Charles & Claire Ch. 04

CHAPTER FOUR

After dropping off Claire on the way home, I asked, "Mother, I need to talk to you about something - something rather important."

Looking straight ahead at the road, Mom said, "What is it, Charles—Is it about Claire?"

"How'd you know that, Mom?"

"It's written all over your face, Honey," she said glancing over at me and smiling.

"Mom—How do you know when you're in love?" I surprised myself by asking this, but she is a girl and might just understand.

"Well, Charles—I was hoping to NOT have this conversation with you for a couple more years. I don't know if I'm prepared to talk to you about this?" she chuckled a bit.

"Mom," I paused before continuing, "I'm really confused. Don't worry—I know better than to do anything... stupid with Claire. I need to know if this is a crush or real love?"

"That is a very mature question, Charles - Let's go through a series of questions, OK?"

"All right, Mom - Sure. Ask away."

"All right... one—When Claire walks up to you, what do you feel?"

"Like I have a stomachache... every time I see her."

"All right... two—when the two of you are talking to each other, do you look at the ground or into each other's eyes?"

"Into her eyes, Mom—into those big, beautiful, brown eyes," I sighed.

"Calm down, Mister—a few more questions, OK?" Mom suppressed a snort.

"OK, Mom. Sorry. I was just remembering how she looked for a minute there."

"That's OK honey—Now... three - When she isn't around you physically, how often do you think about her?"

I didn't have to think at all to answer this question, "All the time, Mom—Absolutely, all—the—time."

"Lastly, Charles—when she's around you, and please remember that this is your mother who's asking you this question... what do you feel like doing?"

"Mom," I said not realizing I was on the verge of tears, "I want to be around her, hug her, maybe kiss her... a little—I just can't stop this feeling that I feel. I miss her - a lot."

"OK, Charles... do you want my professional assessment?"

"I'm ready for it, Beautiful."

"Don't push your luck, X."

'Sorry,' I snickered.

"You sound absolutely, positively, and completely in love to me—but... you didn't officially hear that from me. Be very careful about what you may think is appropriate behavior. I expect you to be a perfect gentleman around her, and don't abuse her sweet kindness."

She went on, "She's a lovely young lady Charles, but she seems a bit impulsive—nothing's wrong with that, but lack of impulse control can cause many issues, including unwanted sexual advances and consequently, unplanned and unscheduled pregnancies."

"MOM!"

"I'm treating you like an adult because you came to me with the concern of a loving, caring young man. DO NOT, I repeat, Do Not let your hormones dictate what goes on between you two. You have a beautiful heart, Charles, and a very pretty girlfriend."

She followed that up with, "Don't let societal pressures cause you two to - do anything. To use an expression, I've heard you use, "Don't let your mouth write a check that your butt can't cash."

"That's not exactly how it goes, Mom," I said with a smile on my face.

"Whatever - We're home—I won't tell anyone about this conversation - I suggest the same to you, even Claire and Brian."

"Mom, while I don't understand these feelings about Claire... I do know that I love you very much—and thanks for talking to me about this like a grownup. Love is very confusing."

"Charles—the fact that you understand that, should help you get through this."

The next morning, I woke up feeling pretty good about myself. I can't believe I've learned how to dance.

And with a girl, a very pretty girl; with brown eyes, red hair and a smile that lights up any room she walks into. My Mom and Dad approve of her; I'm actually going to a school dance... and I'm not trembling.

It's ten o'clock in the morning—I wonder if it's too early to call Claire? I guess all they can say is 'she's not available', or 'she can't come to the phone?'

The phone started ringing and a male voice answered, "Hello, McArthur residence. This is Josiah. Who's this?"

"Hello, Josiah—this is Charles Newman. Can I speak to Claire, please?"

"Sure. I'll get her—I want you to know that she can't stop talking about you—all the time, It's 'Charles this' and 'Charles that'... whether you're friends for the summer or for a lifetime, please - treat her nice... she's my little sister, and I love her."

I decided to tell him my secret, "Josiah - I love her too. I want to dance with her forever—we're going to Independence Junior High School this next year together, and I'm not going to let her out of my sight. You've got my word. Just don't tell your father all that I've said or he'll put her in the proverbial tower, lock the door and bury the key."

"Well said Charles—well said."

He'd put down the phone, and I was waiting for that voice that makes my heart pump a little faster, when, "Hello; this is Claire—Who's calling?"

