-A Dance

[Words to Image. I choose a random image and listen to it. What it speaks to me, I type. This is how I perceive the image to tell its own story]

Lei always felt as if she was born in the wrong time. Her heart and soul desperately wanted to leap ahead into the future and leave the tasks and mindsets of the old world behind. The rest of the world had evolved, so why must her little community stop the clock the way they do? She grew weary of words like 'proper' and 'duty.' Every day repeated the same.

"Prepare yourself for your husband to be. We have rolls."

Blisters to her ears, every one. Sunrise to sunset had become the prison of her mind that she longed to escape. Only in sleep and quiet times did she feel the freedom to soar. Her heart was filled with the wonders of travel, new faces, different smells, foreign accents, experiences that were daring and uncomfortable. When she didn't dream of them in the night, they consumed her thoughts during the day. She longed for the thrills of Dance Dance Revolution and neon lights beneath cars, her car. She dreamed higher than simply hanging onto the arm of a suave guy who wore too many chains around his neck. She wanted all eyes upon her and her vibes. Far, far away from the bamboo fields and soaked feet where she would feel so invisible. Oh, to be seen.

The women of the community were aware of her 'rebellious nature' and sought out a means to steer her concerns back to what was in the order of things. They plotted.

It was the eve of the Consummation of The Fields festival. The local farmers would bring their crops to the central Table of Excess and Prosperity where a portion of their gatherings would be offered to all eligible females as a prepaid dowry incentive. A group investment to build the community stronger by means of family promotion. Interested gentleman would request sponsorship in hopes to impress and woo a future wife. Those successful laid claim to the portion provided by their sponsors who would in turn offer it to the prospective females and their family. Enough food for months of 'tan lian ai' (dating) so their focus would be directed toward a lifelong connection and less on gathering necessities. Lei was not looking forward to the festival. She daydreamed to help her escape the upcoming pressure.

The morning came and the tables were filled with gleanings from the harvest. Young men slipped into their best shoes having already polished them the night before. The ladies smelled especially fragrant today, their necklines wearing crushed lychee and pink peppercorn juice. It was a day of persuasion. A day to secure one's future. A day of dread for Lei.

Those available gathered near the table and giggled amongst themselves. All were hopeful. Their families were proud and gave them words of encouragement. As did Lei's but she tuned them out. A marriage proposal would surely be a death sentence to every dream of escape she held.

She watched as a young man approached. He maintained eye contact all the way across the room. Her heart sank. Not for anxiousness but in dread. He hesitated and fumbled through his words. His conversation was nothing like the confidence of the other hopeful young men. Three sentences in and he paused, sighed heavily, and informed her that he was there against his will. He, too, held onto dreams of the new world.

"I want to visit places, many places. I want rock music, cheeseburgers. I want to dance."

Lei stepped into his space, grabbed his hands, and pulled them to her neckline. It was the first moment she had smiled all day.

"Dance Dance Revolution!" she whispered with enthusiasm.

"Yes! Dance Dance Revolution!"

They were careful to hide their words from ears nearby. Those looking on perceived it to be a moment of acceptance. Lei glanced at all of the harvest spread across the great table.

"We are bound to return here, yearly ... until our half is discovered. Once acceptance has been declared-"

"We are free to choose for ourselves."

He understood.

"Whisk me away to another world, Bok Tao."

"As is the custom, I set our date. I believe I will need to think on this. It may take me some time. Patience?"

She understood.

"Patience," she agreed.

He released their grip, stepped backwards, stretching out his right leg behind and pointed the toe. He bent his left knee, bowed, and held his left hand to the air. Lei did as he and they clasped fingers together, the sign of acceptance. The very first prospective youths to join. All families were pleased.

Bok Tao and Lei traveled the world. They experienced many things, ate cheeseburgers, attended rock concerts, and loved one another till their last day. They never married ... but did they ever dance!