TEACHING JAY AND RUTH TO DANCE: A BASEMENT ADVENTURE IN HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE

 

Jay 1963

By ChatGPT

In high school, everyone seems to have their own unique challenges when it comes to navigating the world of dances, mixers, and the delicate art of asking someone out. For my older brother, Jay, the biggest hurdle wasn’t finding a date—it was learning how to dance. He was the kind of guy who could excel in most things—music, Bible club, stage hand for plays, grades, even being the class clown—but when it came to moving rhythmically to a beat, he was completely out of his element.

But it wasn’t just Jay who struggled with the dance floor. Ruth, a good friend of mine from church, also found herself in a similar dilemma. She had a crush on one of my high school classmates, a guy who, for reasons unknown, seemed completely oblivious to her existence. Ruth had the desire to impress him at the next dance, but like Jay, she didn’t know the first thing about dancing. It seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to step in and play matchmaker, not just for my brother, but for Ruth as well.

So, I did what any well-meaning younger sibling would do: I invited them both over to our basement rec room for a "dance lesson."

Me, Ruth, Carolyn, Ben at Calvary Presbyterian 2005

The Dance Floor: Our Basement Rec Room

Our basement rec room was far from glamorous, but it had all the essentials—an old record player, a decent collection of 45s, and a space large enough to attempt a few dance moves without breaking anything (or so we thought). I was ready to turn the basement into a mini dance studio, with Jay and Ruth as my students.

I put on a classic rock and roll song, the kind of upbeat, fast-paced tune that would’ve been perfect for a school dance. The rhythm was catchy and easy enough to follow… or so I thought. Jay, as usual, was full of energy, but his coordination was lacking. Ruth, on the other hand, was a little more reserved but eager to learn.

As we started going over the basic moves, Jay was the first to get a little too enthusiastic. “This isn’t so hard,” he said, jumping up and down to the beat.

Well, his excitement was certainly contagious, but it was also a bit… chaotic. As Jay started bouncing higher and higher, I noticed he was getting closer to the ceiling. Now, our basement had a low ceiling, made even more fragile by the thin, white styrofoam tiles that lined it. It was hardly a sturdy structure for an impromptu dance session, especially one with a guy as physically energetic as Jay.

Before I could say anything, there was a loud thud—and Jay had just dented the ceiling with his head.

We all froze for a moment, staring up at the damage. The dent was unmistakable. A large, noticeable indentation in the white ceiling tile, a permanent reminder of Jay's wild enthusiasm. Ruth’s face turned red from a combination of laughter and embarrassment. I just sighed, trying to suppress my own giggles.

The Outcome: No Dances, No Dates, but Plenty of Memories

Despite the dent in the ceiling and the overall lack of coordination, we didn’t give up. We spent the rest of the afternoon practicing the basic moves, laughing at how awkward we all were. Jay tried to do spins, but they mostly ended with him stumbling into the couch. Ruth, on the other hand, was a little more graceful but still couldn’t quite figure out how to stop her feet from stepping on Jay’s.

When it was all over, Jay still hadn’t learned how to dance—and Ruth, well, she never did manage to get a date with my classmate. But I like to think that we all walked away with something. For Jay, it was a dented ceiling and the realization that maybe he didn’t need to dance to have a good time. For Ruth, it was a fun, albeit unproductive, afternoon of trying to impress a guy who likely never noticed.

As for me, well, I learned that sometimes you can try your best to help people, but the outcome isn't always what you'd expect. At least I gave it a shot.

And the next time there was a school dance, Jay, well, he didn't need a date to have a great time. He had his friends, a few jokes up his sleeve, and—well, let's just say, he didn't need to know how to dance to be the life of the party.

But the dent in the ceiling? That stayed there for years as a reminder that, sometimes, the best plans don’t always go as expected. But they sure make for great stories later.

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.