Sammy and Ilna, love you guys to the moon.
REAL McRollers and Readers, thank you, always!
Dancing Queen
Ko Olina Beachfront
Autism Surfs Fundraiser
"Well, there's no denying that little firecracker on the dance floor is yours." A woman about Elizabeth's age nodded towards Angie as she stood next to Catherine at the refreshment area set up a few yards from the round party tables. "She looks just like you."
"That's my Angie," she replied. The almost five year old was dressed in a yellow tank top and denim shorts, dancing next to the stand set up for the DJ, who was grinning at the enthusiastic little girl.
"She's adorable. And so confident."
"Thanks." Catherine smiled as Angie's voice rang out, "I like these songs, you play good music!"
The woman took several iced teas and moved on to rejoin her group at the fundraiser just as DJ came running up to his mother.
"Hey, having fun?" She ran a hand over his hair and kissed his head.
"Yeah, it's such a fun party and it's getting donations for a super important program. Can I go with Uncle Chin and watch the surfers?"
Catherine took water from the large, ice filled bin. "Take a water," she passed him two. "And one for Uncle Chin."
"Thanks, Mommy, Auntie Kono's up soon."
"Have fun," she said as he ran off in the direction of a group gathering at the water's edge. They were watching retired pro surfers who volunteered with the Autism Surfs program surf to raise funds. When DJ reached Chin's side, both looked her way and waved before turning their attention to the water.
Catherine grabbed several waters of her own and walked the distance to where her daughter was spinning, arms out, on the wood surface placed on the sand as a dance floor.
"Mommy!" She called as soon as she caught sight of her mother. "Come and dance!"
Smiling at how Angie had zero cares that she was currently alone on the dance floor, she placed the bottles in the sand and took her little girl's hands.
"Yay! This is my Mommy," she told the DJ. "Her name's Catherine. His name is Benny, Mommy."
"Hi," Catherine waved. "Looks like you have a fan."
The college age DJ grinned. "She's the best. I wish every party had an Angie."
"I can come to all the parties," she offered. "I love dancing."
After watching Catherine and Angie hold hands, dance and spin to a Taylor Swift song, Benny leaned into the mic and winked. "How about we get a few more dancers up here?"
"What about some 70s and 80s stuff for us old people?" A man in boardies called out, causing the crowd to chuckle.
"I got you," Benny nodded and the strains of an 80s tune began to play.
Steve approached the table where Catherine was sitting with Kono's mom and grandmother and pecked his wife's cheek. "She's still at it, hmmm?" He raised his chin towards their daughter, who was currently dancing with Danny and Gabby.
Kaia Kalakaua smiled. "May she always have that self confidence and dance like there's not a care in the world."
Steve squeezed her shoulder gently in thanks just as Angie spotted him and called, "Daddy!"
When he made his way to the dance floor, Catherine laughed, calling, "She's had Danny and Gabby up there for half an hour. Go relieve them."
"Hey, baby girl, you're still dancing, hmmm?" He lifted her and she nodded vigorously. "Can you dance with me now?"
"Yes, Daddy, dance with your girl while Uncle Danno and Aunt Gabby go cool off," his best friend said with a kiss to the little cheek. "Have fun, Angie." Danny waved and exited the dance floor with a grinning Gabby.
Steve placed Angie on her feet and took her hand, chuckling when she said, "Spin me!" and turned in a circle.
"Let's get everyone up on their feet," Benny called and people joined them on the floor.
When Paradise by the Dashboard Light began to play, Steve looked at Catherine. She'd joined them with DJ, who had finished watching the surfers and came back to the table in time for his sister to call for him to come and dance, "With everybody."
With the floor filled up, the kids began dancing with Esther and Kamekona, and everyone who knew the words was calling out the dialog to the song.
A few lines into the lyrics, Steve raised his brows at Catherine.
"She doesn't get it." She patted his shoulder.
He cringed at the line, 'Ain't no doubt about it we were doubly blessed 'Cause we were barely seventeen and we were barely dressed' and said, "And I hope it's thirty years til she does."
When the broadcast part of the song began, DJ looked at his parents when Angie exclaimed, "Baseball!" and said, "It's a game announcer, Daddy right in a song!"
Catherine chuckled when Danny and Gabby came back out and the detective said, "You have a couple of years, babe, relax," with a knowing smile.
By the song's end people were clapping and laughing, and when a familiar tune began, Danny Williams placed a finger to the side of his nose The Sting style, and beamed when Angie gasped and ran his way.
"It's our carnival song, Uncle Danno!" She'd recognized it before many of the adults and ran to dance with her godfather to one of the songs he'd taught her practically since birth.
Holding out both hands, Danny took the tiny ones in his and grinned at his partner when the little girl began to sing along.
"Got no time, for the corner boys, out on da street makin' all dat noise…"
Watching his best friend dance with his daughter, Steve smiled.
As much as he busted Danny, Angie loved knowing songs he'd taught her from Springsteen, Bon Jovi, even Sinatra, and watching them share a special moment made him think of all the moments he'd shared with Gracie over the years.
Angie's laugh floated above the music and when Benny the DJ took the mic, he pointed to the curly haired little girl who'd charmed him and all the adults. "This next oldie is for my new friend Angie," he said and she clapped uproariously when the unknown song began to play.
Hopping in place before she began to dance anew, she grinned at her parents as Dancing Queen filled the air.
# End. Thanks for reading!
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