We'll be fine," he said. "We have a car but it's not running. We'll walk home. It's not far."

"It may rain," Roger warned.

"We'll be fine," Jane said giving her best fashion model smile.

"You two look so elegant," Maureen said. "Such fine young people. I wish you all the best." Roger had to pull her away before she could run around the table and kiss each of them.

The band leader turned around and said: "You know, our favorite couple are in the audience someplace, and we play our best for them every year on this night. This is their song!" The hall clapped and cheered loudly. Perry and Jane rose, clapping — she standing on tiptoe and whistling. Perry had to smile to himself. The band played one more number, their most robust and emotionally charged, and then stopped. "Thank you, and have a safe ride home," the pastor's voice boomed under the rafters. The hall was suddenly a different place, disappointed, as if it had wanted more. But there had to be an end to everything, even the best things in life.

Thank you for reading. If you love it, tell your friends. Please post a favorable review at Amazon, Good Reads, and other online resources. If you want to thank the author, you may also buy a copy for the low price of a cup of coffee. It's called Read-a-Latte: similar (or lower) price as a latte at your favorite coffeeshop, but the book lasts forever while the beverage is quickly gone. Thank you (JTC).

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