In Lieu of Dancing

The evening was ripe for excitement.  A crisp fog wafted through the town, nearly crackling with anticipation.

The fella called to the lady, "Let's go for a ride."

She smiled as she hopped into the passenger seat, and asked, "Where're we going tonight?"

And he replied, "Oh, honey, honey, I'll take you out on the town. We'll boogie down at I Beam and drink fine wine. I'll get the DJ to play our song, and we'll dance 'til sunrise."

"But, baby," she said, a little skeptically, "I'm not much for dancing 'til the sun swings high. I know it sounds crazy, but I just can't tonight."

The man checked his watch, and glanced to the girl. He grinned a little wider and replied, "That's okay, we don't have to dance. We can croon ballads to the stars, hand in hand. I know you love singing, ain't that true? C'mon, I know just the place."

The girl sighed, slightly dismayed. "I'm so sorry, sweetie, I'd really love to, but you see I've got a sore throat, and can't hold a tune."

"Well, that's all right. How 'bout a picture show? I know a great flicker that'll be playing real soon. It's a newspaper headliner. I'd sure love to see it with you."

"Oh, what can I say? Tonight I don't feel like anything's right. What do you do when you don't want to do anything?"

And the man unleashed a dazzling smile. The lady quirked an eyebrow, wondering how he never lost that dopey grin.

"Darlin'," he whispered joyfully, "I'd be honored to do nothing with you. I'll pull up to a park and we'll just stroll through the moonlit haze."

But as they began to walk, the woman started to tap her foot to an silent rhythm.

"What are you dancing to?" he asked her.

"Our beating hearts."

He took her hand and they waltzed under the trees, which dipped and swayed, longing to dance with them.

The woman began to sing a little tune.

"What are you singing?" he asked.

"How your hand feels in mine."

He chimed in, and their lover's duet floated down the path.

Then all of a sudden, the woman stopped walking and stared at the man.

He asked why.

"I'm watching a movie," she said simply.

"What kind?"

"A love story."

She smiled.

"How does it end?"

She slipped her hands around his waist, holding him in a tight embrace, and laid a kiss gently upon his lips.

"Take a guess," she cooed.