Dev Dreams, Volume One Read Online Free PDF Page A

with a few large
lights. Tables and chairs sat in a corner. Empty shoeboxes lay all
across them along with coats and sunglasses. Mariann added her own
to the pile. All across the floor in almost every place people were
practicing. No music played other than the click, click, stomp;
tap, tap, tap, spin of shoes clumping against the floor and the
murmured repetitions as a cannon around the room “one, two, three;
one, two, three...”... “One and two and one and two and.”... “One,
two, three, and four and; one, two, three, and four and..”...
Mariann eventually picked out her partner in the crowd. Standing in
a corner of the dance floor, he had his eyes closed and was moving
his feet to some rhythm he heard only in his head. Charles was
scrawny, mechanical, and not that good at leading. He saw Mariann
and walked over. She put on her high-heeled dance shoes and took
his hand. As he pulled her arm forward, thin silver bangles slipped
down from her wrist and pattered lightly against her rolled up
sleeves.
    They were practicing their routine for a
competition coming up in a few months. Mariann was hardly in the
mood for it. In the past Kevin, conscientious of her desire not to
have the other dancers know about him, came to the dances later and
sat quietly at the side, never acknowledging knowing her. Mariann
thought it was sweet of him. She always appreciated his presence.
In fact, she wasn't sure she could dance without it. Why couldn't
she just be proud of him? Show him off to her friends? Let them
wonder. Let them ask questions, she didn't have to answer them.
    Over and over Mariann and Charles danced the
same routine. Toe, side together, heel up, knee bent, slide back,
arm over head. Two, three, four and one; two, three, four and one;
two, three, four and one. Mariann lowered her head for a moment and
it threw her body off balance. The dance fell apart and Charles
stopped. The director of the studios sighed and snapped, “Pay
attention to the dance, Mari.”
    “I’m sorry,” Mariann murmured, “I’m having
trouble concentrating.”
    “I know something is bothering you,” The
director of the studio said walking over to them, “But you can’t
let it interfere with your work.”
    “I know and I’m sorry,” Mariann said.
    “I don’t mean to be harsh, you understand,
but you have a job to do,” the director said, “But if you want to
talk about what’s on your mind I’ll be in the office late
tonight.”
    “No, I’m fine. But thanks, Sam.”
    “All right, back to work,” he said, striding
over to the other couples. He passed by all the mirrors walking
away from them and each one reflected him back.
    Charles liked to talk while he and Mariann
danced. To keep away boredom, he said. He was in a cheerful mood
today, and so chattered about whatever came into his head.
    “Do you know what they teach kids these days?
My girls are getting this great concept of esteem. They come home
and tell me how they can do and be anything.”
    Mariann nodded politely. Toe, side together,
heel up, knee bent, slide back, arm over head.
    “And it’s true. When I was growing up people
told me not to be a dancer. But here I am. The sky’s the limit, you
know?” He smiled happily. “Do you have kids, Mari?”
    “Sorry, what was that?”
    “I asked if you had kids.”
    “Oh. No, no I don’t.” Toe, side together,
heel up, knee bent, slide back, arm over head. Two, three, four and
one; two, three, four and one.
    “That’s too bad. You’ve been married a while,
haven’t you?”
    “A few years.”
    “Me and my wife had our first before we were
married.” He laughed.
    “Mmm-hhmm,” Mariann murmured. She didn’t
really care about Charles’s life and she didn’t want him poking
into hers. If only what he said were true. If only children could
grow up to be whatever they wanted, then Kevin would not be
watching her achieve her dream while his leaked away. When Kevin
was a kid they didn't tell him he could do