"This is the young man who has given his heart to a fair maiden—with hope that she may return the fondness in kind."

"That's so beautiful, Charles—is that Shakespeare?" she asked breathlessly.

"Nope—It's Charles Xavier Newman... who wants to practice dancing with his girl. Can you come over today?"

"Just a minute—let me see who can get me to you... hold on."

She'd put down the phone. That question Mom me asked about how do I feel when I'm not around her is haunting at me. I think I'm not only in love, but as I've said before, I feel tagged and branded - It's OK. Breathe.

"Charles—I can be there in about an hour; Josiah is going to bring me there—can you get me home?"

"We'll ride on the back of an eagle, together."

"O-Kay," she chuckled, "See you in an hour."

Suddenly, I realized that Claire was less than fifteen minutes from being here. "Oh—shi... shoot—I need to look up the Cha-Cha and Tango."

I ran to my computer and went to Ballroomdancers.com and looked over the four Basic steps - the New York Step looked cool, and the Spot and Walkaround Turns looked simple enough.

Taking a look at the Tango, it appeared rather straightforward—There's NO rise and fall in the Tango. Remember that Charles?

OH -- boy!

"MOM."

"Yes, Charles—you bellowed?"

"I called Claire...."

"And she said yes, and the weddings on Saturday?"

"No," a disturbing chuckle came out of me, "We haven't learned all the dances yet, you silly goose. What I was going to say, was Claire would be here within the next fifteen minutes to practice the Cha-Cha and Tango. Her older brother Josiah is bringing her over. I should have asked you first—but is it OK?"

"Like I'm going to get between my son and his first love?"

"SSSHHHhhhh, Mom... keep that on the down-low, please?"

"OK—Loverboy—Remember, treat her with respect both when dancing... and not."

"Thanks, Mom—I love you."

"I know, X."

"I deserved that one, A."

"I think I like that nickname better than Annie. How about I start calling you C?"

That caused me to laugh out loud, "Well played, Mom."

I went back to the dance website, and looked over the details of the Tango. The only thing that may give us some trouble is this step called the Sixteen-Count Basic. I hope Claire has some patience with me today.

A car horn honked outside, and I ran out to greet Claire, and say hi to Josiah, "Hey, Josiah—thanks a lot for bringing Claire over. I hope I didn't make you go out of your way."

"When she has a smile like that on her face, I'll take her anywhere," Josiah countered.

"Josiah," Claire blushed very deeply.

"Hey, Beautiful—glad you could come over," I said as I gave her a kiss, holding her face with both of my hands.

Josiah snickered and said, "I'm leaving before I see something I shouldn't - Too late." He honked to break us up, waved and left.

"Charles. You've never kissed me like that before?"

"Well, CC—to steal a line from Beauty and the Beast, There's 'Something there that wasn't there before'. Are you ready to learn how to Cha-Cha?"

"That's what I'm here for, X."

"That, and you're here for me to look at, which is almost as much fun as dancing with you."

"What's going on, X?" she giggled, "It seems that you're happier than I've ever seen you."

"That's because you're here, Claire—I don't have to think about you when you're here to look at. Does that make any sense to you?"

"I'm not sure—Oh, Hello Annie—nice to see you, today... do you know what's gotten into Charles? He seems - what's the word I'm searching for, giddy—maybe?"

"Without stepping on any toes, metaphorically speaking, I think it's because you're here," mom answered knowingly.

"OK, then—where are we dancing today, Charles?" she asked.

"In the living room, so we can play some music to help us learn the rhythms of the steps I'm about to teach you," I responded.

I took her hand, and we went into the living room. When I stopped for a moment, Claire leaned towards me, held my face in both of her hands and kissed me. It felt so fantastic - Wow.

"All right now. Let's focus, and get warmed up, how about a little Waltz?"

"OK - X."

"Mom—could you please play, 'Sunrise, Sunset?'"

"You play the piano, Annie?" Claire said sounding surprised.

"Yeah—not as much as I used to—but Charles asked me to play this when he knew you were coming over. Here we go, kids."

The music started; I stepped to Claire, and we assumed the 'position;' then we danced the Waltz, effortlessly gliding from one step to another and back again—like we danced it only yesterday.

When Mom was through, she left the room - She was dabbing at her eyes.

