Dance Until Morning

What a fine spring evening! I love Spring, my favorite season. For this is the time of year when all the boats are docked, all the sailors come into town, and the festivals begin.

Tonight is the first night of festivities. The air smells of fish and flowers, all around the lights of the town shine. Women and girls in the finest clothes they can afford swirl around, their dresses brush against my legs as I rush through them.

Tonight, I’ll join the dancing around. But not because I care for the festivities. It’s the sailors I can’t wait to meet. I’m restless as I rush to meet up with my friends.

All around me, I can hear the whispered gossip about me, “look how she’s off to the docks! She’s off on the search for sailors though, there’s fine fellas there to be found. Her and those friends of hers have never been ones to stay at home!”

As I push past the gossiping crowd, head down, I run straight into someone.

“Sorry-“ I begin, until I look up. “Mother!”

She catches my wrist, and says, “Home you’ll go, and you’ll stay there. You’ve work to do in the morning! Give up your sailors, give up your dream of going away.”

With a sweet, slightly mischievous smile, I pull away from her grip and rush off into the crowd.

Dodging here and there, doing my best not to trip or trip anyone. People spin circles around me. Their singing and music drown out all else. Some reaching out their arms, inviting me into the dance. With a curtsy, I politely turn them down.

Then I rush off again. The tapping of their feet becomes a rhythm I run to.

I finally break out into a clearing, coming face to face with a smiling girl. Angela greets me with a hug.

She then grabs my arm and pulls me into a run with her, explaining excitedly, “Follow me down to the docks. There are fine sailors walking the town!”

As we run along, we come across Maria. I catch her hand and explain to her what Angela told me.

With our trio complete, a spring in our step, we head straight for the docks, singing and laughing as we go.

That’s when I see him.

My hands slip from the hands of my friends as I stare after him.

He’s tall, wearing a loose blue shirt, tucked into fitted jeans. His hair is blonde and messy. His eyes shine a bright, ocean blue in the glow of the lights.

My smile spreads as he passes and sends a wink my way, and I hear my friend’s gasp.

Angela says, “Watch how he’s rushing along!”

And Maria adds, “He’s as fine as any sailor!”

“So come on now!” I say, “Let’s catch up to him and the festivals!”

Once again, hand in hand, we rush after the tall man and back towards the dancing.

Back among the dancers, we now join in the dancing. The three of us start together, then get passed from group to group.

Tossed and twirled, we go for as long as we can stand. Between partners, I glance in the direction the sailor has gone, attempting to catch a glimpse of him in the crowd. I’m certain he came this way.

I just see his head above the crowd, when I’m passed onto a familiar partner. My aunt. She grins and follows my gaze to see the tall man.

Along with the music, she sings, “Stay here and never you mind, the lights of the town are blinding you. The sailors, they come and they go! But listen to what’s reminding you, beautiful and surrounding you, dancing a ring around you!”

Then I’m passed to my mother.

“There you are!” She exclaims. “Home you’re going, and it’s there you’ll stay!”

I hurriedly pull away from her, rushing onto another partner and closer to the blonde sailor.

As I’m passed along, I almost forget where it is I’m trying to get. I get lost in the flow of the music, the sound of home.

Suddenly, I’m in his arms.

The first thing a notice is he smells of the sea and salt. With a charming smile and a sparkle in his eye, he says to me, “stay awhile, we’ll dance together now as the light is fading. We’ll dance together until morning.”

I smile, my heart beating uncontrolled in my chest as he spins me around.

“Yes, we’ll dance together until morning,” I breathe.