The
Court House Square was an historic site in Prescott. Nearly every summer
evening there was some kind of public activity from town concerts to square
dancing lessons.
The cool breeze during
their stroll past the Square inspired Bob to stop, suggesting to Ream they
enjoy the country music being played in the gazebo. It was a local band
of cowboy old-timers who played just for the enjoyment of playing.
They were as unpretentious
as their hats having the same authenticity as the one Gus had given Ream.
Bob asked Ream if he
wanted to sit on one of the benches but Ream declined, saying that
it felt good to stretch his legs.
There was a pause in
the music as the band prepared for the next song. A suggestion of Shalimar
perfume lingered around Ream. He felt a hand tug at his elbow gaining attention,
and a woman's voice asking, "Such a beautiful evening for a dance. Do you
dance, Maurice Johnson?"
At first confused,
then with composure regained, Ream smiled in recognition of the voice and
perfume. It was Sally, motivated by a special woman's reason.
"OK," replied Ream
as Sally led him by the elbow through the green grass to a clear, paved
space on the court yard.
Her unexpected appearance
stunned him. He couldn't have refused to dance even if he had wanted to.
He was re-gathering himself as the music started. There was no further
need for words. The song was an old-fashioned cowboy slow dance.
Ream held out his arms
anticipating the dance, and Sally drifted smoothly into them. Their hands
met in a soft grasp while his other arm circled her waist. They came together
gently.
He held her lightly
as if letting their souls choose to dance. Ream was listening beyond the
song to the music within Sally. He embraced the music of her spirit; soft,
radiant, and alive.
With the touch of his
fingers and arms, he led her in the dance, granting a freedom Sally had
never before experienced. His steps swayed as suggestions in the smallest
increments with the song, giving Sally the choice to follow. He was allowing
the song to guide their dance, while he let their embrace resonate with
the deeper music of the universe. It was as if that music played them.
In the beginning there
was a cordial space between them existing as if it would melt only when
it was ready. Ream accepted this. He didn't pull her toward him, but let
her flow into him. The more gentle he was with Sally, the closer she danced.
Soon there was no resistance between them, and then a great calm connected
them. They each let go into a quiet deeper breath, one following the other.
Words couldn't approach
describing the velocity of the event. Something profound had happened,
and it was left for them to decipher the encounter in hindsight.
Bystanders applauded
when the song ended. As Sally walked with Ream toward Bob she said, "Well,
Mr. Johnson, that was quite a dance. It will be some time before I forget
it."
Ream smiled gently
and asked if he might call her sometime. She consented and in leaving put
her card with her home phone number written on the back into Ream's shirt
pocket.
They had returned to
the car and were ready to head back to Sedona when Ream handed the card
to Bob asking him to read it aloud.
When Bob finished,
Ream said, "Bob, it's the woman I was talking about earlier. I met her
tonight for the first time. We have visited on the phone previously, but
she didn't know it was me. I was sort of in disguise as Maurice Johnson
since that's what she saw on my name tag."
"Well," said Bob, "I
can see your dilemma. I know there must be a reason. Why don't you tell
her your situation?"
"Yes, there is a reason,"
replied Ream. "At first I thought it was not the time or place for me to
tell her, but now I know it runs much deeper. You see, it's not the blindness
I am afraid to mention. That aspect could be worked through. She already
knows I'm blind and was comfortable enough to give me her number.
Whatever is between us is bigger than the blindness. At the same time I'm
not really sure why she asked me to dance. Women sometimes have unusual
reasons."
"Then there must be
something else that's keeping you from disclosing?" asked Bob.
Ream seemed to pull
back inside himself, and Bob could see it was a tremendous effort for Ream
to say, "I am not whole inside. I need to pull the pieces of me back together
which are scattered all over this planet. I can't give her a half a person.
It's not fair to her or me. Right now I am living in defeat, and I have
to find the rest of me and of life. When it comes down to it, I can probably
adjust to the blindness, but the damn problem is I can't find me."