Katherine and John's Dance

Sometimes, just sometimes, when no one was looking she'd do a little dance. It would be almost unnoticable even if you did spot her doing it. Her name was Katherine and she had never done any of the things she had dreamed of. She had done what everyone thought was best. And the best had never been to become a dancer. The best had been to provide for the family after her father died. Dancing could not provide. Then her husband came into her life and later children and you can't dance with children hanging onto your legs. Illness had taken her husband away and her children had left the nest. It was just her and the dog now. And the gramophone. The house heard more tunes now although Katherine's heart was heavy with loneliness. The dog would look at her sceptically as she attempted to dance fox trot on her own. One day when the sun was shining and the birds were singing almost manically there was a knock on the door. It startled Katherine who quickly got out of her most comfortable chair to greet the person who did the knocking. She opened her yellow front door and on the other side of it stood a man just about her age. He had white hair which had been neatly combed and wore a checkered shirt, jeans and brown leather shoes that were a bit worn down but clearly had been taken care of with shoeshine throughout the years. Katherine decided the man looked decent. "I'm sorry to bother you, miss. But I've heard an awful lot of music coming from your house lately." the man sad and looked to the ground almost apologetically. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I'll stop playing it altogether immediately." Katherine said, embarrased she had annoyed a neighbor. "No, that's not it at all, miss." "Mrs. Bell." Katherine corrected the man. "Really? I've never seen Mr. Bell around." the man exclaimed. His cheeks flushed because of his sudden outburst. "I'm a widow, Mr.?" "I'm John Lovegood. You can just call me John. And I'm so sorry, Miss. I mean, Mrs. Bell." Katherine chuckled at the man's shyness. "You can call me Katherine." John smiled at Katherine and looked into her kind blue eyes. "I'm... I'm here because I've noticed you dance." John said and looked at the ground again. "Oh dear, have you? I'm terribly sorry you witnessed that." Katherine joked, feeling at ease in shy John's company. "Oh, no, Mrs. Bell, I mean, Katherine. You dance wonderfully, if I may say so. What I actually came over to say to you was.." John cheeks couldn't get much more red. "Was?" Katherine inquisited and her kind tone of voice brought John's gaze to meet hers. He took a deep breath. I wanted to ask if you wanted to start taking dancing lessons with me. It's every Tuesday at the community center. I've noticed you dancing a few times and I saw the poster a few days ago and thought of you," John couldn't stop his stream of words now. He felt like he'd embarrased himself asking a widowed woman to dance with him. What a silly idea. "-I mean, you don't have to go with me. I.. I just wanted to ask you. And I am so terribly sorry if I've overstepped any boundaries. You know, I just figured with all the times, I mean, the few times I've seen you dance and heard the music, that you'd like to dance. And if you wanted to dance I thought I'd offer my company. I hear my words now. It's silly. I'm sorry to have taken your time. Please continue your day, Mrs. Bell. I mean Katherine. I'm sorry. Have a nice day." John turned around but before he could walk away, Katherine reached out and touched his hand. The touch made him turn around and his eyes once again met her blue ones and she smiled as she said: "I'd love to, John."