Surely they didn’t expect me to walk into the shopping mall? Elliot and Judy pulled in beside us. Seconds later they were getting out of the Mustang. Elliot waved to me. “Come on Barbara. We are going to take pictures in Bundy’s Studios.”

Swallowing what little courage I didn’t have, I slid out of the car fully expecting everyone in the parking lot to point and start laughing. What I didn’t expect were the wolf whistles that echoed across the parking lot and back.

One guy who had started to get into his car stopped and stared. “Nice, really, really, really nice” he said softly as we walked past him.

“I think they noticed the girls.” Miriam laughed as she smiled.

“I know I have.” Elliot gently shook his head as he put his arm around Judy.

“And your cousin?” Miriam prodded Elliot.

“I can honestly say Buddy…, Well, I’m glad he didn’t want to go to the prom. Barbara is going to break a few hearts tonight.” Elliot curled up his mouth in a private joke.

“Both the girls are real dolls.” Miriam reached out and put her arm around my shoulder to give me that protection all girls need when they are turning heads.

“Barbara, are you cold?” Miriam could feel me shivering.

“No” I had no idea how to tell her I was scared to death. The idea that I was walking into a mall full of people scared me. The idea there were men in the parking lot thinking about how great I would be in their bed scared me even more. Was this what girls went through when they dressed up and went out in public?

When we reached the mall there were guys on both sides keeping the automatic doors open. I didn’t think it was because they were gentlemen. They were wanting to get a good look at the merchandise walking into the mall. I knew Judy was a guy magnet, even when she wasn’t dressed to the tens. Was this what she had to put up with once she matured into a natural beauty?

“Thank you.” Miriam offered, as we walked up to the door past the men patrol.

“Thank you.” I followed her lead, as I walked in ahead of her.

Bundy’s Studios wasn’t near the entrances. It was in the middle of the mall. I guess it was because the middle of the mall was a high traffic location they picked that spot. It didn’t make me a happy camper to walk a couple blocks inside the mall to get to the photographer’s studio. And it wasn’t only the men who were stopping and staring at our little party. The women were too. It gave me an attitude adjustment. Silently, I was thinking to myself, 'eat your hearts out girls, because your guys are thinking about us, even if they do have their hand around your waist.' I was turning into a bitch without realizing it.

Judy and Elliot were first in front of the cameras. She was a beautiful girl and I was oh so jealous. Elliot looked so handsome in his black suit and tie. Someone hit me over the head with a hammer. Did I just think my brother was handsome? I was thinking a lobotomy about now would be nice. They took a bunch of different poses with Judy and Elliot. Then it was Judy and my turn. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. Is that lobotomy about ready? They had us girls…, us girls? I’m definitely not myself this evening. Girl and whatever posed in different poses. Then they added Elliot to the girl mix. Elliot, with his arm around Judy. His arm around me. His arms around both of us. Judy and me leaning over, acting like we were kissing on Elliot. And then Elliot acting like he was kissing Judy and then me.

We were pulling a crowd into the store and more people were stacking up in front of the store, watching. I don’t guess many people had ever seen something so nice as Elliot in his suit and tie and Judy in her gown. My brother and his girlfriend were beyond beautiful tonight.

When Elliot leaned over in my direction for the kiss shot I whispered in his ear. “Those lips touch me and you won’t live to walk out of this room.”

Elliot tried not to, but he burst out laughing. He leaned over in Judy’s direction and whispered in her ear between giggles. She started giggling and then broke up laughing.

Finally the photographer had Judy and her mother pose together and then all us girls…, God, there I said it again. Can you hurry up that lobotomy? And then they brought Elliot back in with the three girls. What is the matter with me? I keep thinking I’m one of the girls. This has to be a nightmare and I’m going to wake up.

We made the trip back out of the mall after the photo shoot, turning heads as we left. As we walked past a different bunch of guys holding the doors open one of them reached out and touched my hand. When I glanced down and I had a piece of paper between my thumb and finger. I opened it up and looked. “Jason Whitman, 7654354, date me?”

I turned red as Judy looked in my direction. “He ask for a date?”

I nodded yes as I blushed some more.

“Men…, you just gotta love them, don’t you?” She giggled as she smiled and winked at me.

“Animals” I crushed the note up in my hand.

“Don’t toss it until you are out of the parking lot. He will be heartbroken if you do.” Judy was watching as I crushed the note.

Miriam gave me a knowing look. “Don’t hurt them Barbara. They might turn into stalkers. Give them the benefit of the doubt, thinking you are considering it.”

I held on tightly to that note. A stalker was the last thing I needed. I could only imagine him stalking me. 'Okay kid, what did you do with the girl?'

Elliot held open the door of his Mustang. “Barbara, you’re riding with Judy and me. Miriam is headed home.

I held my skirt as I wiggled up into the back seat. “Thank you.” Now why did I just tell my brother thank you after what he and Judy had done to me this evening?

“You’re welcome.” Elliot returned, as naturally as if he had known his cousin Barbara all his life.

Jeeze, what is the matter with all of us? Some alien life form must have done brain extractions on Elliot and me. We were now brainless. “You’re too kind.” I offered up, in my best sarcasm.

“Think nothing of it. I am.” Elliot returned the sarcasm as deftly as only a brother would.

I glanced over at Miriam as she was getting in her Jaguar. She was shaking her head and laughing. Obviously she was listening to the banter and figured it was between cousins. I decided not to return the volley to Elliot since cousins didn’t really snipe at one another like brothers did.

Elliot headed the opposite way from the school as he pulled out of the Kingsmen shopping center. I wondered if he was thinking about getting a coke or something? Deciding I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of asking, I didn’t... ask that is.

It was only a few miles down the road he pulled into Cedar Village Mall. Softly I moaned. “No more pictures.”

Elliot pulled into the parking lot and killed the Mustang. He slid out and held the seat forward for me to get out. “Okay, Barbara, let’s go.”

