Photo courtesy of Ashwin Rao (via Angry Hourglass Flash-Frenzy-Round-32)
Cuban Heels
Heat emerges from beyond Casino’s double doors, as Jay
pushes them open and moves inside, tiny sombrero stamp displayed at his wrist. The floor is full of bodies, improvisation at
the ready. Already he recognises integrated
elements of Cha Cha Cha, Danzon and rumba, beyond the usual Dile Que No and a
contratiempo. The band – a short
statured trio - Techichi tonight, he thinks - is playing for all their worth,
sweat browed. Still, he isn’t feeling it
yet, though the music is hopping.
“Care to dance?” a female voice asks, behind him and he
turns, taking in a flame coloured up do above green eyes, looking into his own,
decided, daring him to say no. He
doesn’t. Instead, they are up and onto
the floor together, before he is thinking about it and she is pulling his arms
around her into position, pre figures and turns. She is close enough to him he can smell the
remnants of a perfume he can’t quite place, before he realises he has missed
his count and the beat is beyond him already and away.
“Sorry,” Jay mutters.
“Start again?”
“Sure,” his companion says, smiling a little. “When you’re ready.” She raises a pencilled eyebrow at him, eyes
sparking.
Jay looks away briefly, starts to count; to
concentrate. This time he has found the
rhythm and they are in it together, hips noting the swing and away, break step
firmly in place. He finds she
anticipates easily, given he has never been the strongest of leaders really;
quick and graceful in her spins, single and double. He senses, rather than sees, the looks they
are garnering from others around them; knows they are down to his petite
partner, who takes the credit. Suddenly,
he is grinning, pulse increased and the steps are sorting themselves, as they
work the floor, two together, deep beneath the base.
“We’ll have to try that again,” she says, causing him to
realise the song has slowed to a close.
Jay realises right then he could easily jump to her tune for time to
come. The concept doesn’t bother him much
– and he doesn’t even know her name yet.
Comment
Another Hourglass entry. I couldn't resist writing a salsa based piece this week, given the photo. The reference to the dogs is relatively subtle!
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