Galatzi Joy Read online

  We watched for a minute, and there was more trading of partners. I thought there was a pattern, but we didn’t stay long enough to be sure. Then Pippa pulled me from the room. “Unless you ask, we won’t do this tonight. I prefer this when I come with a particular group. I’d like to bring you the next time we come.”

  “I’d like that,” I said. “If they don’t mind I new.”

  “They won’t mind. Everyone is new at one point.”

  I had a thought. “All girls?”

  “Sometimes. Sometimes a few men. Never more than four. Does that matter?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “We’ll talk another time about it, then.” I nodded, and then she took me to the last room. This was the most crowded, and to my eye, it was utter chaos. It seemed like it was half men, and I watched one particularly good woman as she was effectively passed from partner to partner. There was a pattern here, too, which I couldn’t determine, but it also seemed like people were dancing to set themselves into a pattern.

  “This is a game,” Pippa said. “A different game each night.”

  “Not understand.”

  “Tonight, you must capture your matching dancer. You see they each wear a tie?” She gestured at her neck. “Each time you capture her -- or him, depending upon your role -- you score a point, but then you may gain no more points until you are separated again. She must be swept from you, and you must find her again. There are other ways to make points. It’s fun, but you have to be willing to dance widely.”

  “Sounds fun. I am not ready.”

  “No. I’ve only done it a few times. I haven’t scored very well, but I’ve had fun. I’ve come alone.”

  “Then who is your partner?”

  “Whoever wears the matching tie,” she said. “But there are different games, too. If we came, we wouldn’t be partners.”

  “I’d want to be partners.”

  “But that’s not the game.” She smiled. “I’d try to keep you from your partner.”

  I laughed. “I would keep you from your partner.”

  “I bet I am better at this game than you are.”

  I thought that was true.

  “Sometimes I come with a big group of friends, maybe even this many.” She gestured.

  We watched for a few minutes, and then she pulled on my hand. We descended back to the middle floor, and then we watched the very best dancers. That was amazing. I didn’t think I could ever be that good, but I enjoyed watching them. Pippa watched me as much as the dancers, and she smiled a lot.

  I squeezed her hand.

  The third floor didn’t have a room devoted to the confusing game, but the other rooms seemed popular.

  Then Pippa pulled me to the stairs. “Are you easily shocked?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Do you want to see the next floor?”

  “Okay.”

  Again we descended stairs. Then Pippa drew us to a stop, looking back and forth for a minute before pulling me to the arm with the dancers as individual couples.

  It took only a few seconds before my jaw dropped open. Now I understood: tame and not tame.

  It was the same dance, but the dancers were much closer, and they were doing moves Pippa and I definitely hadn’t been doing.“Ich glaub mich knutscht ein Elch!”

  “English only,” Pippa said, laughing. “I thought you’d be a little shocked.”

  I stared at the dancers. I couldn’t really help it. Finally I turned to Pippa. “No one on Frantzland would dance like this in front of other people.”

  “You’d be surprised, Maddalyn. You just didn’t go to the right clubs.”

  I was pretty sure if Berdine had known there was dancing like this, she’d have brought me. But I didn’t say that.

  “Are they having sex?”

  “No, no. Well, probably not, but maybe later. It doesn’t go that far, Maddalyn. Close, though, sometimes.” She gestured. “I wouldn’t mind doing that with you.”

  I laughed. “Not in front of others.”

  “Maybe not tonight,” she said.

  This time I pulled on her hand. We made it to the central column, and I turned to her. “Are other rooms like that?”

  “Yes. I don’t think you’re ready.”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.”

  I gestured up. Laughing, Pippa led the way. We made it to the fourth floor, and she paused. Then she nodded and pulled me up to the fifth floor. One we arrived, she gestured. “You may pick this part. Two couples.” She gestured to one arm. “Or a group.”

  “Two more women?”

  “We can probably make that happen,” she said.

  “That one.”

  She tugged on my hand. There were still people learning or practicing steps. We looked around, and then Pippa smiled at me. “Come.” She led me further into the room, and then I saw two women dancing together. They noticed us coming and turned to face us, smiling broadly.

  “I’m Pippa,” said my date. “This is Maddalyn.”

  They were Serenity and Tranquility, and I realized they were sisters, not friends. “Words mean same?”

  “There’s no explaining parents,” Tranquility said. “Call me Quil, if Tranquility is too much.”

  “I understand,” I said. I smiled. “I am from Frantzland. We have words that sound like an entire sentence.”

  The three laughed, and then Pippa said, “Maddalyn is new here. It’s her first night.”

  “Oh,” Serenity said. “Do you like it?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Are you new?”

  “Oh, no,” she replied. “Tranquility and I come all the time. We were working on new steps. But we love teaching new dancers. More partners for us.”

  “Do you understand, Maddalyn?” Pippa asked.

  I nodded. “We four dance.”

  “Yes,” Tranquility said. “We dance. Dibs on your date, Pippa!” I didn’t understand what that meant, but Tranquility reached for me, and I let her pull me into dance position. Serenity took Pippa, and then Tranquility said, “Give me one minute with Maddalyn to see what she knows.” Then she counted for me to help me catch the music, and then we were dancing together.

