Olly was the best dancer there.

***

The hall is emptying.  Sam wanders over to me.

‘You coming to the pub?’ he says.

‘Hmmm maybe - just to say bye to a few people.’

On the way out, I pass Olly standing in a small group.

I catch his eye.  ‘Goodnight.’

He steps away from the others, and lays a hand on my arm.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’

I give it.

‘I’m Olly,’ he says.

We shake hands.

‘Nice to meet you,’ I say.  ‘Good dancing.’

Understatement of the decade.

He looks surprised.  ‘Oh!  Thank you.  And – same, I thought you were particularly good.’

Blimey.

‘Oh.  Thank you!’

As I walk away I hear him say to one of the group,

‘Pub, yes?’

You bet.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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