“Go where?” I was working my way out of the back seat appreciating more and more the things girls had to go through when they had to get in and out of a car.

Judy had already made her way around to the driver’s side. She slid her left hand around Elliot’s waist as she held out her right hand for me. “Come on sis.”

“Okay.” I took her hand to leverage myself up on my heels. I guess I was getting used to being a girl, as this time I wasn’t nearly as scared as I was at the first mall.

Elliot stepped in between Judy and me and put his left arm around Judy as he put his right one around me. “Let’s go girls.”

Judy put her right arm around Elliot’s waist as she leaned into him like a real girlfriend would. Feeling like the devil himself, I did the same thing, as I put my left arm around Elliot’s waist and leaned into him from the right. I was thinking I was making him pay for putting me through this. It surprised me, then shocked me, when he put his arm up on my shoulder and pulled me in even closer. It was obvious Elliot wasn’t paying his proper dues for making me into a girl. When I tried to push back out he didn’t let me. His strength wasn’t something I would ever best whether I was wearing jeans or a dress. I was proud Elliot was my brother.

He was all of six foot two inches, one hundred and eighty nine pounds of solid muscle, and a handsome beast, even if he was my brother, and to tell the truth, I wasn’t trying to push away from him that hard. I mean, here I am wearing a dress, Judy and I are male magnets for everything wearing pants. It felt good to have Elliot’s arm on my shoulder telling every male out there I wasn’t free merchandise for the taking. I bet Judy felt the same comfort with Elliot’s arm around her.

We walked into the mall and were turning heads as we threaded our way down to the center of the mall. Why was everything always in the center of the malls? I felt the panic rise when we walked into a store with the name of Michelle’s above the entry. It was a dance studio. “Oh no, you can’t be thinking what I think you’re thinking?”

“And what is that, Barbara dear?” Judy had that Cheshire cat grin back on her face. Something I was becoming too aware of that meant more discomfort for me.

A young lady walked up in front of us. She held out her hand to Elliot as she turned her attention toward me. “You have to be Elliot. I’m Brenda, and this is the young lady you were telling me about? She’s such a lovely girl isn’t she.”

Brenda looked over her shoulder and motioned to a young man dancing with an older woman. “Eddie is one of our best teachers. He can explain the basic steps in the forty five minutes you said you had allowed us to teach her.”

Eddie walked up in front of me and held out his open left hand, palm up. It was obvious he wasn’t wanting to shake hands. “Please, my name is Eddie. You must be Barbara. Elliot asked if we could teach you a few basic dance steps before your prom tonight. We have so little time so let’s get started. Lay your right hand in mine. Gently and don’t grasp it. Let me lead you out to the dance floor.”

I wanted to tell Eddie to drop dead as I pounced on Elliot and strangled him with my bare hands. But I didn’t. I gently placed my right hand in Eddie’s open hand and followed him as he led me out to the dance floor. He turned to face me and held up his left hand, as he put his right hand on my waist above my left hip. “Put your right hand in my left and put your left hand on my waist.”

I did as he requested. He nodded. “Okay, now I’m going to teach you the basics of dancing. If any of the other kids are doing the bump and grind, or any other dirty dancing, you are on your own. There aren’t any set rules. You just get out there and shake it, whatever you feel like shaking. For the basics this is for the slow dances, when your partner wants to hold you and dance slowly around the floor, while feeling the rhythm of the music. Personally, I think this is a whole lot sexier than going off and doing one’s own thing, but then that’s my personal opinion.”

Eddie started moving his body to the music without moving his feet. “Dip and sway, dip and sway. Feel the music and dip and sway. One, two, three, one, two, three, dip and sway, dip and sway.”

I felt stupid but I followed his lead as I started imitating Eddie’s movements rocking my hips to my left as he went right and right as he went left, which meant I was staying in sync with him.

“Great, you’re a natural Barbara. Was your cousin kidding me? You really have danced before haven’t you?” Eddie was rocking his shoulders very, very slightly ahead of his movements, giving me a lead to his body movements.

“No, I really haven’t ever danced before.” It was one of those things I never did. I didn’t date girls and the idea of getting out in the middle of a bunch of kids, dancing with myself, was never going to happen.

“I wouldn’t have believed it. Okay, next, we need to move around the dance floor. That means our feet must take us there. Our bodies have the beat so let’s see if our feet want to get in the mood and join the fun, shall we? Next time we dip to your left which is my right, step out with your left foot and then bring your right foot over. We will reverse and go back to your right which is my left. Let’s keep rhythm with our bodies as we invite our feet to join in…, Now.” Eddie dipped and swayed out to his right, moving his feet in time.

I didn’t have a bit of problem following. He was telegraphing his every move with his shoulders before his body made the movement. And immediately we shuffled back the other direction. And back the other way and back and back and back and…,

“Barbara I can’t believe you haven’t danced before. I’ve never had any newcomers pick it up as quickly as you have.” Eddie was still leading me back and forth as we dipped and swayed with our bodies.

“You’re a good teacher. I’m just following your lead.” I noticed out of the corner of my eye Elliot and Judy as they danced past us. They were holding each other close. I mean really close. I looked down at Judy’s feet and noticed something I had never thought of before. She was moving backwards while Elliot was moving forwards. Girls danced in reverse! Oh, just peachy keen! I was expected to dance in reverse yet!

“I’m not that good of a teacher. Okay, let’s see if our feet want to carry us around the dance floor. We will dance to your left, which is my right, and I want you to step in time as we circle one another. It’s the same thing we have been doing, only we keep moving to your left instead of stopping and moving back to home base. You ready? Now.” Eddie stepped out to his right and I was right with him step for step. He didn’t stop and move back to home base this time, but kept moving to his right and was urging me to circle to his left as we kept moving.

