Excuse Me Dance

Chapter 1

Nike stretched out on the bed flicking though a magazine while Temi sat in the window bay updating her to-do list. They were taking a well-earned break from all the packing and unpacking. The radio on the dresser was on to provide background noise. It interchanged between the local news, weather and travel updates, none of which affected them right then but they listened to it for this information. The station also played music from yesteryear which was another reason they tuned in. After a brief rundown of the news, a familiar song which was without a doubt one of the most popular in their heyday started. It was by a well-known artist from a now classic movie soundtrack. Both heads raised slowly at the same time as though being pulled up by an invisible string, they listened for just a few seconds before recognition lit up both now smiling faces. Temi jumped to the radio and increased the volume, then strutted to the bed, stretched out one leg in front of the other, bowed her head and reached one arm out, the other placed behind her back. Nike started giggling, knowing what was coming next as Temi uttered the cheesiest line known to teenage-dom.

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            ‘Excuse me, dance.’ After which they both rolled about laughing.

That was how the boys asked the girls to dance at parties. It was meant to be a polite gesture of first getting the girls attention (Excuse me), then asking in the most polite way if she wanted to dance (would you do me the honour of dancing with me?) but it morphed into a statement uttered with such fear and familiarity it lost all its meaning, becoming more of a demand than a request. These were parties for teens so all the formalities were complicated and unclear but were followed rigorously because they were all so unsure, of themselves and of the rules.

            Nike got off the bed still laughing, she went to the wall and pressed her face against it, covered her eyes, occasionally turning back to look at Temi through her lashes, trying but failing to suppress her laugher into girlish giggles. She was supposed to accept or decline the offer to dance by stretching out a consenting hand to be led to the dance floor or wave the punter away but neither of them were able re-enact this garish ritual as they were both now crouched on the floor, laughing until the song was finished.

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            ‘God, I used to love that song,’ Nike wiped the tears from her eyes.

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            ‘I still do, brings back so many memories,’ Temi said, now lying flat on her back staring up at the ceiling.

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            ‘I haven’t heard it in years.’

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            ‘Can you believe it’s over 20 years old?’

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            ‘Oh wow…’ Nike did the maths in her head.

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     They were both more sombre as they reflected on life as it was then, the promise it held and the realities it had become. They met in their teens and became friends as Nike tried successfully to match Temi with one of her friends, Kunle or K which was his affectionate moniker. Temi and KK dated for a grand total of three months. That was how it was back then, these affairs weren’t considered serious enough to be treated otherwise. It was a carefree period which they looked back on with great fondness.