Dancing With Lemurs

By Cecil Thomas

This heartwarming story involves three couples whose friendship and mutual respect deepen into a loving family relationship that remains strong through the years despite a few bumps along the way.

Dylan, Steve, and Carl are college friends, all single, who work and play together like brothers. Carl starts a business in Durham, North Carolina; Steve starts a similar business in St. Louis; and Dylan becomes a college professor in St. Louis.

The story initially focuses on Dylan, whose wife left him for a mutual friend after eleven years of marriage. He was extremely depressed, but is cheered by a fellow professor, Ann, who invites him to the St. Louis Zoo with her and her two kids. Dylan and the kids visit and play with the lemurs at the zoo. The kids love the lemurs and are equally enamored with Dylan.

An unexpected cascade of events follows that changes Dylan's life, although he remains in touch with Ann on a platonic basis.

Dylan's plane crashes en route to Durham, where Dylan is sent to facilitate a possible merger between Steve's and Carl's companies.

Dylan meets Tessa, a fellow passenger on the plane. Tessa is a scholar at the Lemur Center at Duke University. Tessa and Dylan begin a romantic relationship.

Tessa's two friends become romantically involved with Dylan's two friends, Carl and Steve, which results in Dylan and Steve relocating to Durham from St. Louis so all three couples could be together.

The couples, all professionals, decide to restore a large house containing separate suites for each couple with common living spaces. Their careers and businesses prosper. Dylan gets to accompany Tessa to Madagascar, where Tessa researches the behavior of lemurs. Then Ann, Dylan's platonic friend in St. Louis, becomes ill and needs help with her two kids. Upon learning of Ann's illness, Tessa and the others relocate Ann and her children to their home. Then Tessa leaves, Ann dies, and Dylan adopts the kids. He loves the kids, and with the support of his friends, he eventually cultivates a successful and lasting relationship with Margo, a victim of domestic violence.

The three couples spend many happy years together raising Ann's children and even vacationing in Madagascar, where they dance with ring-tailed lemurs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887313283

Book preview

Chapter 1

Dylan Struggles after Divorce

Dylan married a college friend when they were twenty-two years old, and they both continued toward graduate degrees. Dylan had a graduate fellowship, and he did consulting work as an engineer. After his PhD degree, he became a professor and continued the consulting while his wife worked in a real estate company. They were both successful, and they worked most of the time. They lived a simple inexpensive life, but she drove an expensive car and wore dressier clothes as expected in her business. She invested their funds in real estate, and their portfolio grew rapidly. Dylan thought they had an ideal marriage.

After eleven years of marriage, she began an affair with one of their mutual friends. Dylan considered him to be a good friend, until she told Dylan that she will move in with that friend and she wanted a divorce. After several hours of negotiations, they agreed to sell their real estate with an even split of their assets, except she kept her expensive car, and Dylan kept his old car. The divorce was completed in less than one month. During the divorce proceedings, they sold their house, and she moved in with her lover. Dylan rented a small apartment near the university campus.

The divorce left Dylan devastated. His world had been centered on his work and his wife. Dylan did not know what to do, so he continued working at his university, and he spent more time in consulting with local corporations. He neglected everything else in his life.

At the conclusion of a university meeting on an April Friday afternoon, a university professor named Ann asked Dylan to go with her and her two kids to the zoo on Saturday. Dylan did not know her, so he was surprised by the invitation. He told her that he was recently divorced, and he was not ready for dating, but he liked the Saint Louis Zoo, and a visit on a spring day could be nice.

She said that she was a single parent since her divorce. Dylan insisted that they would not have a date; it would be a trip to the zoo and nothing more. Ann agreed, and they settled on a time and a place to meet on Saturday.

Dylan asked, What are their names?

Ann replied, Sam is eight years old, and Katie is six years old.

Dylan concluded, I look forward to meeting them.

At the zoo, Dylan and the two kids began talking about school and the zoo. The conversations grew as they visited each species of animals. Then they saw ring-tailed lemurs. Sam reported that his class studied lemurs. Dylan pretended to know nothing about lemurs and asked questions about where they lived and what they ate. Dylan knew the answers, but he enjoyed the tutorial from an eight-year-old kid who knew a lot about the group of mammals called lemurs, especially the ring-tailed lemurs.

