Звездный десант

           Thereisasocialcenterforusdowntown,wheretheyhavedancesforuseveryweekandseetoitthatjuniorhostessesareonhandtodancewith,andseniorhostessestomakesurethatashyboy(me,tomyamazement—butyoutryafewmonthswithnothingfemalearoundbutladyjackrabbits)getsintroducedandhasapartner’sfeettostepon.

           ButIdidn’tgotothesocialcenterthatfirstpass.MostlyIstoodaroundandgawked—atbeautifulbuildings,atdisplaywindowsfilledwithallmannerofunnecessarythings(andnotaweaponamongthem),atallthosepeoplerunningaround,orevenstrolling,doingexactlyastheypleasedandnotwoofthemdressedalike—andatgirls.

           Especiallyatgirls.Ihadn’trealizedjusthowwonderfultheywere.Look,I’veapprovedofgirlsfromthetimeIfirstnoticedthatthedifferencewasmorethanjustthattheydressdifferently.SofarasIrememberIneverdidgothroughthatperiodboysaresupposedtogothroughwhentheyknowthatgirlsaredifferentbutdislikethem;I’vealwayslikedgirls.

           ButthatdayIrealizedthatIhadlongbeentakingthemforgranted.

           Girlsaresimplywonderful.Justtostandonacornerandwatchthemgoingpastisdelightful.Theydon’twalk.Atleastnotwhatwedowhenwewalk.Idon’tknowhowtodescribeit,butit’smuchmorecomplexandutterlydelightful.Theydon’tmovejusttheirfeet;everythingmovesandindifferentdirections...andallofitgraceful.

           Imighthavebeenstandingthereyetifapolicemanhadn’tcomeby.Hesizedusupandsaid,"Howdy,boys.