Friday, May 25, 2007


The party was starting to drag. The problem, quite simply, was that none of the boys could dance. The girls all could, sure, but that's always the case, and the girls who never could looked good faking it. Party hosts Bill and Lil danced obligatorily - but it was the female of the two who had taught the left-footed oaf all he knew. Sally, Malli, Molly and Dolly, lovely and single, wheeled the beats with each other, moving in dazzles of rhythmic rotation, pausing for occasional deep kisses that caught the boys' attention as they sat like flesh-eating wallflowers, backs hugging the wall, feet planted in a stew of yearnful frustration.

This described the general scene at Lil's and Bill's parties, but tonight would be different. At midnight Lil brought out her surprise, a secret weapon she had trained intensively in numerous nighttime sessions while Bill worked late at the office. Her secret appeared at the door, looking quite germane and urbane in the hand-tailored, long-sleeved apparel she'd knitted, and as all eyes perceived, it was a real, live octopus twirling it's way into the room. He danced with Sally, Malli, Molly and Dolly, all four at once. Afterwards, when the lights turned low, he disappeared with his partners, silently, discreetly, but one at a time. Everyone was happy - except the boys, whose arms hung limp and motionless by their sides.

Story #393

25 comments:

Diane Dehler said...

Hi Indy,
This photo is intriguing. There seems to be some major attraction that isn't visible. Will have to ruminate on that. Hope all is well with you.

Anonymous said...

I ruminate and masticate a lot!
And this girl-gang dancing is getting popular.

Frances bo bancess said...

the first camera drew the crowd's attention, with it's huge lens and bright flash. the girls posed and the men looked on. but to be fair, it wasn't the whole crowd that was captured in the initial shot. Andrew and Julia saw nothing but each other and heard nothing but the music, and their hearts echoing the salsa's soul. Andrew obsessed over Julia's enchancing hips as the second camera fired up, invading his moment of private indulgence.

(i have to share my word verification "meatv", tehehe)

Joey Fanelli said...

Lucky always threw the best parties. Old school kinds of things: balloons, streamers, man-made disco balls and strobe lights (he could do anything with a lamp, a piece of foil and five minutes of time), the sort of things that would suck out loud if it wasn't one of Lucky's parties. No one could pull things off like Lucky could.

When Lucky died, we could only think of one way to celebrate his memory.

Diane Dehler said...

Hi Indy,
I stopped by for a visit and see how the stories were developing. For some reason this photo has me stumped. Maybe, because it seems as though a particular thing is going on and I am missing it. :) Take care.

Indeterminacy said...

I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do with the photo, but I haven't done it yet. But I know the feeling. Sometimes I have really been stumped, especially when I wasn't the one who selected the photo.

Anonymous said...

Click on my name to see what the girls are looking at.

Anonymous said...

The grad students loved Professor Zellner's annual birthday parties, but the tenured faculty gathered in frightened knots at the back of the room when he went into his act.

Diane Dehler said...

Hi, Indy,
Just stopped by to share my writer's blog with you. :) Hope you are well. Sorry you didn't win the Whippet contest. Don't worry, there will be other occasions of whimsy. Honest, I tried to consider, the name Amtrack....it just didn't fly. lol

Diane Dehler said...

sorry not blog- block.

The Mushroom said...

Nothing peps up a dull wedding reception like a little bit of freak-dancing. Five minutes after the song started, both the bride and the groom pined for their single days out with the wild women, yet they'd only been married for 45 minutes -- and another three minutes later, began the honeymoon in a coat closet.

Hobbes said...

I agree with the Princess that this one is tough, but Frances, Joey, and Mushroom have done a great job! I especially like Joey's--so short, but the ending takes a turn that's surprising and just right.

Joey Fanelli said...

Say, thanks! I love writing suprise endings.

The OE said...

Everybody pretended not to notice the girl in black doing the mummy dance

Anonymous said...

These were all good, I'm waiting for your inde.
It's almost like I have seen this photo before.

Tom & Icy said...

The marathon dance has gone on and on. The girls kept wondering when the music would ever end. The girl in black felt as stiff as Johnny Cash in his grave, while the girl in green couldn't stand by herself much longer and was about to do some unintentional break dancing moves on the floor. They kept looking for Indie to come and post his story so they could finally go rest. They shoot horses, don't they?

Diane Dehler said...

Hi Indie,
I see that your story is developing a spin. Hope all is well with you these days. It's been cold and foggy here in Northern Cal but you never know. Next week could be nicer. Take care. If you have time I hope you get to see this ghostly photo I posted. I don't know how it happened.

Diane Dehler said...

Indie,
Are you interested in writing a brief article about how and why you became a blogger? Details via my space.

Indeterminacy said...

I've written a story, but it's not good yet. I will post it when it's good.

Princess Haiku: I'd be glad to write something - though at the moment, I'm not sure at all why I started blogging ;-)

It also reminds me I promised long ago to write something for Mutha - I haven't forgotten, Mutha, I just haven't done it yet. Sometimes I'm really a bad procrastinator.

Acquaintance said...

I have a feeling it's going to be an interesting story coming up, I can't wait til it's ready.

Tom & Icy said...

I never thought about that.

Indeterminacy said...

Princess Haiku: My first impression of the photo was four girls not dancing. They're looking at an octopus that could dance with all of them at once. But it took me a while to write it out. I think this story is one of the lighter ones.

Lammy: I'd love to dance inside a girl gang. Does it hurt any? Would they masticate me?

Frances: Thanks for your story. I have been known to be fascinated by hips too. ;-)

Joey: Fantastic! That ending is poetry.

Icy: That was a cool dancing baby thing. Fit right into the picture.

Mrs Weirsdo: Didn't you write about a Professor Zellner once already? There must be something behind this!

Mushroom: None of the wedding receptions I've been to had entertainment like that!

Hobbes: Don't you think Mrs. Weirsdo did a great job too? Not that I'm trying to sow discontent or anything.

The OE: Now that would be something to notice! I want nothing more now than to see a girl in black doing the mummy dance.

Cooper & Tom & Icy: Sorry I kept you waiting.

Princess Haiku: last week was rotten weather, but this week is like summer. At last!

Mavin: I think my story wasn't all that interesting, but thanks for thinking it would be.

Joey Fanelli said...

Great story, Indie. The start of it reminded me of those middle school dances I used to go to.

Anonymous said...

I loved the reversal!!

Indeterminacy said...

Joey: Oops! I forgot to answer your comment - sorry. I never went to many of those dances - was always too shy to ask someone.

Samiamidi: Glad you liked the story. I didn't know how it would come over when I wrote it. But I new from the start that that's how it would end.