Fred & Ginger

Put on your dancin' shoes, Alice! Uncle Shad called coming through the back door unannounced with the dogs at his heels, I'm takin' you on the town!

My grandmother scowled at him. You drunk, Shadrack? she demanded crossly and he laughed and gave her a bear hug then twirled her around and slipped her apron over her head. I'm celebratin', Alice, and you're helpin'!

Uncle Shad, a small man with china blue eyes and a ready grin, had lived with his common law wife for more than thirty years, regretting every hour but too obligated to leave. She was a scrawny woman, made of hard bones and harder feelings, a complainer and a nag with a hot temper and an acid tongue. At one time, she had been a slim and pretty thing, courted and sought after, but island life had not been kind and the only thing Shad was dug in about was leaving the island - he gave in to her every demand but on this he would not be moved. The bitter quarrel was now in its 31st year and showed no signs of exhausting itself. That morning, he told Nana, she had finally packed her belongings and caught the first ferry, headed for greener grass and more friendly pastures - she had, he admitted, taken every cent he had in the world but it was a small price, all things considered, and he was happy to pay it. Got me a last $20 dollar bill and I'm a free man, my girl, so let's go show those youngsters a thing or two about dancin'! To my utter astonishment, my grandmother agreed, changing out of her house dress and apron and slipping into ruby red shoes, an ankle length black skirt and a sequined blouse. They left for the dance hall arm in arm and laughing like teenagers.

It was said that they danced the night away to Hank Williams, Sonny James, and Patsy Kline - tirelessly strutting their stuff to Jerry Lee Lewis and waltzing everyone off to the floor to Jim Reeves' "He'll Have To Go". By the end of the night, Nana shed her ruby shoes and danced barefoot, her sequins glittering and her petticoats flaring. I had never seen this side of her, didn't even know it existed, and I was torn between being proud and humiliated. In the end, proud won - Nana and Uncle Shad made too handsome a couple for anything else.

The days following the amazing dance were grim with recovery, aspirin and arthritis rubs. Nana hobbled for nearly a week, her ankles swollen, her shoulders and neck stiff with pain. Shad wasn't seen for three days, taking to his bed with hot water bottles for his joints and poultices for his feet. I hope it was worth it, Mother, my own mother said with a snide look, You could have broken a hip or had a heart attack.

Keep your sour grapes to yourself, my grandmother told her tartly and added more epsom's salts to her foot bath.