Following his lead I kept moving to the left as he made smaller steps than me which pulled me in a circle around him before we danced to my left some more and another circle and then to my left and another circle and to my left and another circle and…,

We were circling the dance floor not too far behind Elliot and Judy. “You are doing good, Barbara. Okay, I’m going to twirl you. Guys really don’t twirl ladies, but only give the indication they would like their date to show off for all the rest of the guys by twirling. What I am going to do is raise my right arm up and pull gently on your waist with my left hand. That is your cue to unclasp my fingers, put your knuckles up in the palm of my hand and spin one or more turns under my hand. Your cue to stop spinning is when I gently clasp your knuckles. That’s a guide for you to open your fingers and grip my hand as you stop twirling. Done right you will be facing me. You reach out and put your right arm on my waist as I reach out to you. For those looking on it will look like our hands never let go of one another. Are you ready?”

“I guess.” I was positive I wasn’t ready as Eddie lifted his hand above my head pulling my left hand up with his. Turning loose he gave a gentle pull with his left hand indicating I should spin under his hand. I curled my knuckles under his open palm and spun, taking several steps. His hand clasped mine and I stopped as I reached out with my right hand, not really knowing if I was facing in the right direction or not. I was, and my hand was resting on Eddie’s hip as his right fingers interlocked with my left fingers.

“Perfect.” He danced me across the dance floor as he indicated several more times I should twirl while we circled the floor.

“Okay, last but not least, before you go. You need to dance with me leading.”

“But I thought you were. We were.” I honestly thought he was leading.

“No, you were following, but I wasn’t leading. Which is part of dancing, but now I want you to let me lead. For that you have to dance in rhythm backwards to the music as I dance forward. It’s the same thing we have been doing only you are going to dance backwards. Are you ready?”

“Not really.” I didn’t think I could dance backwards even if Judy had been doing it for most of the past thirty minutes.

Eddie laughed. “Oh yes you are. Okay, we shift from a side step to forward and backward step. I’m going to step backwards and you follow me the same as you have been doing. I’ll stop and indicate you should step backwards by gentle pressure on your left hand and your waist. Okay, get ready, now.”

Eddie stepped backwards instead of going sideways. I was ready and I followed him as he stepped backwards and backwards, and…, The pressure on my waist and hand said he was ready to move forwards. I stepped backwards and backwards and backwards wondering if I was going to back into a wall or someone or something. I mean there were other people in there.

It was as if Eddie was reading my mind. “I’m the pilot steering you, Barbara. I won’t guide you into anything. Put your faith in your partner and enjoy the music and the rhythm of the dance. Now twirl for me.”

He raised his hand and I did several spins before he indicated I should stop. Which again came out perfect. And he danced me backwards and spun me and backwards and spun me. He stopped without telling me and danced backwards, but I had been following his lead for the past thirty minutes. I didn’t hesitate as I was with him step for step. He spun me and stepped backwards and spun me and stepped forwards and spun me and stepped to the side and spun me and stepped backwards. And I guess he just wanted to see if he really could shake me as he spun me and kept on spinning me as we moved around the dance floor. When he indicated I should stop I was dizzy as heck, but I didn’t fall down. Probably because I had a partner to hold onto. He danced backwards and spun me again. Forward and spun me. And sideways and spun me.

That last time he stopped me he pulled me in and gave me a life squeezing hug which shocked me. We had stopped dancing. I noticed everyone else had too as they moved off the floor and watched Eddie and me.

Eddie was laughing as he took my hand and led me back over to where Elliot, Judy, and Brenda were standing by the front entrance. “I thought you said she didn’t know how to dance? You can’t tell me this girl hasn’t been dancing for years.”

Elliot and Judy looked like they still didn’t believe what they had just seen. Elliot shook his head. “She hasn’t.”

“I was only following your lead. It wasn’t hard. I’ve been following Elliot’s lead all my life.” I had no idea what the big deal was? Whether it was at home or on the game field, Elliot was always leading and I was always following.

“No you haven’t. I never taught you…,” Elliot stopped as he stared at me when it finally came to him too.

It was what little brothers did. We always followed our big brothers in hero worship as they showed us how to handle life. I really didn’t have any friends of my own. Elliot’s friends were my friends. Elliot’s girlfriends were my girlfriends. Elliot was always leading the way for me. I tried to share his life as I worshiped the ground he walked on…, usually. This last trick he pulled on me, with the prom and all, may have strained our relationship some.

Elliot held out his hand for Eddie. “Thanks for taking her in and teaching her the basics.”

Eddie took his hand and shook it. “It’s been my pleasure. I’ve never had a girl who could follow as easily as she does. I know a lady in Dallas who would love to have Barbara on her dance team. They do competition dancing. I’ll call her and see if she is still looking for a girl.”

“Cough, cough,” I was positive there was no way on God’s little green earth I was going to do any competition dancing, or any other dancing for that matter. Not after tonight I was sure. I had seen some of those ladies and their costumes left little to the imagination. Much less those spiked heels they wore while doing all that stuff.

“Barbara, your cough is back dear. Did you ever drink that warm tea mother was suggesting before you left the house this evening?” Judy was grinning from ear to ear. She almost giggled.

I never answered her because what I was thinking would have shocked everyone in that room. Die, Judy my pet, die!

Elliot put his hand in the small of my back and steered me for the door. “We gotta be going ladies. Eddie, let me know and I’ll relay the message to Barbara.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.” Followed us out the entry.

“You two are dead meat.” I hissed in my brother’s ear as I leaned over in his direction.

“Only if I don’t close my eyes. You promised me that much.” Elliot shot back.

“That was before you kept changing the game. You want rules, but you don’t play by them. Mr. Dead Meat.” I retorted.

“Barb, my beautiful cousin, don’t start counting your victims until you have them down. I’m not an easy target or did my brother forget to tell you that when he invited you to the prom?” Elliot had his right hand around my waist and Judy in his left.

Judy leaned into Elliot as he walked us out to the Mustang. I didn’t lean into him because I was still planning on murder.

We loaded up into the Mustang and, twenty minutes later, pulled up in front of the Wildcats High School gymnasium. Looking at the kids going into the gym sapped all my nerve. “I can’t do this.”