  She was clearly very good, but she managed to explore what I could do without letting me stumble. “Good,” she said after a minute or two. “Do you understand me?”

  “If you speak carefully, yes,” I replied. “Do not use long words.”

  “No words that are a sentence.”

  “Ja.”

  “Did Pippa teach you to lead?”

  “I follow,” I said.

  “Okay.” She raised her voice. “We’re ready. Maddalyn only follows, Sis.” If Serenity acknowledged that, I didn’t hear. Then Tranquility spoke into my ear again. “I’ll warn you this time, but after that, the leads trade the followers when we want. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “For now, just follow. There is a pattern, but it takes time to learn. Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  We did a pattern I knew, and at the end, she spun me out. I found myself standing alone for a moment, but then Serenity did the same with Pippa, sending her to Tranquility. Then she danced one circle around me, trailing hands along my shoulders before taking my hand and making me spin around once before pulling her into my arms.

  “Good,” she said. “You can add flourishes.”

  “Not know word,” I said.

  “We’ll show you,” she said. She lifted her voice. “Sis, you’ll take me next.”

  “Got it!”

  “Pippa, let Maddalyn watch us, then join back.”

  “Right.”

  Then she said to me, “I will spin you out then guide you where I want you. Understand?” I nodded. “Normally, I would just spin you, and what you do until someone claims you is your choice.”

  “Understand.”

  “Here we go. One, two, three, four. One!” And she spun me out, but she guided me, one hand holding mine above my head, the
other at my waist. I spun twice, coming to a stop when she stopped me. I found myself facing Pippa and Tranquility. But then Serenity caressed my cheek before spinning away herself, one hand held in an arc over her head, the other out, and she traced a rapid circle with the toes of her right foot while spinning on her left, then doing a little leap and another spin. Then she proceeded to turn, adjusting her arms this way and that. Tranquility spun Pippa towards me, who did something similar on her way to take me. In the meantime, Tranquility circled her sister, taking her high hand as the woman continued to turn circles. Then Tranquility stepped closer, capturing her sister. Pippa watched over her shoulder before pulling me back into the music.

  “You don’t have to do that. You can do anything, if it fits the music. Or you can wait, swaying. Whatever feels right for you.”

  We danced two songs like that, trading partners every few measures, sometimes quick changes, sometimes staying with one partner for longer.

  But I was laughing before we all came together in one big group hug. And I wasn’t at all self-conscious about it, either.

  Then Tranquility said, “We normally dance on the third floor.”

  “But we’d be happy to spend the rest of the evening on the fourth, if you two came with us,” Serenity added.

  I looked at Pippa, smiling. I knew I was flushed, but I just couldn’t stop smiling. She nodded and said, “We’d like that.”

  And then Tranquility stepped forward and took my arm. Pippa found herself escorted by Serenity.

  “We know you’re on a date,” Tranquility said to me. “I like dancing with Serenity, but when it comes to holding hands, I’d rather hold yours.”

  I laughed. “That’s okay, but I go home with the woman who brought me here.”

  “Excellent. Maybe you’ll come with me next time.”

  I laughed. “Maybe.”

  * * * *

  We spent the rest of the evening on the fourth floor, in the room for two couples. I thought other people hoped we would break up and allow other combinations, but from what I could tell, none of us wanted to separate. And so the four of us remained together.

  It was some time later, much later, that Pippa whispered to me, “We can dance all night, and I think the sisters would stay. Or I can take you home soon.”

  She had to say it again, slowly, but I nodded. “Will you bring me again?”

  “Oh, yes, Maddalyn. I would love to.” The song ended, and we held each other for a minute. Then she pushed away and looked at me, Serenity and Tranquility close as well. “Do you want to go to second floor for a few songs?”

  I stared at her. And then I noticed Tranquility and Serenity watching me carefully. I dropped my gaze. “I’m not ready for that,” I said, barely a whisper. “I am sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Pippa said. “One or two more songs here?” I nodded. The next song began, and Tranquility pulled me into the music.

  And instead of trading me with Serenity or Pippa, she danced me away. But I looked over. Pippa was trying to lead Serenity after us, but Serenity wasn’t cooperating, and Tranquility was putting other couples between us.

  “A new style?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Tranquility said. “We’re not giving you back until you give us your contact information.”

  “Not understand.”

  “You and Pippa are leaving?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “Give us your contact information.”

  I figured out what she was saying and laughed. “If Pippa agrees, then I agree.”

  “Pippa already agreed,” Tranquility said. “You have an implant, don’t you?”

  “How can you tell?”

  “You’ve used it to translate words.”

  “Oh.”

  Then she put me through an elaborate pattern, and I entirely lost track of where Serenity and Pippa were.

  “Serenity has one, too. She is advertising as accepting a connection as Serenity Peace. Send her your contact information.”

  “How do I know Pippa already agreed? You could be tricking me.”

  “Maybe I am. Are you going to let me?”