Dylan noted how the ring-tailed lemurs held their tails in the air when they ran and skipped and hopped and leaped and danced. Then he started singing a silly song:

If I had a tail like a lemur

I’d hold it high in the air

But if I had a tail like a lemur,

I could not sit in a chair.

The kids laughed and laughed.

Ann smiled and said, That was really bad, but all three kids liked it!

The kids wanted to hear it again. Dylan showed them the lemur dance while singing the silly song. Dylan noticed that the ring-tailed lemurs seemed to mimic their movements and sounds.

They said goodbye to the lemurs and visited a few more animals until it was closing time, and the kids wanted something to eat.

Ann suggested, We could get a pizza and invite Dylan to eat with us.

Dylan suggested a pizzeria, but the kids insisted on eating at home. Dylan agreed.

They picked up two pizzas with different toppings and drove to Ann’s house. It was a small two-bedroom house with a kitchen and family area. Ann asked the kids to wash their hands and faces. Meanwhile, Dylan prepared the table with plates and drinks, and he warmed the pizza in the microwave.

They ate and drank and talked about their day at the zoo and discussed their favorite animals. Both kids thanked Dylan for taking them to the zoo, but Dylan insisted, Let’s all three thank your mom for taking us to the zoo.

The kids showed little enthusiasm, so Dylan taught them how to raise their arms in the air and say, Yay, Mom! Thank you, Mom!

When they finished eating, Ann told Sam and Katie to get ready for bed. Dylan volunteered to do the kitchen cleanup. As he finished, the kids asked if Dylan could read them a story. Dylan told them, If it’s okay with your mom, I’ll tell you a story.

Ann consented. In their room, Dylan just made up a story about a young lemur who had not learned to dance.

Dylan told them, "A young lemur named Lucy had not learned to stand on her back legs, so she had to walk on all four legs. She saw the other lemurs standing on their back legs and moving fast in a kind of dance that included skipping and hopping. Lemurs have their own style of dance, and Lucy wanted to do the lemur dance. But she could not.

"When Lucy tried to stand and dance, she fell to the ground in the dirt. She tried again and fell face-first into a hole. Her mother had to grab Lucy by her back feet and pull her out of the hole.

Lucy tried again and fell face-first into a puddle of water. Her mother helped her remove the mud from her hair. Another time Lucy fell with her body rolled into a ball, and she rolled down a hill and stopped rolling in some tall weeds. Lucy tried again, and she fell with her body in a ball, and she rolled into a tree and bumped her head on the tree. Lucy’s mother tried not to laugh.

Lucy the Lemur kept trying and trying, and her mother looked after Lucy. Finally Lucy learned the lemur dance, and they danced together. That made both of them very happy.

Sam and Katie went to bed, Dylan tucked them in, and they both said, Thank you, Dylan.

He whispered, Thank your mom.

And they did.

As Ann and Dylan walked back to the kitchen, Ann said, Thanks for cleaning up in the kitchen, and thanks for giving my kids a great day at the zoo and the pizza and the story and your silly song.

Dylan told her, Today was the best day I’ve had in a very long time. Thank you for inviting me. Now we both need sleep.

As Dylan walked toward the door, Ann requested, Wait. Have a glass of wine and tell me why you seem so unhappy when you’re with me and so happy with my kids.

After a short silence, Dylan responded, Ann, it’s not your fault. It’s me, and I’m not ready to talk about it. Maybe we can talk another time. Thank you for a wonderful day with you and your kids. I really did have fun.

Ann just said, I hope we can talk again soon.

After a few steps, Dylan stopped to ask, Was it my imagination, or did the ring-tailed lemurs mimic our movements and sounds?

Ann suggested, Sit with me and tell me what you observed.

They sat on a couch, each with a small glass of wine. They talked about the lemurs and the kids. Then Ann observed, You seem to be grieving after your divorce. How long has it been?

Dylan explained, It’s been about six months. I thought we had a happy marriage that would continue indefinitely. Then one day, she told me she was moving in with a mutual friend, and she wanted a divorce. I was stunned and totally surprised, but I reluctantly agreed to the divorce. We sold all our property, and I rented a small apartment on the edge of campus.

