Dancing in the Moonlight

By Beau Johnson

In 1920s Europe, Ben falls in love with Sandy, a rather unconventional woman. On their honeymoon in the South of France, she fulfills a fantasy of his.
This is an adult short story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beau Johnson
• Release date: Nov 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311959423

Beau Johnson

I’m the scion of two old Virginia families, raised in heaping helpings of the old south and moved north to escape. I’ve been a carpenter, clerk, cabinetmaker, Coast Guardsman, architect, commercial pilot, college instructor, and consultant. Next year I plan to decide what I want to do when I grow up.

Book preview

Dancing

In the

Moonlight

Beau Johnson

A Short Story

Dancing in the Moonlight

Copyright 2011 Beau Johnson, all rights reserved

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ISBN: 9781311959423

September 12, 1925

The tree had been there for more seasons than anyone could recall, a casualty of some long forgotten storm, tossed in the river until it was deposited on the sand bar as the water receded. Subsequent high currents had failed to dislodge it but had scoured the bark from the tree leaving the wood to bleach in the sun until it was white.  The full moon nearly overhead illuminated its prone form. A match flickered for a second and a small fire started on the spit of sand in front of the tree.  A second match flared, and second small fire started to the left of the first.  Both fires caught up into campfire sized blazes, illuminating the front of the downed tree with a warm glow to contrast the starkly white upper surface.  The crowd became silent and unmoving.  The only sound was the gentle gurgling of the river.

Just barely heard over the river, from the other bank a piano started to play.  The melody was familiar, but Ben couldn’t name it.  Two women emerged from behind the fires and moved toward the center, each mirroring the steps of the other.  They wore costumes that seemed to come from an ancient Greek play, a tunic made of a thin flowing material, over the shoulders, tied with a rope at the waist, but open at the sides.  They both had bare feet.

After half a minute they began to move to the music.  The pace was a rondo, and their feet moved quickly, their arms, bodies and heads, twirled in opposites.  A mirrored dance, almost a pas de deux, the dancers acknowledging each other’s presence, relating, but never touching.  Their movements were modern, almost walking and running steps, controlled, but far from classical ballet.  Their legs and feet showed control, tension and strength,