Cat (Wildflowers 4)

7

"K eep the dress on, he ordered. 'Everything should be as close as possible to how it is going to be at the dance.' He thought for a moment. 'We need some music, too. Yes, that's it. We'll turn your room into the school ballroom.'

"He snapped on my radio and found a station. "'How's that?' he asked about the music.

"I shrugged.

"'I guess it's okay,' I said. I hadn't been to a school dance before, so I had no idea what sort of music would be played, especially at a parochial school dance."

"No hip-hop, I bet," Star said.

"No," I said. "They censor the words in the songs. They wouldn't even play Madonna."

"Some dance," Star muttered.

"'Okay,' Daddy said. 'Let's start at the beginning. You come to the dance and like all the girls, you gather together, talk about everyone's clothes and hairdos. Now,' he added with a wink, 'they'll surely be talking about you. And in a nice way, an enviable way,' he quickly added.

"'As soon as the boys see you, especially how you look now, you'll be approached by one or more and asked to dance. Be polite. Don't turn anyone down outright unless he's particularly disgusting,' he said and I smiled.

"Who else but my father would think me pretty? I wondered, even in this great dress.

"My father looked like he read my thoughts.

"'I don't want you underestimating yourself, Cathy. Don't seem surprised and so grateful when a boy asks you to dance. In fact, hesitate for a moment as if you're deciding whether or not he's worthy of you.'

"'Oh Daddy,' I said. 'I don't think I can do that.'

"After all, I thought, I had never yet been asked to dance by any boy ever. Even if the first looked like Frankenstein, I'd surely say yes quickly.

"'I want you to make them wonder,' "he said thinly. 'It's important that you establish self-respect in their eyes immediately. Okay,' he continued, 'I'm the one asking you to dance. Look like you're thinking about it. May I have this dance, Cathy?' he pretended. `Go on. Do what I said. Just a quick glance around as if you're checking to be sure no one else is waiting in the wings. Go on. Do it,' he told me and I pretended too, feeling foolish, but doing what he wanted anyway. 'Good,' he said. 'Now a small smile, a nod and step forward.'

"I did as he told me and he held out his arms. He listened to the music for a moment.

"'This is one of those dances we can actually dance together,' he said with a laugh. 'I'm sure the nuns won't permit anyone to dance any closer than this,' he said putting his hand on my waist and holding my other hand up. We moved around my room. 'That's good,' he said. 'Fine. However, you should expect some boys might still try to take advantage when the nuns aren't watching so carefully. They'll move you a bit closer like this and their hands may move off your hip like this and slide over your rear end. See,' he said.

"'What do I do?' I asked quickly.

"'Step back and then say, "Watch your hands if you want to dance with me." Make sure you say it like you mean it, okay?'

"I nodded. I was very nervous now and worried. Was this all going to happen? How did Daddy know so much? I wondered as well.

" `Do it,' he said.

"I stepped back. 'Watch your hands if you want to dance with me,' I repeated. He shook his head.

"'Firmer. Mean it,' he told me and I did it again, trying to sound serious.

"'Okay. That's better,' he said. 'Good,' he continued. "'What if the boy doesn't want to dance with me anymore?'

"'Good. You've eliminated an idiot.

'Now, however, if you get to like one particular boy and he seems to like you, too, he might ask you to sneak out of the dance with him What are you going to say?'

"'I don't know,' I said, unable to even imagine such a scenario. 'No, I guess.'

"'That's what you should say.' He held his gaze on me and a small smile formed in the corners of his lips. 'But you might be tempted. He might be a very good looking boy or popular,' he warned, lifting his voice.

"'I won't do it,' I promised.