On some level I think I really did peak at eight. I was smarter then my father by then and sex, drugs, and rock and roll is about the only change. I'm taller and can read also. I hated the written word back then and sports were my only solace. I once scored 30 points in a game at that age and only twice in the rest of the years scored half that. That same year the YBA basketball team I was playing on did not win a game. It was against the best team that I played that well and had a Hail Mary shot from half court with just seconds remaining. I missed off the back of the rim and we lost 32 to 33. This next story is a year later and it's not about basketball, or is it? They were gleaming white. Two cows worth of leather and enough rubber to melt for a landing strip. I thought if I would have had these new New Balance high top basketball sneaks I would never lose again.
Ma was working now, but I still had never owned anything as costly, yet priceless in my life. She knew she had me, I'da gave my soul. "Anything" I pleaded. "Clean the house and garage for a life time, sure". "Are you sure Daniel?" Ma asked in this "you better be careful" sly tone. "Anything!!!!" I screamed.
Dance lessons became an hour twice a week gig for me. Grampa would car pool Lis, me, and a bother sister team of Cary and Eric. Eric killed my cat Whiskers and if I ever see that little basterd I'll ..... Anyway I had two half hour classes. The first was in a group and the second was one on one class. They both were tap classes and I did what I had to.
The group class consisted of Brett who was two years younger then me and six girls. I remember the faces of three, but the names were no concern of mine. I'm surprised I even remember Brett. The girls where all younger by two to three years, but they all had more experience then us guys did. The funny thing was that we (Brett and I) led the routine. We started out as a group, did the old step, ball, change a few times, then a bunch of circles with him leading three and I the others. Being a touch older I was somewhat looked to learn the movements well and Miss Helen called on me to lead often. Miss Helen was 500 years old and her first high heeled tap shoes were rocks with branches for supports. She was nice thou and truly enjoyed what she was doing.
The second class was with a high school girl. She had been a student for years and taught to pay for her classes. Her name, her face, color of her hair, I have no bloody idea! But when I think of her I smile and my head bobbles. We would stand facing each other as she would teach me more advanced steps. I was eye level with her breasts and she'd hug me tightly into them after every class. Grampa would laugh as I came out of the room all dreamy eyed. Needles to say I learned One (two) thing from her.
The deal was I just had to take the classes. No way in hell was I getting on stage. The funny thing was I never told the other kids and neither did anyone else. It was a train wreck, seven chickens with their heads caught off. I sat in the third row and cried it was so funny. To be a huge part of something by doing nothing. I felt bad after until a Mother of one of the girls yelled at me. "Hey lady I'm just here for the shoes!"
�2003 Daniel J Harris