Page 44 - Save the Last Dance for Me

To keep everything fair, the

boys and girls took turns choosing

partners. I had hoped that my

athletic ability would earn me a

spot in at least the tolerable group.

In the mile-and-a-half, I could

outrun everyone, and I had never

been beaten in wrestling. But I

learned over the weeks of dancing

that being athletic and being

graceful were not always measured

on the same social scale. Also, the

fact that I was a country boy, more

at home on a horse than on a dance

floor, didn’t help me. Thus, when

we made our way across the room

to choose a partner, I quickly

learned how many reasons girls

had for not dancing with me. One

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