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Multitasking

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It's always a fairly complex ballet, honed after years of practice. Timing is crucial. One step off and one either tumbles to the floor or is forced to catch oneself on the nearest solid object, which often enough is not worth grabbing because it's either too smooth or may end up releasing small objects to bounce off one's head. And besides, one would have to drop something in order to break the fall, and that would never do.

The first step is close the door with one's back and the back of the heel, preferably of the dominant foot, which will pull off its mate's shoe at the same time. Since the door is not yet closed, the foot with the loosened shoe must then be forced back and ram into the door whilst the foot itself leaves the shoe, which must, in turn, step hard onto the toe of the dominant foot. If placed correctly, the heel, stuffed under the door jam, will stick whilst the foot slips from its bonds.

At the same time, one must reach up to loosen the clasp for the necklace. Preferably, by the time the shoes are off, the catch has been lifted, or unscrewed, or hooked out or around, and the necklace will slither into one's hands. One step forward, and one is free from the confines of the shoes and the weight of the necklace.

It's important to swivel immediately, and bend whilst popping the earrings out with one hand as the other grabs both shoes by their flaps. Get up with one hand almost flatted on the floor, the earrings and necklace gripped between two fingers, and rise, making sure to take some weight of the knees so they don't pop. At the same time, one can shove back the shoulders and wriggle carefully out of one's jacket, juggling the shoes between both hands as the sleeves slip over arms. If feeling particularly ambitious, once it's off, let it slip and grab with one's teeth, tossing it up just enough to catch in the crook of the arm. If not, it can slide harmlessly onto a stool or couch as one heads for the bedroom.

Take advantage of the walk. Even holding the necklace, earrings, and shoes, one can still undo the buttons on a shirt or pants, or simply slip the former over the head just like the jacket, only it's going up not across. But don't leave a trail of clothes from here to the bedroom. One must catch each as it loosens and finally falls.

After that, dressing again in something much more comfortable is a simple matter. It's more fun, however, if one dresses whilst putting things away. Trade the watch for half a shirt, but when one puts the watch back one does it whilst slipping an arm through the empty sleeve, and when one's hand slides out, the watch will fall into its small space in the drawer, which can be banged shut with a hip whilst tying secure the ties for the pants. Jewelry should go back one at a time however. Getting them tangled is not the right way to go.

After all this is done, in literally only a few minutes, one can do as one pleases in considerably more comfortable clothing. Music can be flipped on with a finger whilst watching a sizzling pan, a knife gripped loosely in the free hand, the smell and feel of garlic heavy upon the air. Maybe sway to the jazz whilst transferring foodstuffs, or swipe a carrot from its pan on the way to the phone.

It was Brennan's dance, virtually every night, maybe minus the cooking. Her own personal art-form, a solo on a quiet stage, as she careened about her space on white-striped socks with well-remembered steps.

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Ten points if you know exactly what she (I) is talking about because you've done it before.