Judy turned around in the seat to look at me. “Barbara, there isn’t a single person there who isn’t going to accept you as Buddy and Elliot’s cousin from Dallas. I’m jealous you look so hot. There isn’t another girl there who is going to outshine you tonight. This is your night girl. Let’s go turn some heads. If the boy pack gets to smothering you, then close in on Elliot and ask him to dance with you. No one with half a brain is going to argue with the high school football captain.”

She looked over at Elliot. “I like your brother a lot. At first I used him just to protect me. I know all the guys who thought, because I had matured a little sooner than most girls, that my sex drive was also in overdrive. If your brother was my boyfriend I didn’t have to do any more then mention his name when some boy wanted to hit on me. Then they would slink away.”

She turned her attention back to me. “Elliot has two girls to protect tonight. He can handle that job as easily as he has protected his brother all his life.”

Judy was right. Our schools had bullies, but they always gave me a wide berth. It wasn’t because I was bigger or stronger. That only lasted through the seventh grade. I was now one of the smallest boys in class. Usually kids like me were a magnet for bullies who like to pick on the other kids. I hadn’t ever thought about it. Elliot’s reputation was protecting me from the bullies. Mess with Buddy and you will have to answer to his older brother. And possibly the whole damn football team, baseball team, and basketball team.

I sighed. “Thanks Elliot, you’re the best brother anyone could wish for. I’m going to hate it when I kill you after tonight.”

“Probably not as bad as I will when you do kill me. However tonight is still young. Let’s go revel while we are young and foolish.” He slid out of the car and held the seat up for me to get out.

I managed to gather up my courage. I knew Elliot and Judy wouldn’t let me get in harms way when the other kids started laughing at me. I held my skirt and took his hand as I managed to wiggle out of the back seat. “Thank you. You’re a gentleman.”

“It was nothing.” He gave me a wink as he walked around the car to open the door for Judy.

“Ooooooh weeeeee” Babes at three o’clock.” Came from over to my left.

“Suck it up stupid. That’s Elliot Peck. You ask permission to even look at his chicks.” Came across the parking lot.

“I can’t look?” Was from the first voice.

“Only if you want to die a thousand deaths at the hands of the high school athletic teams.” Was the answer.

“It’s worth it. Damn! That babe in the black dress is hot. I’m looking, so kill me now.”

By this time Elliot had opened Judy’s door and held his hand out for her as she slid out of the seat.

“Oh double whammy. Look at that fox in the red dress. My god, is she hot or is she hot? I’ve died and I’m in heaven with the angels.”

“You will be if you don’t close that big yap of yours. Did you park your brain at home tonight? Didn’t you hear what I told you. That’s Elliot Peck. Those are his chicks. Unlock your beady little eyeballs off his flock.”

I think my head swelled up ten sizes at that moment. That was my brother they were talking about. It was the first time I had heard anyone talk about him that way. I was so proud of him.

Elliot guided Judy up to the front of the Mustang and held out his hand for me. “You coming? Or do you want to stay and listen to the wild life back down on the farm?”

I held my clutch in my left hand as I gathered my skirt with my right. “Sorry Elliot. I guess I was listening to the wolves howling at the moon.”

“Barbara dear, it wasn’t the moon those wolves were howling at. They were looking over the meat section. Guess who they wanted on the menu?” Judy was shaking her head as she waited for me.

I walked up beside Elliot. He put his hand in the small of my back. “Let’s go to that prom shall we?”

Several wolf whistles echoed out across the parking lot as Elliot escorted Judy and me into the gymnasium.

There were two policemen guarding the door as we walked in. Inside there was a desk with four teachers behind it checking names as the kids came in the door. Elliot steered us over to the last line. Seconds later Mrs. Esters looked up at Judy, and then Elliot, and me. “Hello Miss Mecham and who are your…, Oh hi Elliot, I didn’t recognize you there at first. You’ve grown some since you were in my class.”

She looked back at her computer and typed in Judy Mecham and Elliot Peck. “And who is the beautiful young lady in the black dress? You are a very pretty young lady Miss…?”

“Miss Peck, Miss Barbara Peck.” Judy answered for me while I tried to get the cotton out of my throat. I had expected Mrs. Esters to start laughing when she looked at me.

“Miss Barbara Peck.” Mrs Esters typed into her computer. “Oh yes, Buddy’s date. Is Buddy going to be late?”

“Not really.” I muttered to myself.

“What’s that dear? I didn’t hear you. Can you repeat that please?” Mrs Ester had focused in on me.

“Buddy stood her up. He changed his mind at the last minute and decided he wasn’t coming.” Elliot responded.

“Oh that’s too bad. Well, there are a lot of boys here tonight. I know Miss Peck isn’t going to be allowed a moments piece. There will certainly be no lack of offers to dance. You know the rules. No alcohol, no smoking, no fights, and have fun.” She was looking past us at the next bunch of kids wanting to sign in.

“Is it me or is it hot in here?” I was about to die as Elliot took us by the hand. He walked Judy and me over to the bleachers.

Judy laughed as another senior stepped up in front of us. “Nervous excitement. You’ll get over it in a few minutes. Hi Tank.”

I focused and recognized him. It was one of Elliot’s friends and teammates. His real name was Tug Bagget but all the kids called him Tank. Tank was appropriately named. He was about as broad as he was tall and it was all pure muscle. I heard someone mention Tank regularly bench pressed six hundred pounds without even grunting. I believed it. I also believed he could crack walnuts in his bare hands. If anyone was Elliot’s equal in muscle, then Tank would be that person.

“Hi Judy, Elliot, care to introduce me to your friend?” Tank glanced at Judy when she greeted him and then focused back in on me.

“Sure, Tank, this is Barbara Peck. She’s my cousin from Dallas. Barbara, this is Tank.” Elliot offered as Tank moved in on me.