Dylan continued, "You’re right, I’m still grieving. Social interactions are awkward and uncomfortable. Work is fine, as long as it’s not personal.

I was not unhappy with you. I’ve just lost my desire to interact with women. I’m scared of you. That may sound strange, and it’s not your fault. Maybe I feel something with you, and I’m not yet ready to feel anything. And maybe the divorce destroyed my ability to feel anything with a woman. I was happy with your kids, maybe because they don’t remind me of my failed marriage.

Ann told Dylan, I understand most of that. My ex-husband abandoned us four years ago. Legally, the divorce was simple, but he left me on my own with my two kids. Initially, I was angry more than sad, but I grew to understand that he was not good for me or my kids. He gave me two great kids, but otherwise, he was not really a husband or father.

Ann continued, Dylan, I don’t know what to tell you, but we both need to find a good life without our ex-spouses. Life is too short to dwell on the bad parts of our past.

Dylan stared at Ann for a few seconds and then said, Thank you, Ann. That makes sense, and it really helps me. Now I need to go home and sleep.

Ann asked, Could you give me a hug before you go?

Without saying anything, Dylan gave her a tight hug and then left for home.

Ann sat with her glass of wine and thought about Dylan. She realized that her interactions with Dylan were a little tense and awkward, but she sensed no anger from him, just deep sadness. Apparently he deeply loved his wife, and she abruptly left him. He’s still grieving, as if his wife died. Ann thought Dylan was probably a good man, but his sadness and grief concealed the real person.

She recalled her own trauma when her husband abandoned them. She tried to compare her experience and Dylan’s. With limited information, she found two things. First, she was angry with her ex-husband, but Dylan did not seem to have any anger. Secondly, she had her two kids, and she could focus on taking care of them. Dylan did not have anyone.

Then Ann remembered Dylan with her kids and the visit to the ring-tailed lemurs. She expected the kids to talk about Dylan for a few days. She decided that they had a most unusual day, but it was good for her and great for her kids and maybe good for Dylan.

*****

Dylan sat in his apartment and thought about his day. He decided that Ann was a good person. He did not have strong feelings for her, but he enjoyed being with her and her kids. They had a kind of personal interaction that he had not experienced since his wife left him. He wondered if his interactions with Ann would make him a little more comfortable with women and more trusting of women. He acknowledged that Ann helped him, but he did not consider anything beyond their unusual date at the zoo.

Dylan remembered visiting the lemurs at the zoo and wanted to know more about them. He went online but did not find much. He did find some mention of research at Duke University and in Madagascar. He looked on Amazon and found only cartoonish books for kids. As he went to bed, he decided to visit the Duke Lemur Center.

Dylan spent Sunday on his university work and a new consulting possibility that seemed interesting and promising. In the afternoon, he received a call from a friend named Steve who had his own company. He wanted to meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Dylan agreed.

The dinner began with some review and update of the work at Steve’s factory and the collaboration with Dylan. Then Steve revealed the main purpose of the dinner meeting. He told Dylan about a small company in North Carolina near the Research Triangle that was owned by their mutual friend Carl. The new company had some good ideas, and they had applied for a few patents that could be valuable. Steve mentioned that his company was considering buying the new company in North Carolina because the combined companies would be more productive and more profitable.

Dylan agreed with the logic, and asked how that might work.

Steve explained that they had some experience with such purchases, but each one is different. He said, First, I want you to visit the company and evaluate their technology and the operation of the company. If I go, they’ll be more secretive, but you already know the technology, and they’ll more likely talk openly with you. Carl would be a good contact person.

Dylan looked at a printed description of Carl’s NC company and the list of personnel.

Steve noted, My company will pay your usual consulting fee and all expenses. You may also want to spend a few extra days with your professor friends at Duke University at our expense.

Dylan, thinking aloud, said, I need to finish my university courses this week. After that, I’d want to spend a whole week or more in NC, with the company folks, at Duke University, and to visit the Duke Lemur Center.

