Eighth Grade Dance

He took the book's advice and started early in his life and worked his way forward. He wanted to increase his confidence, and he remembered going to an eighth grade dance. He and a buddy had either sat on the edge of the junior high school gym or stood at the refreshment table long enough to getting punch and Rice Krispy bars. Andy never asked a girl to dance that night, and he'd gone home disappointed in himself. He only went to one other dance the rest of his time in high school. That memory was going to change.

When he opened his mind's eyes (not his physical eyes, but the sight of dreams), he was in the junior high gym decorated with bunting, streamers and balloons. Several dozen kids milled around, and the 70s rock and roll music blared over the loudspeakers. He was sitting on the edge of the hardwood floor with a cup of punch. He looked around at the kids; one girl he knew from grade school caught his eye: Lori Gerard. He'd had a crush on her in third grade when he moved to the new school. She was cute in a thirteen year old girl way: curly red hair, pleasant face, and a great smile. Just walk up and ask her to dance, Andy thought to himself, the worst thing she can do is say "no."

He stood up and walked over to her where she was chatting with some girlfriends. As he approached, she saw him coming and hid a giggle behind her hand. He almost turned around, but his older self kept him walking toward her. He stopped two steps away from her and took a deep breath. He started looking at his feet and then **** himself to look her in the eye. He said, "Would you like to dance, Lori?"

She smiled and replied, "Yes, I'd love to." Good start. She extended her hand and he took it gently, his arm shaking quite a bit. He led her out on the gym floor with about a dozen other kids and started dancing to "Freebird". He just moved his hands around and wiggled his hips, but Lori did about the same, and she was smiling, so Andy felt better.

They danced through that song, and, when it ended, they stayed out on the floor and danced to the next song. They ended up dancing several times, and Andy danced with a couple other girls as well. He had fun; he went home feeling great and vowed to keep going to dances throughout school.

The older Andy slipped out of the memory and returned to the grey place between regressions. He contemplated where to go next.