Tank held out his hand. “Barbara, I’m so pleased to meet you. I didn’t know beauty ran in Elliot’s side of the family. I thought only ugly was in their blood. I see I have made a terrible error in judgment by thinking Elliot and Buddy represented the Peck family. It’s obvious to me where all the beauty in the family went. May I say you are the prettiest girl here tonight?”

My face turned red as I blushed from the top of my head down to my feet as I took his offered handshake. I fully expected to lose my fingers and my hand in his grip. He was gentle beyond belief as he took my hand without pumping it.

“Barbara thanks you for the compliment Tank. However I fail to find my honor still intact after you cast dispersions on my good family name and our looks. I expect you, as a gentleman, to meet me on the field of battle at the break of dawn tomorrow morning to restore my family name and our honor.” Elliot was about to bust out laughing as he glanced from Tank to me.

“Who’s your date tonight?” Elliot looked down at our hands where Tank was still holding mine.

“Needa Sess, but she’s not really my date. She just invited me to make Harry Nuger jealous. I bought her corsage and gave her a ride. Once inside she dumped me and headed straight for Harry.” He pointed to the couple over across the gym, dancing in a close embrace.

“I’m sorry Tank. You deserve better.” Elliot was truly sorry for his friend.

“I’m think I did get better. Didn’t I overhear you saying Miss Peck was stood up by your younger brother? Is it true?” He held onto my hand as he waited for an answer.

“It’s true. Judy and I brought her tonight. Buddy was a no show.” Elliot already knew where this was headed as he turned and winked at me.

I finally figured it out. Tank was holding onto my hand so no one else would butt in while he tried to find out if I was stag tonight. He wanted to be first to stake a claim if I didn’t have a date.

“Then Miss Peck, I would be more than honored if you would consider me your date tonight. I mean, if you don’t mind.” Tank waited to see if he had been right.

“Thank you, it’s most kind of you b…,”

“She would be glad to have you as an escort Tank. Wouldn’t you Barbara dear?” Judy cut me off before I could tell Tank I wasn’t interested.

“I…, I…, I guess.” I stammered as I noticed boys stacking up behind Tank, waiting their turn at the new blood in town.

“Thank you.” Tank swiftly moved in beside me as he put his arm around my waist as a signal to all the other boys they had lost out.

“In case we get separated, Barbara is staying at my house.” Judy called over her shoulder as Elliot led her out to the dance floor.

Great, just great. I thought my brother and Judy were going to protect me from the sharks in the waters. Now they not only offered me up as the sacrificial virgin for the alter, but they also handed him the sacrificial knife.

“Would you like to dance?” Tank was waiting to guide me out to the gym floor.

“I should tell you, I don’t know how to dance.” I was hoping that would pour cold water on his rockets.

“That’s okay, I don’t either.” Tank guided me out to the floor beside Elliot and Judy who were dancing away from us.

He stepped up in front of me and held up his left hand. I put my right hand in his right. He put his right hand around my waist and I put my left up against his. Darn…, that boy felt like pure muscle packed up and tamped down with good measure. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. He started me backwards. I dipped and swayed as Eddie had taught me. Tank led me around the dance floor. Tank lied. Tank wasn’t only a good dancer, he was an excellent dancer. He gave an indication he wanted me to spin and I did one turn for him.

His eyes were absolutely dancing themselves as he indicated he would like another spin. I did and he danced me around in a circle and then a couple spins. He nodded in agreement as I stepped back in his arms.

I can only guess because I was so easy to lead he thought I knew what I was doing. He spun me and then instead of catching me he stepped out beside me. We danced side by side and closed, he spun me out the other direction and stepped out beside me. Again we danced side by side before he spun me back into his arms. I realized Tank wasn’t only an excellent dancer he was an accomplished dancer. Something I never expected of one of Elliot’s football teammates.

He pulled me in close and whispered in my ear. “Would you leave your purse with Mrs. Ester so you will have both hands open?”

“I guess.” I stepped out of his embrace.

He put his hand in the small of my back and walked with me across the gym back over to where Mrs. Ester was checking kids. I waited until she looked up. “Mrs. Ester, would you look after my clutch for me please?”

“I’d be glad to Barbara. You and Tug seemed to be doing quite well out here.” She held out her hand for my clutch.

Tug? I had never heard him called anything besides Tank. I placed my clutch in her hand. “He seems to be an accomplished dancer.”

“Yes, both of you are. I think everyone has noticed.” She slipped my clutch down beside her leg and put it in her purse.

Everyone? I was so busy following Tank’s lead I hadn’t been paying any attention to the other kids.

Tank led me back out to the edge of the gym and we took our positions. I noticed he bounced to pick up the beat before he stepped into the music. He started me backwards and spun me out to his right, caught me, spun me to his left, caught me and pulled me back in before spinning me around him. It was certainly a lot easier to follow him without holding onto the clutch. The band stopped before they started back in with a quick number.

Most of the kids were gyrating their bodies and waving their arms. Elliot and Judy were doing a very quick dance step around the edge of the floor trying to keep from bumping into the other kids who weren’t doing much besides looking like seaweed in a rip tide. They were anchored in place doing lots of movement and nothing they did was synchronized with the music. But then, hey, I would probably be doing the same thing if I had come to the dance. What was I thinking? I did come to the dance, or Barbara did. I smiled at my own joke.

“You have a very pretty smile.”

I looked up at Tank as my mind engaged. I blushed clear down to my toes again. “Thanks” I mumbled.

“Let’s see if we can follow the path Elliot and Judy are clearing as they circle the floor.” He put his hand in the small of my back as he moved me up closer to the center of the gym floor. Elliot and Judy were coming around one more time.

He held up his hand and I followed putting my right in his left as he put his right hand on my waist. Elliot and Judy danced past us. Tank moved me in behind them with a very very quick two step. He was telegraphing his steps through his hips and his hands. I moved my hand down on top of his hip to better pick up his intentions as he danced me backwards a step or two behind Elliot and Judy. When Elliot twirled Judy, Tank would twirl me in the same instant. And when they took off again, Tank kept me one step behind Elliot.

