The Dance
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Us Girls
By Linda Bartlett

A friend is someone who dances with you in the sunlight, And walks with you in the shadows.
~Author Unknown

It doesn’t always turn out well. There’s that little dance where I say, “Hi, glad to finally meet you, I’ve heard so much about you.” And she counters with, “It’s nice to meet you too.” Polite conversation, hesitant, careful steps. I try to multitask by keeping the lips moving while my brain processes the image. Gee, I didn’t think she’d be this tall and skinny. She does have a pretty smile though and that hair, wow, like a shimmering shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her deep brown eyes sparkle. She’s lively, she’s fun, she’s full of life.

A couple of meetings later and things are still cool and breezy. I can see she’s here to stay. Sometimes I feel old and stodgy in her presence. My clothes don’t fit like they used to, despite buying a larger size. Her clothes float around her, accentuating her lovely curves. How does she stay so thin? Is she really that thin, or am I just that fat? Oh, it’s difficult being the older model! We do have a bit in common and we can build on that. We do the minuet by daintily presenting a foot and lightly pulling it back. She loves animals, so do I. She loves kids, so do I. She’s a klutz, so am I! These little things add up. (Keep reading)