About Dancing

(Inspired by the lyrics to the song Aubrey by Bread [yes, that's the band name]. Check the song out here. The story takes place around the time of World War 2.)

He did not know the girl he was dancing with. He knew almost all of the men in the room- he'd fought along side most of them. As soldiers, pictures were often being shown around of wives, fiancées, mothers, sisters, and even cousins. These men that he'd trained with were his brothers, and he knew all about them. Not any one of them had ever mentioned a young woman with bright blue eyes and dark brown hair.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Aubrey, you?"

"...Lenox." She had confidence. If he'd been any normal man, she would have made his knees wobble. But he was a soldier, and nothing could compare to the things he'd seen.

"Aubrey... do you actually know any of the men here?" By finding out who she knew (that is, if she knew anyone- she seemed like the kind of girl that would walk into a soldier's party just to dance and have a few drinks), he could find out more about her.

"Colonel Sonian is my father," she replied. "And you? Do you know anyone here?"

It didn't take long for Lenox to understand what she meant. "She wasn't able to make it." He cringed at the disappointment in his voice.

Aubrey stared at him thoughtfully. "What's her name? Your girl?"

"June. Her name is June."

"Is she your wife?"

He frowned. "No. She was... something for a while, but we've decided that it would be better if we weren't in any kind of actual relationship."

She smiled sadly, knowingly. "I can't imagine why she'd just... let someone like you go."

"Someone like me?" He wasn't used to being complimented.

A new song came on, something more waltz-y but fast paced. Their circular motions sped up, making Lenox feel dizzy. The entire world seemed to spin around them, the lights a glowing blur, the faces of his many friends just a background scenery for the one that he was staring at. She was definitely a beauty, but not in any classical kind of way. She was beautiful in odd ways. It made her all the more interesting.

"I love your name," Lenox said, for lack of anything better to say. "It's different."

Her smile was warm. He enjoyed that smile. "Thank you."

Later on, when Lenox looked back at those few moments he'd spent with Aubrey, a small part of him wished that he'd have done something like ask for her telephone number. He never did see her again, but he always remembered her name, and just how much he loved it.