  I laughed. “Yes. Easy steps now. Implant is new.”

  “I’ll take care of you,” she said.

  “Melina.”

  “Attending,” she said, speaking German of course.

  “Scan for open contact, Serenity Peace.”

  “Serenity Peace found.”

  “Offer contact information.”

  “Offering…. Accepted. Serenity Peace offering contact info, Tranquility Peace and Serenity Peace.”

  “Accept offer.”

  “Accepting… Stored.”

  “Thank you, Melina.”

  “You are welcome, Maddalyn.”

  I switched back to English. “Information is given. Where is Pippa?”

  “I have no idea,” Tranquility said. “Serenity will find us once she convinces Pippa to give up her information.”

  I laughed. “You tricked me.”

  “Maybe. Or maybe they’re just waiting for you.”

  Then we dance as just a couple. I closed my eyes enjoying the dance. And then she spun me, and when I opened my eyes, I didn’t see Pippa. I found myself in Serenity’s arms. We danced, and then I asked, “Who gave information first?”

  She laughed. “Pippa didn’t even argue.”

  “I didn’t argue, either. I’m just slow. New implant.”

  She laughed again. “Tranquility wouldn’t have kept you away from us if you had cooperated.”

  After that, we finished the song and one more. Then the sisters realized we were ready to go, but I found myself between them, each holding one arm. “Maddalyn,” Serenity said. “One more song. On second floor.”

  They let me think about it. “I’m sorry, but maybe next time.”

  “As long as there’s a next time,” Serenity said.

  “We’ll head out with you,” Tranquility said.

  Joy

  Pippa and I were both flushed and laughing as the vehicle drove us home. At first, I thought she was taking me to the University, but we pulled up in front of a set of houses, and I realized she was taking me to her home. I smiled and let her lead me to the front door.

  Inside, we turned to each other. “Did you want me to take me to your home instead.”

  “No,” I said.

  Pippa moved closer. “You have a story, and it’s not a good story.”

  “It was, and then it was not,” I said.

  “She hurt you.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not her.”

  “You’re nothing like her,” I said. Then I smiled. “Only a little like her.”

  “How am I like her.”

  “You like to lead.”

  Pippa laughed. “You like to follow. I like to lead when I’m leading you.” Then she set her hand on my cheek. “But I like it sweet. Did she like it sweet?”

  “No,” I said. “I think I would like sweet.”

  “I know you will,” she said. And then she closed the final distance.

  * * * *

  We kissed, there, standing near her door, we kissed two or three times, and then Pippa took both my hands and led me further into her home. I followed willingly, joyfully. She led me to her bedroom, the lights already on as a soft glow. “Stand here,” she ordered, setting me near the foot of her bed. Then she circled me slowly, touching me as she did so. She circled twice, finally coming to a stop behind me, pressing against my back with her chin on my shoulder and her arms around me.

  She caressed me for a moment. I captured a hand and then pressed it to one breast. Pippa laughed. “I already had permission, Maddalyn.”

  “I wanted to be clear,” I said.

  “We’re both clear,” she said. But then she moved away, but just enough to begin working on my dress. I held still as she slowly undressed me. But then she came to a stop before me, looking me up and down, then wait
ed.

  I couldn’t stop smiling, but I wasn’t sure what she wanted. She waited a moment then said, “You really are used to following.”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “I like leading, but I’m not doing all the work.” Then she touched her dress, and I realized what she wanted. She’d been showing me, after all. So I laughed, nodded, and closed the distance.

  I took my time undressing her. She hadn’t been wearing that much. But I start by kneeling before her, helping her from her shoes. Then it was up for her dress, then down for her stockings. And then as I stood, I ran my hands up her sides, finding myself in her arms. We pressed together, and then we were kissing.

  Then, mid kiss and surprising me, she pulled me to the bed, and we fell together, laughing. I opened my eyes, and Pippa was grinning at me. Then she tugged me further up the bed until we lay amongst the pillows, looking at each other, touching gently.

  “Do you know how to do this together?”

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  “I touch,” she said, and she caressed me, teasing the edge of one breast. “At same time you touch.” And she took my hand and set it on her breast. “We travel together.”

  “Together,” I echoed.

  And we did.

  It was the sweetest, gentlest, most amazing lovemaking I’d ever experienced.

  * * * *

  We made love again in the morning, then showered together. Oh, shared showers were wonderful. Afterwards, she loaned me clothes, and I laughed. “You are making sure I have to say yes again to give you these back.”

  “I already know you’re going to say ‘yes’ as often as I ask,” she said. “Aren’t you.”

  “If I can. Study is important.”

  “Practicing your English is important. And learning what I am teaching you is important, too.”

  “Learning gentle lovemaking?”

  “I think that’s the most important.”

  “I do, too.”

  “Maddalyn, you aren’t staying. We must not fall in love. I already know I will be sad when you leave. Do you understand?”

  “I understand.”

  “Next time we go dancing, you might be Tranquility’s date.”

  “And you will be Serenity’s?”

  “Yes.”

  I thought about it then nodded. “But this is not our only date.”