The lyrics of this song go:

"Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play? I don't remember growing older, when did they?"

"When did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall? Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?"

And the second verse,

"What words of wisdom can I give them? How can I help to ease their ways? Now they must learn from one another, Day by day.

They look so natural together Just like two newlyweds should be... Is there a canopy in store... for me?"

Claire and I... didn't kiss—but we hugged, because, right then and there - We knew that we'd be dancing partners forever.

At the appropriate moment, my mother stepped back into the room, with her make up all fixed. Claire and I hadn't moved from the spot we stopped at, when she was through playing.

"Ahem... I think you two absolutely nailed that. If there were a Waltz Competition anywhere nearby, I'd bet the mortgage on you two winning it. All right—now recap—the Foxtrot."

Mom put on the song 'Night and Day'... started it, and CC and I went through all the steps of that dance. Feeling rather full of ourselves, we played 'Putting on the Ritz,' and the Quickstep fell by the wayside.

When we were through with that, Mom came in with cookies and pink lemonade, saying, "Break time for the World Famous twelve-year-old dance team of CC and X."

Both her and CC giggled a lot—I couldn't even keep myself from laughing a little at that last remark.

Claire asked, "OK—Charles, what'll we learn next? The Cha-Cha or the Tango?" She was giving me that smile that has burrowed into my heart.

"Of the two choices, CC, I think the Cha-Cha is the easier one to learn. The Tango is going to be tough," I replied.

Annie spoke up and said, "The mighty Charles is afraid of the Tango? - The Tango should be terrified of the mighty Charles."

"Yes, Annie—it should be scared spitless of Charles Xavier Newman," Claire reiterated. They both laughed.

"OK - you too, stop already... first Cha-Cha. Annie could you find and be ready to play the Santana version of 'Oye Como Va,' please?"

I took Claire, and ran her through the fundamental rhythm of dancing the Cha-Cha, and then we went through the four Basic Movements. Once I thought we might be ready, I nodded to Mom to start the music.

She did and I said to Claire, "Listen to the beat—it's easier to notice than some of the other dances we've learned. While we'd typically dance it in our usual 'position,' I found a style that could help us, if you're game?"

"Sure," said Claire. "I'll try anything with you," she blushed as she realized what she'd said as she turned and looked at my mom.

Mom waived her off, laughing at Claire's verbal miscue.

"OK—Claire, put your hands on the side of my hips, Yeah—right there. Great, and I'll do the same with you—stop giggling. We should be able to do most of the basic steps in this position, and our hands will feel our hips rotating, if we're doing it right."

"Charles!" mom said giving me the dirtiest look.

"What? Could you restart the song, please?" I asked giving her a wink.

"All right, but I'm watching both of you very carefully while you try this 'alternative position,'" mom said with a little snicker in her voice.

The song started, and it was really amazing how much more you felt the music this way, but I also understood my Mom's misgivings about this method. Claire and I got through all four of the Basic Movements in this position.

Having to go through the song twice - We switched to the more traditional 'closed position' and it truly was, to re-coin the phrase, 'Night and Day'. Time for another break - this time for lunch!

Mom made us some PB&J sandwiches, along with cold milk to wash it down. When we were through with lunch, Claire called home. Her Mom answered - they talked for a while, and Claire asked if she could stay another hour or so, because we were making a lot of progress, and we didn't want to stop.

Annie got on the phone with Sarah, and told her that it was really amazing how easily Claire, and I've been learning these dance steps. She OK'd Claire's staying, as long as it was all right with Annie. They said good-bye to each other, and it was time for the 'Dreaded Tango'.

I started by telling her a few key differences about the Tango, "There is NO rise and fall, you don't slide from step to step - you pick up and place your feet, and the walking steps are very staccato, very separated and disconnected looking."

We covered the Basic Walks and the Progressive Side Step, and then did them in combination. Not having any good Tango music in the house, I had downloaded a few to my IPod, turned the volume up and put it in my pocket after starting 'Hernando's Hideaway'. I asked Claire if she could hear it OK—she said 'Yes;' we started to dance.

Amazingly, once again—we nailed it, although Mom was apparently stupefied over the fact that we'd just learned the Tango in only about ten minutes.

When the song was over, Annie tapped me on the shoulder and asked if she could try it. I re-started the number. She and I were dancing the Tango, with Claire observing us.