Steve smiled and said, All that might take ten days or so, and that is not a problem for us. When you return, I want the usual report, and I want to talk with you about the Lemur Center.

Dylan agreed.

Steve concluded, Dylan, you have greatly benefited our company. You have played an important role in building our company, and I hope we can continue to work together. Also, I heard that you recently completed a difficult divorce. I have seen divorces disable a few men, but your divorce hasn’t affected the quality of your work with us. Maybe this trip will help you move beyond the difficult end to your marriage.

Dylan replied, Thank you, Steve. I really appreciate your thoughts and the opportunity in NC. My professional life isn’t hampered by the effects of my divorce. My personal life is a different story.

They continued to discuss the possible company purchase and the potential benefits over dinner and wine.

As they were leaving, Steve insisted, When you return, let’s have dinner here to talk about your experience in NC, including the Lemur Center. I hope we can also talk about how you plan to build a new personal life.

Dylan agreed, and they went home.

At home, Dylan received a text from Ann. She asked, Could we meet for lunch tomorrow or Tuesday? I want to tell you about conversations with my kids.

Dylan replied, How about the student center at noon on Tuesday?

Ann replied, Perfect!

On Monday, Dylan prepared for the end of courses, and he phoned friends at Duke University and the NC company. He just told them that he would be in the area next week, and he wanted to visit. They agreed on Tuesday-Wednesday with friends at Duke University and Thursday-Friday at the company. Then he phoned the Duke Lemur Center to arrange a visit and to talk with an expert on lemur social structure, vocalization, and mimicking humans. They gave Dylan the contact information for a woman named Tessa who could answer his questions. At the end of day, Dylan told himself that he had a good day.

Tuesday morning, Dylan looked at his NC schedule and decided to fly instead of driving. He wasn’t sure of the end date for his trip, so he just chose to return two weeks from Thursday.

Dylan met Ann for lunch in the university food court, and they sat to eat.

Ann, with a big smile, said, I need to tell you about my kids. You had a big effect on them, and they can’t stop talking about their friend named Dylan. They talk about being at the zoo, the silly song, the pizza, and your good-night story. They had fun with you, and they continue to have fun just talking about their day at the zoo and at home. You made them happy, and I thank you for that.

Dylan wanted to change the subject, so he asked, Tell me about your summer. Will you teach courses? Will you and the kids take a vacation?

Ann did not take the bait but asked, Are you scared of me right now?

Dylan did not answer.

Ann continued, Dylan, I have a feeling that under all your grief and sadness resides a very nice man. I’d like to know more about that man.

After a long pause, Dylan explained, Ann, I admire your persistence and your good intentions. You have been kind and patient and friendly. I confess that I’d like to know you better, but the timing is bad. I’m just not ready to start dating—with you or anyone else. Also, starting Monday, I’ll be in North Carolina for about ten days. I’m sorry. You deserve better, but I just need time.

Ann responded, I’ll accept your analysis on one condition. You and I must have pizza with my kids after your NC trip.

Dylan countered, I accept your condition with one condition. You and I meet here for lunch on Thursday, and you tell me about your summer plans, with no discussion of a relationship between you and me.

Ann, with a big smile, agreed, Okay, we have a deal.

Dylan concluded, Good. Now I must get back to work. See you Thursday.

In the midst of ending courses, Ann and Dylan met for a brief lunch on Thursday. They talked about Ann’s summer plans and little else.

When they finished, Ann requested, Let me know when you’re back in town, and thanks for lunch.

Dylan just said, Tell Katie and Sam that Dylan says hello.

Ann smiled and said, Take care, Dylan.

Dylan finished his academic semester and spent the weekend preparing for the NC meetings.

Chapter 2

Trip to Durham via DC and Charlotte

On Monday, Dylan boarded his plane to NC. He did not check the weather, but the East Coast had some severe storms. The pilot announced that the flight had been diverted to DC to avoid the storms. At DC, they were instructed to change planes for a flight to Charlotte. Dylan thought that was a little odd, but began planning to rent a car in Charlotte and drive to Durham. That seemed like a good plan, and the plane left DC for the flight to Charlotte.

