Ch 03. Al. and Beth
Dame Judy was making her morning coffee when her door bell rang.
She opened the door and found a large, upright man with a crop of springy white hair, bright blue eyes, and a rather aggressive stance. He was immaculately dressed in well-ironed trousers, crisp blue shirt and shiny brogues.
"Good morning," he said "Are you the lady who is running this dating game in the complex? I am Albert Harris from number 11, and I would like to talk to you about it."
"Certainly," said Judy, opening the door and stepping back. "Do come through to the kitchen. It is a sunny room. Please sit down. I am just making Coffee?" She passed him a cup and pushed the sugar and milk towards him. "Now Mr Harris, how can I help? Is your unit the one with all the lovely flowers? I always have a good peek as I drive past."
"Please call me Al. Yes, that is mine. Gardening is my passion. I grow all my own vegys too, but the colour is what I really like. Now about this dating lark. I am impressed with the project you are doing. It will be such an asset to the town, and I would like to make a donation. Also, the difference it has made to the Hen Coop, as I call our village, is immense. The whole place is vibrant, with people laughing and chatting to each other and buzzing around with the latest gossip in a very positive way, not behind closed doors and whispers behind hands. It is like the dawn chorus here in the mornings with everyone calling Good Morning, Ki Ora, and Lovely Day to each other."
"Well, thank God for that' laughed Judy. "I thought you were going to be the big stooge and report us to the fun police."
"I am sorry if I came across aggressive. I am rather a shy bloke and was very nervous about coming to see you. The ladies all adore you, and as I say, I would like to support your cause and make a donation, but I was not sure how you would react to a man taking part. I certainly can't date any of the women in the complex. Think about the gossip and carry on if I took one of them out! God knows the place might catch fire!."
Judy laughed. "I take your point, but the donations are made for service given. What is your bucket list, and how can we put you up there with the cackling hens? Come on. You are fit and active, and must have some secret dream we can help you bring to life."
"Well, I do like to dance. Proper old fashioned ballroom, not this gyrating and bumping they do in the pubs these days. That is not my cup of tea. I tried line dancing and square dancing for a while, but I like to hold my partner and feel her follow the music with me."
"Right. Leave it with me. I am sure our committee will come up with a solution and have your toes twinkling in no time."
Most of the committee had lived all their lives in Townsville and knew everyone and their histories, so it didn't take them long to suggest Steve and Beth. They had a lifestyle block just out of town, and Steve had been badly crippled in a tractor accident. Beth was devoted to him, and they were still very happy, but Beth had been an active member of the local musical theatre before the accident and had loved to dance and sing. It was suggested that Jamie drive out to the homestead and over a couple of drinks with Steve and Beth, put the suggestion to them about the project and if Beth might accept a night on the tiles, with Al at the RSA-Tin Hat bash that was strictly old time dancing. Jamie mentioned that emotions got rather high sometimes, and all things being equal, a bit of nooky was quite on the cards.
When Al called out to the farm and introduced himself to Steve and Beth, they had a good discussion about the Service Club project and found common ground.
Steve was all in favour. "She would love it."
Steve was in agreement because he had been unable to service Beth since the accident, and he understood that she still had needs, which were unmet. Beth showed interest in both the dancing and a night out enjoying herself with a different company.
"If you can help her other needs, all the better. I will be totally OK with that, but that will be entirely up to her to decide. After all, it's lady's choice."
Beth's eyes lit up with excitement, and she did a wee twirl around the kitchen.
"Are you sure you wouldn't mind Steve? I haven't danced for years. I wonder what I will wear. I will have to have my hair done, and my legs shaved."
The men both laughed at her reaction and took that for a yes, and so it was all on for the Saturday a fortnight hence.
When the due date arrived, and Al called out to the homestead to collect Beth for the evening, he was met by Steve in his wheelchair.
"Come in and have a beer with me while we wait for Cinderella to be ready. She has been getting ready all day so surely she won't be much longer. Now I have done a wee check on you and find you are a really genuine bloke; hope you don't mind about that, but I am trusting you with the love of my life, and I need you to be very careful. My brother will be taking me out to his place for the weekend shortly. This is partly so Beth won't be worried at me being alone, but also the house will be empty till I get home again on Sunday afternoon, so should you two be compatible, and both willing, the house is available for you to enjoy each other for the night and morning. She is a wonderful person, so please be good to her. Oh! here she is now."
Al stood up as Beth walked into the room, and he felt his crotch tighten, and his mouth fall open. She was ravishing in a soft sleeveless apricot coloured silk dress, draped artfully over her gorgeous D cup breasts; hinting at a cleavage without actually showing it. The waist was nipped in to allow the dress to flare over her rounded hips and swirl invitingly to her calves. She wore matching strap sandals which were just twinkling to dance. Al just stood there, staring with his mouth open.
"Do I take that look as being approval?" chuckled Beth.
"Too right! You are something else! I feel like Prince Charming."
Beth gave Steve a loving kiss on his lips. "Goodnight my love. Thank you for this. I will see you on Sunday and tell you all about it." She took Al's arm and led him out to the car.
Al and Beth were fairly well known in the town, so there were catcalls and cheers as they walked into the hall, but Beth tucked her hand into Al's elbow and made it quite clear she was with him for the evening.
They danced all night, and still had breath for more. The Valetta and Maxina were right up their alley, as were the Foxtrot and Waltz but when they tried to do the Pasa-Doble, they found it out of their league. Al did not make a very good Toreador, and when Beth tried to be a toreador's cape, she failed badly. They ended up holding each other up and laughing madly in the middle of the dance floor. Beth knew how to dance the Tango, and Al found himself responding to her sensual movements. The Last Waltz came all too soon, and they held each other very close but refrained from kissing in the crowded hall.
The trip home was friendly but quiet as neither was quite sure of the other. When Al turned the ignition off, Beth took his hand and said: "You will come in, won't you."
"I would love to."
The lights were low in the lounge, and there set up on the table were a bottle of wine and two glasses waiting for them.