We finished and my Mom quietly turned to me and said, "I think Claire's a little jealous of me - you need to reassure her that I'm just a girl, while she's your girlfriend." I laughed at that and responded, "Good idea, A."

"What are you two talking about—me... I suppose?" Claire asked mockingly.

"I was telling my Mom that, although she's just a girl—You're my girlfriend - forever."

"Forever? Really?" The shrieker returned.

I next started the song, 'My Cup Runneth Over,' the Ed Ames version and said to her, "Let's Dance."

The lyrics go,

"Sometimes in the mornin' when shadows are deep I lie here beside you just watching you sleep And sometimes I whisper what I'm thinking of My cup runneth over with love."

"Sometimes in the evening when you do not see I study the small things you do constantly I memorize moments that I'm fondest of My cup runneth over with love."

Claire had never heard this song before, and was quietly crying while we danced the Waltz to it. I did something I hadn't done before; I pulled her right up against me—we danced with a newfound passion.

My Mom, out of the corner of my eye, was also crying. I held it together as well as I could but while still dancing with Claire in my arms, we kissed. We separated our lips - I said to her, "Forever."

We took a break—Mom pulled me aside and read me the riot act about dancing so close to Claire. I apologized to both her and Claire, about how my emotions just sort of bubbled over. Annie said that she understood, but I... we must show proper decorum, both when we practice and especially on Tuesday nights at our Cotillion.

We still had a few more Tango steps to cover, so we moved on to the Progressive Link and the Closed Promenade. Tricky but not impossible... we then went through all the Tango we learned, and decided to call it a day.

We thought we might schedule one more day before the next Cotillion, to hammer out the Cha-Cha and Tango steps and maybe work on the Quickstep - Might even look at the Viennese Waltz a little more.

We piled into the car, with Claire and me in the back seat. Mom was glancing suspiciously back to us more than usual. All we did was hold each other's hands and looked deep into each other's eyes. Oh, and we talked about the upcoming school dance and next weeks' Cotillion.

We waved to IJHS as we drove by it and when we got to Claire's, I got out of my side of the car, and quickly ran over to open the door for Claire. "My little gentleman," she said adding, "You're going to spoil me, you know?"

"That's all part of my plan—sweetie."

I got in the front seat with my Mom. She had looked at me with a very strange expression. She started the car, and we headed home.

It was quiet—much too quiet.

"Charles!"

The way she said it - made me jump.

"Yes, Mother, what is it?"

"Do we need to talk about what happened today?"

"NO," I may have said too abruptly and certainly, too loudly.

"You've made it quite clear, what I should and shouldn't do while dancing with Claire."

"Not just when you're dancing, young man."

Oh - crap. She used the 'young man' which is almost as bad as using the entire name.

"Mom—I'm sorry; I don't want you to be disappointed in me; I'll be stronger—I care so much for her."

"I know, honey—and it seems she feels the same way towards you—but you two are only, not yet thirteen years old. You, being the boy, must have the higher standard—show her how much you care by dancing your very best, not by any other means, all right?"

"All right, Mom. Again, thank you for keeping me on track—I don't want to blow apart the best thing that ever happened to me. Both of my girls mean the world to me."

"Both. Oh, How sweet."

"Yeah—Claire and Kalista mean so much."

"Ooh, If I had a pillow to throw at you right now..." she said laughing out loud.

We arrived home. As we walked into the house, I turned to my mother and said, "Antoinette, would you care to dance?"

"You know, Charles... I've spoken to your Father about you and Claire... and you know what he said to me?"

Uh-oh. I hope that this is a rhetorical question, or I'm about to step into a big pile of warm shi...

"Charles. I'm talking to you—wipe that silly grin off your face. I need your attention, please? Do you have any idea what your father said to me?"

Coming out of my mini-stupor, I said, "No, Mother—what did he say?"

Doing a pretty dead-on impression of Dad, "He said, 'Honey, the boy has Mommy issues. Look at that girl Claire that he spends all his time with. She's your spitting image when you were that age. Freud would say, that he's really got a crush on his Mother'."

She got herself worked up, giving this speech.

Then she follows that with, "Is... this all about me? Have I not given you enough love and...?"

I quickly responded, "MOM — I love you... but I'm not 'in love' with you."

"I love Claire, and not because she looks like you did, but because you and Dad taught me to care and to love people. You're the best Mom I've ever had."