Elliot decided to see if he could throw Tank off and did a double spin with Judy. Tank wasn’t the best or second best on the football team because he was a slow thinker or slow to react. Tank followed Elliot’s lead almost to the split second and twirled me twice. Our foursome moved on down the court and Elliot spun Judy twice and instead of going ahead, spun her around himself. Tank led me through in synchronous movement at the same instant. And we danced down the gym.

By now some of the kids had decided the best show was the two couples doing synchronous dancing. They had moved to the edge of the gym floor and stopped to watch. Several of the teachers and chaperones were watching us instead of looking for the beginnings of trouble among the sea of kids. The teachers at the front had stopped letting the stragglers in as they stood up to watch.

Elliot and Judy were getting more and more room to play as the kids left the floor to watch the show. Elliot did a spin with Judy and kept her spinning all the way around himself before he caught her and led her one step to do a double spin. Tank was just as quick as he spun me the same instant Judy started spinning. I’ll never know how he could keep a watch on Elliot and Judy and me at the same time but he did. Probably had a lot to do with his football skills watching several players and the ball all at the same time.

Tank caught me, we did one step and did a double spin. I would have fallen down dizzy as a squirrel about then if Tank hadn’t been there to hold me up. Elliot snapped Judy out to his right, spun her back across in front and snapped her out to his left before he spun her back into his arms. Tank wasn’t even a split second behind as he snapped me out to the right, spun me across the front, snapped me out to the left and spun me back into his arms.

Some of the kids started keeping beat by clapping to the rhythm of the band with their hands. Pretty soon the whole gym was one thunderous clapping to the beat.

Elliot tried to throw Tank off by shifting his body to the left without spinning Judy. It certainly threw Judy off as she stepped out to his left. Elliot picked up as if it was intended and spun out past Judy, had her spin past him, he spun out past her, had her spin out past him and then pulled her back into his arms. Tank did the same only he didn’t fake his hips to the left. It was nothing but smooth sailing with Tank as he followed suit.

The band wound down on the number and it was over. The kids spread out across the floor again as the band picked up another jazzy number.

I was so dizzy I hung onto Tank to keep from falling to the floor. “Can we take a break?” I managed to gasp.

“Sure. Can I get you something to drink? They have punch and cake or dip and chips.” Tank was holding me in his arms as my brain stopped spinning.

“Nothing at the moment thanks. If you want something go ahead.”

Tank was guiding me over to the seats beside Elliot and Judy. I plopped down beside Judy. “Whew, am I hot.”

Judy was shaking her head as she tried fanning herself. “Me too. Guys, how about some refreshments?”

I shook my head. “I’m hot, not thirsty.”

“I’ll get four drinks.” Tank was already headed down the gym.

Elliot was studying me. “Cousin, I think you have been holding out on me. Where and when have you been taking lessons?”

“Lessons? Are we back to dance lessons again? I told you big brother. I’ve been following all my life. I had the best teacher in the world. You taught me how to follow.”

Elliot took a quick look around to make sure I hadn’t been overheard. “Careful cousin Barbara from Dallas. Remember who you are.”

I looked down at my fake breasts as I rolled out my right hand with the fake fingernails. “How could I forget?”

“You just did. You called me brother. Don’t do that again. At least not tonight.” Elliot had a dead serious look on his face.

“So shoot me. I’m too hot to care.” I was steaming. I wanted nothing more than to take my clothes off and run naked through the night. I had been hot in my football uniforms. The difference was there I could go stand in front of the mist machines they always set up along the sidelines.

“You’ll cool down in a few minutes. We won’t let the guys do that to us again.” Judy reached over and patted the back of my hand.

“I hope not. Next time they will have to carry me out on a stretcher.” I closed my eyes and leaned back against the seat behind me.

“Barbara, would you dance with me please?”

I opened my eyes and was looking at Danny Cullen. He was in the same grade as Judy and me. “Danny…,”

“She would be pleased to, Danny.” Judy offered in my stead.

Judy leaned over in my direction. “His name is Danny Cullen. He is in my class.”

Oops…, I had just called him by name as if I knew him all my life. “Thanks for telling me his name, Judy.”

I didn’t have to ask how Danny knew my name. The names of new girls at school or a dance circulate faster than lightning among all the students and not just the boys.

I pushed myself up off the seat and stepped up beside Danny. He reached down, took my hand and led me out to the gym floor. He put both his hands on my shoulders and started moving me backwards. I put my hands on his hips to read his intentions as I stepped backwards ahead of him. We didn’t dance to the beat as we had no rhythm. I guess we were dancing as I walked backwards and he walked forwards around the gym several times before the number was up. Funny but I was a lot cooler up there walking off the heat buildup in my body rather than sitting down waiting for it to reside.

Danny took my hand and walked me back over where Elliot, Judy, and Tank were sitting. “Thank you. It was awfully nice of you to dance with me. I really enjoyed it.”

He turned and left. I could only stare as he walked across the gym to be with a group of guys on the other side. Was that me? Only I wouldn’t have asked the girl to dance. I would have stood along the wall with a dozen other guys who were too shy to ask the girl if she wanted to dance.

I sat down beside Judy as Tank placed a paper cup of iced something in my hand. “I feel sorry for them.”

Judy nodded in agreement. “They will eventually grow out of it. They always seem to be able to find that moment when boy meets girl. Sooner or later they no longer stand along the wall watching the others dance, or play sports, or other things.”

“But this should be the best times of their lives.” It suddenly dawned on me. It should be the best time of my life too. I looked over at Judy who had a knowing look in her eyes.

She giggled. “Elliot, you big hunk of adorable boy you. I want to dance. Us girls can do anything boys can do and we can do it better and look prettier while we do it.”

She looked back at me as Elliot took her hand. “Can’t we Barbara.”

“We most certainly can.” I agreed with her as Elliot led her out to the gym floor and put his arms around her for a slow dance.

