Author's Note: This short story is related to "A Hot, Dusty Long Ago", but it's not required to read it to enjoy this story.
It was one of those nights where, try as she might, Maureen Robinson just couldn't sleep. It didn't happen often, but when it did, she knew it was no use just lying there. Silently, she slipped out of bed and went to the galley. She fixed herself a cup of chamomile tea, then went to the upper deck to stare at the stars, as she did on nights like this.
Tonight, the full moon of that world shone brightly upon the campsite. She loved to sit and just watch the stars, catch the occasional meteorite streaking through the atmosphere. It reminded her of the camping trips her parents would take her on. They couldn't see many stars in the city, so it was a special treat to get out into the country where she could see the bands of the Milky Way fill the sky.
Sometimes she'd sneak out of the Jupiter 2 on nice evenings like this, but tonight was warm and she decided she'd stay in the air-conditioned comfort of the ship.
As her eyes scanned the horizon, movement caught her eye. There in the clearing was Doctor Smith, in his day clothes, just standing there. No, he was moving slowly, his right hand held out to the side, the other held about waist height. He appeared to be dancing. She smiled and shook her head. The man never ceased to surprise her. She continued to watch him, fascinated.
Smith didn't see her watching him. He couldn't, since his eyes were closed. He swayed and turned, his mind far away in another place and time. In his memories, he heard the buzzing of insects in the heat of a Georgia evening, a soft song playing on the radio, the shuffling of two pairs of feet on the wood of the back porch. The scent of honeysuckle wafted in the breeze, but he was more interested in the scent of her floral perfume, the expensive one he'd saved up to buy her for her twenty-sixth birthday.
He held her close, her head rested on his chest. They moved together in unison. If ever there was a perfect moment in their lives, this was it. She looked up at him as the song ended and their lips met for one tender kiss.
Maureen had no idea what Doctor Smith was thinking, but she saw his lips raise briefly in a relaxed, contented smile.
With his right hand, he tucked her hair behind her ear. "You look radiant in the moonlight, darlin'."
"And you look right handsome," Katherine replied.
They kissed again. Then the next song played.
Maureen chuckled as she saw the doctor move from a slow dance to something more up-tempo. He appeared to twirl his partner, he held his hands out, then pulled them back in again. Whatever the man was thinking, it was just nice to see him having a good time.
Katherine crashed into him and they stumbled a little, laughing. He held her, getting her stable on her feet, before they continued to get down.
A hand covered Maureen's mouth as she tried to contain her laughter. Was he doing the Bump? She felt a little like she was invading his privacy, but she was just so fascinated. This was a side of the good doctor she'd never seen.
It wasn't long until that song ended. Another slow song began. He began swaying slowly again, turning as he went. He stroked his Katherine's soft hair and she leaned into him.
The Robinson matriarch didn't know what possessed her, but she decided it looked too fun to just watch. She went below to get the little portable stereo in storage. She rifled through their selection of CDs and picked a "Best Of The Seventies" compilation. If he was indeed doing the Bump, it was a good bet that was the era his mind was at the moment.
She climbed back to the upper deck and opened the hatch. Smith didn't hear her exit, he was so lost in his memories. Quietly, she set up the stereo, adjusted the volume to a level loud enough for them to hear, but not loud enough to hear in the ship, and pressed play.
Smith let out a startled squeak as he realized he wasn't alone. He turned, hand on his chest. "Oh, Mrs. Robinson, you startled me."
"Looked like fun," she explained. "I hope you don't think it too forward of me if I ask you for this dance."
The doctor was clearly embarrassed and wasn't quite sure what to do.
Maureen started to dance to the upbeat music, hoping he'd recover and join her.
Well, Zachary, you've already made an enormous fool of yourself. There's no sense in stopping now, he thought to himself.
One of Smith's feet started to tap, while his head began to move to the beat. He held his hands out to her and she took them. For the next three minutes, there was no pretense, no formality, no past, just dancing. They moved back, then pulled each other in, they stepped left, two, three, four. Right, two, three, four. She twirled out, gripping one hand tightly, then he pulled her back in. Their hands let go and they made their own separate moves. Smith put the back of his hands on his hips, made duck lips, and strutted around like Mick Jagger while Mrs. Robinson threw her hands in the air and moved them back and forth as her hips swung in the opposite direction. They went around and around, circling each other, smiling and laughing. At one point, Maureen was sure the doctor was doing the conga.
The song ended and none too soon. Smith plopped down to the dirt, winded. Maureen did the same, laughing.
"Mrs. Robinson, you realize, of course, no one can ever know of this. Especially your husband." Smith's eyebrows rose, indicating he knew there would be repercussions if the Professor knew.
"Who's going to tell?" she smirked.
The two sat for a few moments in silence, catching their breath. Then, Maureen rose when the next song came on. She held out her hand to help Smith up and he accepted.
The two smiled as they began to dance and twirl and shimmy to the music again.