Excerpt from "The Dancing Lesson"

(This is another story with Ed and Frankie, who appeared in the triptych "Split-level with 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths, rec room and den, cathedral ceiling, breezeway"; the story takes place two years later. The boys are on a covered platform at the top of a big jungle gym, and a girl, Bobbi Kirsch, 12, has joined them.)

Bobbi had a broad face and a high forehead. Her eyes were large and direct, with grey-blue pupils, and her long hair was reddish brown and made up of loose curls. And her mouth seemed like it was always just about to smile—or maybe laugh. She was a little taller than the two boys, and she was wearing a Kelly green bathing suit.

She climbed quickly, looking up at them, and lifted herself onto the platform. She stood over them, her back to the fireman’s pole.

“Hi, Ed,” she said, and glanced at Frankie, who said, “Hi.”

“What’re you doing up here?” she asked. “I saw some bikes over near the water fountain.”

“We walked,” Ed said. 

“There was a spider up here,” Frankie said.

She looked around. “Did you kill it?”

Ed looked at Frankie then back at Bobbi. “No, it got away. Bring your radio?” He pointed at the transistor radio she had dangling from a strap on her wrist.

“No, Ed, it’s a pet hamster,” Frankie said, and Bobbi laughed a little and turned it on. It was tuned to WIBG, and Hy Lit was selling the next song, “Hanky Panky,” which started off with Tommy James singing, no instrumental intro, so no chance for the DJ to wedge in some patter. Everybody hated it when DJs talked while the song was playing. Bobbi straightened up right away. “I love this one!” she said, and started dancing.

Ed and Frankie looked up at her in silence. She flipped her almost-hips and held her arms loosely in front of her, and they swayed a little with the beat. She slid her feet on the dimpled steel of the platform, raised one leg up on her toes and swiveled her foot. Her eyes were closed, and that almost-smile broke out and made her face light up.