“Barbara, would you do me the honor?” Tank stood up and held out his hand.

I took a quick sip of coke or whatever and tried to take in as big a mouthful of ice as I could at the same time before sitting my cup down and holding up my hand for Tank to pull me up.

Tank kept me close by his side most of the night. Somewhere around one or so Elliot and Judy disappeared. It didn’t bother me at first. Then I got to wondering how I was ever going to get home? How was I going to change without mom and dad seeing me? I most certainly didn’t want Tank to drive me home. I could only imagine his thoughts as he drove Barbara up to Buddy and Elliot’s home to spend the night. I didn’t have a house key. My house key was in my pants pocket wherever my pants might be at this point in time.

So I would have to walk up to the front door, ring the doorbell and walk in past mom or dad as I told Tank goodnight. Yeah, that would work. Not! 'Hi mom, it’s your daughter and I’m home. Hello nine one one, it’s me again. Send over the rescue squad. My parents passed out again.'

It was close to two when they started shutting things down. Most of the kids had left already. Mrs. Ester caught me at the door as Tank was walking me out. “Your clutch Barbara.”

I had forgot. I reached out and took the clutch. “Thank you Mrs. Ester. Thank you for looking after it for me tonight.

“I hope you had a good time dear. All of the teachers I talked to said they enjoyed having you visit us.” She took a look up at Tank visually taking him to task to behave himself if he was taking me home.

Tank looked uncomfortable. “Barbara is staying with Judy Mecham. I’m driving her back over to Judy’s house.”

I know exactly who was more relieved at that moment. It was yours truly. I could drop in on Judy, change clothes, and go home.

Mrs. Ester nodded in agreement. “That’s a good idea.”

Tank put his hand in the small of my back as he steered me out to his Firebird. He walked me over to the passenger side and opened the door for me.

I held my skirt as I turned my back to the seat, sat down, and swung both my legs in. “Thank you.”

There were a few wolf whistles and someone across the parking lot shouted, “She was the hottest one there tonight.”

Tank nodded in agreement as he shut my door. “I know, I know, boy do I ever know.”

I smiled thinking I was hot all right. I wasn’t hot in the way the boys were thinking. I was physically hot. Dancing was hard work and took lots of energy.

“Did I tell you how pretty your smile is?” Tank slid in under the steering wheel.

I blushed down to my feet again as I looked shyly out of the corner of my eyes at him. “Yes, you did. It was a very nice compliment. Thank you. You have been a gentleman all evening Tank. I had a wonderful time.”

“I did too, once Needa dumped me for her ex. I was leaving when you and Elliot walked in. I wasn’t going to stay and watch a bunch of graduating Freshmen dance all night. I was walking past the girl cheerleaders when I overheard Charlotte Danbey said you were Buddy’s date and he wasn’t coming. I remembered Elliot mentioned last week that Barbara Peck was flying down from Dallas to date Buddy.” He started up the Firebird and was slowly moving out of the parking lot.

Funny how Judy must have told the rest of the girls in the cheer leading squad one thing and Elliot mentioned to his friends something else and it all came together tonight. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it if I had to put up with the other boys all night. They seemed so immature. I was more comfortable around Elliot’s friends than kids my own age. I guess that was from following Elliot all my life.

Tank took it slow as he drove the six miles or so back over to Judy Mecham’s house. The lights were still on in the living room. I figured someone must still be up waiting for Judy to come home.

Tank pulled up into the driveway, killed the car, got out and walked around to open my door. He held out his hand.

I took it and tried as gracefully as I knew how to turn in the seat and stand up. “Thank you Tank. I had a wonderful time tonight.”

I was headed for the house when the car door shut behind me and I felt Tank’s hand reach around my waist. He had stepped up beside me to walk me to the door. Okay, no problem at least it wasn’t Buddy’s home we were walking up to. Miriam thought I was Barbara. I had already passed that hurdle.

Tank walked me up to the front door. He was standing between the doorbell and me. I held out my hand. “Thanks for a wonderful time.”

Tank took my hand and gently, oh so gently I don’t know if I realized what he was doing until he had done it. He pulled me into his arms. Put his left arm around my waist, his right around the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss.

Hello Houston…, Houston we have a problem here. Barbara forgot just exactly who she was, Houston? Please check and see if she left her brain on the bench when she dressed for the prom this evening. Houston, please respond. Houston, you are breaking up. Houst…,

I wrapped my arms around Tank’s neck, stood up on my tip toes, and kissed him back before it came to me just exactly WHAT THE HELL I WAS DOING! I had let Barbara take over where Buddy had left off. Or maybe it was because I had been following Tank’s lead all night I automatically fell into his arms when he pulled me in. I pushed back from him and reached for the doorbell as I muttered under my breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

Tank backed up to give me some room as the front door was opening up. “Yes you did. I’m not apologizing because you liked it.”

“Hello Tank. You and Barbara have fun?” Judy was standing in the door wearing a housecoat. She had a knowing look on her face.

“Don’t let her tell you she didn’t like the kiss.” Tank turned to walk back to his car.

Judy was grinning from ear to ear. “Kiss? Barbara? On your first date? Oh well, we do live in changing times don’t we?”

I was wiping tears of frustration. “I didn’t mean to.”

She held out her hand and took mine as she led me into the house and closed the door. “I don’t believe that. You did mean to. I know Tank. He wouldn’t have kissed you if he hadn’t been invited.”

“I didn’t invite him. It just happened. I didn’t…,” I was wiping tears with the back of my hands as they were coming like a spring flood.

“Maybe not in so many words, but your body language said you wanted to be kissed. Only a few of us girls are brave enough to holler at our dates and tell them you either kiss me or I’m going to knock your block off.” She turned out the living room lights and led me to the bedroom where she handed me a hand full of Kleenex.

I was dabbing at tears. “I don’t know how it happened. I’m not gay. I’m not gay.”