Shortly after becoming airborne, the flight became very rough and bumpy. The pilot and flight attendants insisted that everyone remain in their seats. Dylan was in an aisle seat, but he could see continuous lightning on both sides of the plane. About fifty miles from Charlotte, a lightning bolt hit the right wing and apparently damaged the engine. Dylan knew that lightning hits were common, but rarely caused serious damage. Fortunately, the engine was not in flames; it just stopped. The pilot confirmed that they were flying with one engine, and they had permission for an emergency landing in Charlotte. The flight attendants gave landing instructions and sat in their seats. The pilot and flight attendants were surprisingly calm. Meanwhile, the passengers moved side to side, and the seat belts kept them from falling out of their seats.

About twenty miles from the airport, the other engine seemed to have problems and operated at variable speed. The pilot was silent and obviously had limited control of the plane. With little engine power, the pilot flew the plane toward the airport. Dylan could see fields and structures by the light of the lightning, and he guessed their altitude.

About a mile from the runway, the second engine stopped. Dylan could not see the runway from his aisle seat, but he knew the plane was getting close to the ground. The plane made a hard landing at an odd angle in the rain and wind, and Dylan thought the ground speed was about right. The plane hit the edge of the runway, and the tail section broke away, leaving a large opening behind the passenger seats. The plane skidded off the runway, which probably avoided fire from sparks on the runway.

Dylan immediately looked for an exit, and the opening in the tail section seemed the best bet. Quickly the cabin became filled with smoke, and Dylan began guiding passengers toward the opening in the tail. All passengers seemed to have injuries and needed guidance through the smoke and toward the exit. Dylan carried children and guided adults. One young mother had an arm injury, but she could walk. Dylan carried her two kids and guided them to the awaiting ambulances. He guided others to the rear exit through thick smoke and some flames in the front of the cabin. As he did a final check for passengers, he thought that the light from the flames made it easier to verify that all passengers had escaped.

Confident that all passengers were off the plane, he moved quickly to the exit. The flames were already on both sides of the aisle, and he could feel intense heat. At the exit, he paused and looked back to see flames in the entire interior of the plane. He guessed that the cargo and luggage were burning.

As Dylan walked toward the ambulances, he watched the fire crew moving into position. He suddenly realized that he had pain in his rib cage. He suspected cracked ribs. When he reached the ambulance area, Dylan talked with the mother and kids, and he assured them that they’re safe now. As he sat on the edge of the runway and watched ambulances take the passengers to hospital, he realized that he had interacted with people, even strangers, for the first time since his divorce. The zoo trip with Ann may have helped, but Dylan felt good about helping the passengers escape to safety.

Finally an EMS pair approached Dylan. One of them exclaimed, You’re the man who carried some passengers and helped others to safety! What’s your name? Are you injured?

Dylan told them, My name is Dylan, and I may have an injury to my ribs.

They immediately placed him in an ambulance and headed for the hospital. One of them asked, Dylan, do you have pain when you breathe?

Dylan replied, I don’t think my lungs are punctured, no collapsed lung, but breathing is not comfortable. Maybe I have broken ribs.

At the hospital, the crash victims were placed on gurneys and filled the entire hallway. The doctors took chest x-rays to see Dylan’s fractured ribs. One doctor told him, We will tape your chest to hold the ribs in place for healing, but we won’t do any surgery. They continued talk about surgery options and the type of taping. The doctor concluded, Dylan, your chest will hurt like hell for a few days, but it will heal. Avoid unnecessary movement.

Dylan explained, I need to be at Duke University tomorrow. When can I drive?

The doctor suggested, Postpone your meeting. Maybe you can drive on Friday. Let’s reevaluate tomorrow.

Dylan thanked the doctor.

One of the EMS pair joined them with Doctor, this is the guy who carried some kids out of the plane, and he guided others to safety! How are his ribs?

They looked at Dylan’s chest x-ray and discussed what they found. Then the doctor and two nurses taped Dylan’s chest to hold the broken ribs in place and still allow breathing. Dylan asked about the other passengers, including the woman with two kids. They described the injuries and told Dylan that most of them were still in the hallway and waiting for room assignments.

Dylan requested two things. "First, I need my cell phone to postpone meetings at Duke. And I’d like to