“Myra! It was their idea! I heard them talking, so I eavesdropped. When you eavesdrop, that’s when you hear the good stuff. I’m just making it happen. We aren’t getting enough exercise. And I need to brush up on my dancing for when I meet up with Tee to go dancing. I just thought of something. I’ll call Charles later and ask if he can light up the pole from the inside. Incandescent. That kind of thing. This is exciting, isn’t it, Myra?”

Myra was so excited, she could barely contain herself. Not. She sighed. “Annie, pole dancing isn’t dancing. Dancing is waltzing and fox-trotting. Don’t you remember all those dance classes and recitals we had to attend? We didn’t have incandescent lights then. All I can see is you getting a broken or fractured hip.”

“Why do you always rain on my parade?” Annie broke off enough branches from a dead pine and dragged them over to the snowmobile. After carefully arranging them, she decided that anyone who was not looking for a snowmobile would not know that there was one beneath. “That should do it! There is dancing, and then there is dancing. I’m talking about limbering up. Moving all your body parts, not just your feet. For your information, there is a tutorial on the Net for pole dancing. I have to say, I think it will be challenging, but I think I can do it. You, now, that’s another story.”

“What is it with you, Annie? You’re not the same person you used to be. How did all this happen?” Myra asked fretfully as she envisioned herself being urged by the others to give pole dancing a shot.

“I’m alive, Myra. I want to experience everything life has to offer. Just wait till we get our pardons. You watch my dust then.”

“Oh, Annie, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. If you’re counting on that happening…what will you do if it doesn’t happen?”