Judy pulled me into her arms as I cried on her shoulder. “I know hon. I do know. We need to have a long long talk and I am going to tell you something about yourself Elliot figured out years back.”

“What? I’m not gay. He better not say I’m a queer. I’m not.” I sniffed and wiped tears as I backed up to look in Judy’s eyes.

She shook her head. “Not in a million years would he say you were gay. Even if you were it wouldn’t make any difference. Elliot loves you with all his heart. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for you even if it meant giving up his life for you.”

She led me over to the dresser and sat me down. “Okay, let’s get you out of that rig. Although us girls may look better than the guys it takes a lot of effort. We are going to keep our secret. We want them think it all comes easy and naturally don’t we?”

She removed my bracelets and necklace. “My mother’s necklace never looked prettier than it did on you tonight.”

“Your…, your mother’s necklace? She knows?” I sniffed as I wiped away the last of the tears. I couldn’t believe Miriam wouldn’t recognize her own expensive jewelry.

“She knows. She didn’t care. In fact it was her idea when I mentioned you were coming to visit.” Judy was removing something by my left ear.

“They still sting.” I had forgotten them all evening until Judy started messing with them.

She removed the dangle. “But not much, right?”

“Yeah, not much.” I agreed as she moved around to work on the right ear. Funny but it felt like something was still there in my left ear. I reached up with my hand and felt a large loop earring.

“Barbara, it’s a stainless steel stud. It won’t come out without a machine. The diamond earring was screwed to it.” She removed the dangle from my right ear.

“A stud? They won’t come out?” I couldn’t believe she would put something in my ear she couldn’t remove.

“Only after the holes have healed. It takes a special tool to take them out. Remove your heels and nylons.” She worked attaching a loop earring to the stud before she laid the second dangle down on the dresser next to the first and the diamond necklace and bracelets.

“But I have to go home. I can’t go home with earrings in my ears. Mom and dad would go ballistic.” I didn’t have to imagine what mom and dad would say. I knew they would hit the ceiling. I leaned down and removed my heels before I stood up. I hiked my skirt and undid the straps holding my nylons. I pushed the nylons down with the flat of my fingers so as to not snag them with my fingernails. I sat back down and pushed the nylons off my feet.

“Perfect. Stand up and let me unzip the dress.” She motioned for me to stand up and turn my back to her.

I did and she unzipped me. I pushed the spaghetti straps off my shoulders. Shaking my hips to let the dress slide on down to my ankles I stepped out of the pile at my feet.

Judy undid the corset and let it out. I breathed a sigh of relief as I rubbed my waist. “Ohhhh that feels sooo good.”

“I know.” She pointed toward the door. “Bathroom, take off your makeup with the Vaseline you'll find on the dresser. Lipstick and all comes off with a little Vaseline. Take a quick shower and come back here.”

She pulled a large towel off the bed and held it up as she turned her back.

I took the towel, dropped the corset, and wrapped the towel around me in less than the blink of an eye. I was in the bathroom almost as quick. What never dawned on my tiny little sleep deprived brain was what would I do if Miriam or Bill caught me walking through the hall to and from the bathroom. Never mind the fact I was in their daughter’s bedroom in the darkest hours of the night. Can we say sudden death? Sure we can. But then my brain never thought along those lines that night, so it didn’t make any difference.

The Vaseline did the trick with the lipstick and makeup. Soap and water in the shower did the trick with any residue left by the Vaseline. Quicker than one can say…, well it took a little longer than that. I traced the outline where the bathing suit had been and the fake suntan didn’t cover. I knew everyone at the prom could see where I didn’t tan under the bikini straps on my bare shoulders. It was kind of fun being Barbara for one night. I didn’t take long as I padded back to Judy’s room with a towel wrapped around me.

My dress and under things had been hung up or moved out of the middle of the floor. Judy was sitting on the edge of the bed in a black satin nightgown. She was yawning. She pointed toward the dresser. “Slip into the bra and panties and the nightgown. Let’s call it a night, shall we?”

Up until that moment I had forgot the stupid earrings and was close to sleep walking. My little sleep fogged mind was instantly awake. Wide awake! “Judy, I’ll call Elliot and have him come pick me up. I can’t go home in a nightgown. Where’s my pants?”

She clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn. “Barbara, no Elliot tonight. Sweety, you’re not staying with your cousins. You’re staying with my parents and me. You were a real lady tonight. It wouldn’t do for you to suddenly lose those curves and my mom or dad see you. Slip on the bra. I know my mom. She will peek in on us in the morning when she gets up around five.”

I choked. “US!”

“Shhhhh, keep it down Barbara. My parents bedroom is at the other end of the house, but it you get to making too much noise they will hear you. Yes, us. You can’t fly home to Dallas tonight. You are staying with me. Bra, panties, gown, bed, goodnight.” Judy laid her housecoat over on the chair beside the bed. She was wearing a silk or satin black nightgown. She pulled back the covers and slid into bed.

“Don’t forget to turn out the lights.” She pulled the covers down on the other side of the bed and patted the pillow. “You sleep here Barbara.” She pulled a pillow up over her head and wiggled to find a position to sleep.

Un huh…, Elliot, I’m going to kill you for this. If I knew where Miriam kept her kitchen knives I would…, ah what the heck? I slipped on the bra which had more than it’s fair share of padding. The panties were next which also had a lot of extra padding. The black nightgown was last before I turned out the lights and softly treaded back over to the bed. I slipped in and rolled over on my side away from Judy. That didn’t work because it pushed the earring into my head. I rolled over on my other side facing Judy. That also didn’t work for the same reason. I rolled over on my back and lay there as I slid my left hand up out of the covers and felt the earring in my left ear. I liked them, but there was no way to keep them. Mom and dad wouldn’t understand.

“Night Judy.” I whispered softly figuring she was already asleep. My own brain shut down with the innocence of youth, accepting for tonight, I was Barbara.

Continued in Chapter Three, to be posted Thursday. Please don't forget to comment and kudo? Thank you for reading.