Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER.
Detonate the one with the trophies, Sal! We didn’t ever want to stand up out the front like that. Once upon a time there was a chance to stay out of the limelight but good old Dad was always saying, Come on girls, just give it a go. Dive right in even if the water is freezing. Grab that hat, girl, and get out there. Give the dancing a go.
So off we went, you in your togs and me with my sash and fancy steps. By the time prize day came we were pretty good. Every day we practiced. Every day we felt resentful. I wanted to spend the summer reading and you wanted to take it easy with your friends but Dad had a houseful of daughters and no sons. He seemed to need to make something of us.
He’d signed us up…extra swimming for you (you had a facility)…then he looked at me doubtfully. I don’t think you’re going to be very tall, you’re not very good at sports but any girl can dance. So for me it was the Pride of Erin and the Barn dance, the classes on Friday night where the girls outnumbered the boys. Because of that we had to dance with each other. We were very confused about male and female parts, about how to lead and who to follow. We waited all night for our five minutes with the instructor.
One night you said you’d rather dance and because of that you came with me once but you spent half the evening outside with that boy you liked who’d come out specially to meet you…until finally Dad drove up and I rushed around the corner of the hall to tell you he’d arrived and to hurry up.