16
Honor your partner, Thomas said, all gather round, theres a great day comin, lets run it in the ground.
Why do you keep looking around?
Who hung the crepe paper?
Ask them but maybe they would hold on too tightly.
Are any of the females your wife or girl friend I mean, I suppose you dance with each other a lot at night or at festival times special occasions Hector therell probably be repercussions about this the men dont like it I can see that would you like a plate of chicken or something oh I forgot youre not a meateater and probably it would be wrong of me to get you started but there are some little cakes and things and I think Kool-Aid or the equivalent things change their names so fast these days Im not sure its still called Kool-Aid may be just grape juice with a little something added to zip it up ouch! doesnt matter it was my fault where did you go to school excuse me that was a dumb question its just that when youre dancing you usually feel like you ought to make conversation and its a little hard when the other person doesnt say anything.
Me too the only thing wrong with it is that its not new, do you think they want to dance?
Well need a caller, Thomas said, Ill do that, that means twelve on a side.
Yes I see what you mean they do appear to be apes.
I dont know they may be the horseman who has been following us or some of his friends. Attracted by the music probably.
Well it breaks the monotony I suppose.
Probably they smell terribly.
Never occurred tohtｔｐs://ｒead•99cｓw.ｃom me I just wanted to try it, is all.
Edmund claims the first dance.
I dont particularly want to dance with someone after that someone has been dancing with an ape.
Yes I do dance very well. You dance pretty well.
(Silence.)
That would be new too Im tired of all you sweet-smellers.
Im here.
Well he tends to hold on very tightly I dont think its sexual so much I just think he likes to hold on to everything very tightly I mean I think thats the way he holds on to things. Very tightly.
You can have the dance after this one. Ill write your name on my dance card.
Ill take a chance. Theyre new.
I didnt even know we had a banjo but Sam has been carrying it all this way and a pocket cornet too you should see it its only about eight or nine inches long but he gets a lot of sound out of it theyre made in Warsaw he told me amazing how much musical talent you find around almost everybody can play something a little bit.
The "Immigration Waltz" performed.
(Silence.)
Well Ive certainly enjoyed this dance it was new can I introduce you to one of the other members of our party whos a good dancer too lots of zest and a good personality youll be surprised some people think shes prettier than I although thats not the sort of thing I can comment on can I ha ha just come on over here for a moment and Ill introduce you oh my shes dancing already well would you like to just sort of sit this one out what a grip, lightly, lightly, thats better you do understhtｔpｓ://ｒead•99cｓｗ•ｃｏmand quite a lot dont you an amazing amount considering would you excuse me for a moment I have to go to the ladies room or I mean I must leave you for a moment Hector let go of my hand now Ill come back and well chat some more I promise Hector let go now dont be a --
Yes I was dancing with that ape his name is Hector I mean thats not really his name I dont suppose I just called him that.
(Silence.)
Edmunds. And Emmas.
What?
I am a little picky.
Edmund and Emma dancing.
Who lit the bonfires?
It will be new.
Can you talk at all?
Anything new?
Tuff titty.
(Silence.)
Who are those people over there?
Thank you thats better I suppose theres no point in asking you your name is it all right if I call you Hector?
How can we have a dance with only two women?
Yes, still.
Are you sure you dont have a fantasy of going to bed with him you were dancing quite close I saw it.
Light from the bonfires.
Its the "Registration Waltz." He certainly knows his way around a banjo.
Yes I believe the Dead Father plays nine instruments he told me once what they were eight or nine but he can certainly make a banjo sing I think this was a good idea dont you everybody seems to be having a good time whose idea was it?
How about "Midnight in Moscow"?
Yes theyre slightly more graceful than the males.
Well it made me feel funny to see you dancing with him and talking to him and all that and you certainly looked like you were having a high old time.
Yes I didnt know he plread.99csw.comayed banjo I knew he played guitar of course but I didnt know he played banjo.
