“I want ‘Sally Ann,’” Rondal said and winked at me. “You recall that there song, dont you?”

His shirt was open part way down his chest and I could see the curly brown hair.

“I recall,” I whispered.

“Myself, I got fond memories of it,” he said.

They found a man from Marrowbone to pick the banjo. Fred Combs called for a circle dance and we joined it. Rondal danced hard, vigorous, banged his right boot on the floor.

“Circle up four around that floor,

“Circle around that ole barn door.”

His fingers dug hard into my waist. We spun around for a corner swing.

“Back to your center with an elbow swing,

“On to your partner with a turkey wing.”

He caught my eyes each time we passed.

“Birdie in a cage, aint she sweet?

“Hear that birdie go tweet tweet tweet.”

They circled up and threw me inside. No way out even if I tried.

“Birdie out and old crow in,

“Six hands up and gone again.”

Rondal pranced into the center and punched the air with his elbows.

Isom sang counter to the tune, Sally Ann Sally Ann Sally Ann Sally Ann.

Oh-h-h, ha-a-aw! Pappy Thornsberry called from the corner.

“Chase that rabbit, chase that squirrel,

“Chase that purty girl round the world.”

We tore off in opposite ways, touched strange hands all round the ring. Then Rondal had me, swung me high.

“Sue’s in bed with the hog-eyed man,

“I’m goin home with Sally Ann.”

When the dance ended, Rondal said, “Let’s go outside,” and pulled me along behind him. We stood just beyond the door. He drew me into his arms and I rubbed my lips against the soft skin of his neck. The smell of him was strong and familiar, mixed with the scent of the honeysuckle that bloomed beside the school. A moth brushed against my cheek.

“Damn miller,” Rondal said, and waved it away.

“He’s drunk on honeysuckle,” I said. I kissed his neck. “You got a woman?”

“I see a woman in Inez. A redhead.”

“You love her?”

He shrugged.

I gathered all my courage. “I love you. I allays have. I’d a married you in a minute ifn you’d asked me.”

“I never asked you,” he said proudly.

I pulled away.

“Hit’s been four year,” he said. “Cant you forgit? We was just two nice people that wanted to be together that night.”

“Dont speak for me! I made a choice and I wont have it made light of! And now you bring me out here and git me all stirred up. Why? Just to prove that you still yet can?”

He leaned back against the wall like he was exasperated.

“You was lonesome then,” I said, “and you are now. I can tell it. Why wont you let me love you?”

“All right. I am lonesome. That make you feel better?” He turned his face away. “Carrie, you ask too much. You would take what I do so damn serious. I like a woman to help me forgit. With you, I’d never git away from it.”