11/27/12

The Dare
By Ashley Suzanne Musick


Julie, Ashlyn, Sophia and I sat in a booth in Bob’s Bar that Friday night, drinking, eating and talking when, suddenly, Julie’s face rose suddenly from the rim of her cup. “There he is!” she said, jumping up in her seat and pointing behind me, her auburn curls bouncing and azure eyes sparkling.
I started, dropping a French fry into the ketchup. “Who?” I said, grimacing in bewilderment.
“James Henderson!”
Immediately I whipped my head around, squinting, to look over the top of the booth, certain she was joking, trying to annoy me. Nevertheless, despite the dim lights, I saw him sitting on a stool at the counter. I recognized him by the sable locks cascading down the sunburned skin of his neck, the white cowboy hat resting on his head, the sweat-stained and dirt-smudged shirt, the denim jeans held up by a belt and the dun calf-high boots.
My cheeks burned. I knew exactly why Julie had pointed him out. Earlier that day I’d confessed my infatuation with this man. No doubt every other single female in town had an infatuation with this newcomer. Still, Julie pointing him out to me in front of Bob’s Bar’s huge Friday night crowd was embarrassing even though she knew she hadn’t spoken loud enough for anyone to hear her over the loud country music emanating from the overhead speakers.
“Julie,” Sophia said, pushing Julie’s arm down, her olive-like eyes flashing with anger, “how dare you point out Mallory’s crush in front of the whole town!”
Julie, grimacing, turned to Sophia. “I didn’t tell the whole town,” Julie said. “I just pointed out her crush was behind her. In fact, I was about to suggest she ask him to dance.”
This statement stilled my heart for a second. Julie had spoken loud enough for the people close to us to hear what she said. How long would it be before this humiliating information was all around town? Not too long due to the large crowd with alcohol-lubricated lips.
“How dare you!” Sophie said, saliva foaming between her lips.
Suddenly, Ashlyn turned to me, her verdant eyes fixing themselves upon me. “You know,” she said, fingering her sable locks, “that’s not such a bad idea.”
I winced, drawing back from her gaze, my head swimming with the import of what she’d just said. Did she have no prudence?
“Something wrong, Mallory?” Julie said, frowning as she cocked her head.
“No way am I gonna ask him to dance,” I said.
“Why not?”
“She’s too embarrassed,” Sophie said.
“No,” I said, shaking my head vigorously to emphasize my point.
“Then what’s your reason?” Ashlyn said.
“I’m 21.”
“So? That’s an adult,” Julie said.
“Yeah—but he’s thirty-three,” I said.
“That’s only twelve years difference so quit making excuses. I dare you to ask him to dance!”
“What? A dare? That’s so childish.”
“Oh, come on, Mallory. What will it take you to ask him?”
“Nothing because if I do, it will be all over town tomorrow.”
“You’re gonna let the fear of what others say prevent you from doing something?”
I nodded.
Ashlyn sighed. “You only live once so why let the fear of what others say prevent you from talking to the man who may be Mister Right?” she said.
I inhaled deeply then quickly exhaled. “All right.” I slid out of the booth and made my way through the crowd and towards James. My heart fluttered as I came to a stop in front of him. “Hello.” My voice trembled.
James’ head jerked upward and he turned to face me. “Yes?”
“Will you dance with me?”
James slid off the stool, landing on the soles of his feet. “Sure.” He took my hand and, together, we entered the crowd of dancers without a word from anyone. He wrapped one arm around my shoulder and the other around my waist. Together we gently began to sway to the slow country song blaring from the speakers overhead. I threw a quick glance back at my friends. Sophie was staring at me with a shocked expression while Julie and Ashlynn were giving me encouraging gestures.
I turned back to James. I never looked back during the dance. Nor did I ever look back during the forty-five years of our marriage.


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Ashley Suzanne Musick lives in rural southwestern Kern County, where she runs a successful Avon business and writes poetry and short fiction in her spare time. Her work has appeared in Wilderness Interface Zone, Wherever It Pleases and A Sharp Piece of Awesome.