The lines formed. The trio begins The Titanium Polka."
Wish theyd play something else.
No really I mean its very smooth, considering, but to tell the truth I really think this is a terrible dance.
Nothing?
Well hes very pleasant and sweet and believe me I had my work cut out for me just keeping the conversation going youve nothing to be jealous about nothing whatsoever Im surprised at you jealous of an ape whats that music?
Well you certainly are accomplished dancers except perhaps maybe youre holding me a little tight?
Emma and Hector do-si-do-ing down the lines.
I was always fond of waltzes. I remember --
Thats a little insulting to those of us who are not new.
Hector, Emma.
The women will just have to dance twice as hard.
Julie says that she is willing to dance with Thomas.
Hes new. The newness.
Thats the "Carborundum Waltz."
(Silence.)
No theyre not theyre new. The horseman who has been following us is not new.
Happiness of the Dead Father.
Leave me here in the middle of the floor?
Whats that music?
Its the "Penetration Waltz" I believe.
I think some are male and some female the smaller ones are female, probably.
One two three four five apes.
I always want somebody new.
Yes I suppose it does that, in a sense.
I saw you dancing with that ape.
The Dead Father looks quite happy doesnt he almost benign one could almost forget about his wood chisels and all the rest九-九-藏-書 of it seeing him sitting here keeping time with his mechanical leg and doing that what do they call it trailing I think I wonder where he learned that the old bastard knows a lot of different things you have to hand it to him product I suppose of his long years of. . .
Whats that theyre playing now?
Who laid on the champagne?
This is the best dance I have ever been to! Emma exclaimed.
That would be new.
Is that horseman still following us?
Something new.
I am a little picky. I know that. Tell me something new.
Thank you. Its kind of hard to dance with this leg.
What do you want to hear?
What?
He likes to dance that I can tell you and dont be afraid hes really very sweet and quite new, a new experience I can promise you that.
He dances pretty well, for an ape.
(Silence.)
Thats new.
They seem sort of dark and furry.
You dance very well.
I know that.
Yes now that I look closely theyre apes.
It was the Dance Committee.
The Dead Father and Julie dancing.
Im going to dance with one.
What?
Look shes not scared of the apes shes asked one to dance.
Theres nobody here.
Did you want to go to bed with him?
Anything new.
Ouch! Im sorry probably my fault do you want to get a little taste of something Im thirsty look at that! that ape just knocked Edmund down now hes picking him up again now hes knocking him down again oh God we dont want a melee youd better break it up maybe we could organize a lady-in-the-lake or something you try to get the apes in one line and Ill line up our people l九-九-藏-書et me see twenty-three less the three playing plus five apes means roughly twelve on a side.
Its the "Crabapple Stomp." I always liked that one.
Whats the tune.
Emma, Hector.
Yes you but theres nobody else nobody new.
Why?
Looking for somebody new.
Thomas performing upon the kazoo. Alexander upon the flute. Sam upon the banjo.
Who hired the band?
Thomas approaches and asks Julie to dance.
No, that is for the Dead Father.
(Silence.)
And the apes coming, crashing I suppose but I dont care, gives you a feeling of newness always good to meet new people get an idea of what others are like new perspectives as it were I wish they could talk almost made a mistake and offered Hector some chicken salad probably a bad idea to get them started.
Maybe they would crush you with their incredibly powerful arms.
Youre a little picky.
Do you think they want to dance, the apes?
Who sent out the invitations?
Whats so good about somebody new?
Whose idea was having this dance in the first place?
Is everyone ready for the big dance?
Cant dance to it its too slow.
Yes theyre tapping their feet to the music.
You apes live around here in the dense underbrush and move in and out among the trees seeking fruits and vegetables?
I know but its pretty.
Thats not new.
Yes it will be new but I think its slightly insulting to be dancing with a person and then leave that person alone in the middle of the floor and go off and dance with an ape.
Do you want somebody new?
Dont know anything new.
This is Emma.