Chapter 18: Dancemania Revisited

The new captain of the gymnastics team took his job very seriously. He helped in the selection of the team, he helped organise training sessions and he helped to keep the morale of the team high when the going got though. Everyone around Clarence was aware of how enthusiastic he was about the gymnastics team and the competition.

Word spread quickly about Clarence being the captain. There were many people in the squad older than him but no one could dispute his ability. The team trained twice weekly and when possible Mrs. Heavens would organise out of hours training; on top of this, Clarence was practising his moves whenever he could. He had to work hard now to get back his normal level of fitness.

If he couldn't fully practice the moves, he would stretch as much as he could and exercise to keep in shape. He worked out a routine that he would do in the morning before breakfast. Twenty-six-ups, twenty press-ups. Left foot on dressing table for five minutes stretch, right foot on dressing table for five minutes stretch. Down on floor for five minutes in full splits position. Then breakfast. After breakfast, kick left leg in the air ten times, then repeat it with the right leg. Rotate head five times in circular motion to the left, then five to the right. Forward five times, and then back five. Then, to strength his calf muscles, he would stand flat on his feet and push forward on to his tip toes forty times, until it burnt. This was followed by a five minute lie on his bed to do some deep breathing and then he would run like crazy to the bathroom. Before, he went to sleep at night he did the similar routine.

When Clarence started training with the team, everybody could see the scars on his legs. He had to spend a lot of time demonstrating techniques but always felt ease. The team became his new gang and their success was his new ambition. Some believe that after Sophie's acting success, Clarence's gymnastic ambitions were only an attempt to impress her. But Clarence knew differently.

Aberdale High School teams concentrated on football and volleyball for the boys, so who liked gymnastics had no wait for opportunities such as these competitions. Clarence knew the standard competition routine well, and he knew that to really stand out from the other seven schools in the competition he would have to think up something very imaginative for the free-form display. For the first two weeks of preparation Mrs. Heavens and Clarence made sure the team focused on the usual competition disciplines. After a training session at which Clarence and Mrs. Heavens could see that the trampoline, the horse, the floor and the other disciplines were going well, Clarence made a suggestion to Mrs. Heavens.

-Teacher, you know our free-from routine? I got this idea. I wanna do a hip-hop dance thing, a kinda funky gymnastics with some bad beats going down.

Mrs. Heavens looked very confused but she tried hard not to show it. It took her a few seconds before her mind gasped the concept. -Right I see. Hip-hop and funky gymnastics with some bad beats.

-That's right, teacher. That's bad meaning good type bad, teacher.

-I'm not sure, Clarence. It sounds good, my kids would love it but I've never seen anything like that before in a competition.

-But teacher, in Art, in Drama, even in English, teachers say that originality brings progress. Why not in gymnastics?

-Because the judges will be looking for good executions of techniques in the various disciplines.

-But, this is free-form.

Mr. Heavens was won over by Clarence's argument and his enthusiasm -Ok-she said-at the end of each training session, I'll leave you to work out your funky, hip-hop dance thing. Just don't do anything dangerous.

-That's wicked, teacher. Thanks-Clarence replied. There we went off to introduce his ideas to the other members of the team.

Saturday morning, as he lay in soapy bathtub considering the meaning of life, love and lust, Clarence asked himself, Where do you really want to go tonight? When he had ruled out the Unity club, the Pyscho club and many other places he never really enjoyed, there was only place left. DANCEMANIA. Then he asked himself, Who shall I go with? He concluded Sumo was history, Jeff was a non-starter but Sophie, she just might. It had been her idea to go before. Maybe she would be interested in a return visit together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Clarence jumped out of the bath, wrapped in a towel around himself and, still dripping wet, grabbed his little black book and went to phone Sophie. He stood in the kitchen wetting the floor and phone as his parents watched breakfast TV in the living room.

He dialled. The phone rang. The phone was answered: it was Sophie's father. Clarence deepened his voice. -Err, hello. Could I speak to Sophie, please?

-May I ask who's speaking?

-Certainly, it's Chad from MDTV?

-Oh, hold on the line please, she will be with you in a moment-the man replied.

-Hello, this is Sophie. Who's speaking?

-Sophie, stay cool, it's me, Clarence. Can we talk?

-Not really.

-Well, just listen to what I say then. Let's go out tonight. Let's go back to Dancemania, the rap club. Remember you first took me there, let's go for a laugh.

-I'm sorry, but I'm busy going to drama today and tomorrow I'm attending a dance class and an audition so I really don't have any time.

-Come on, Sophie, it'll be fun. I'll teach you some of those dance moves that you said you wanted to learn.

-I'm afraid but I must rush. I'm sorry I can't help you but I do wish you success.

-Success-he repeated-you wish me success-

She put the phone receiver down and so did he. It was painful. He went to the bathroom, get back into the bath and soaked until the water went cold.

Later on that morning he found his stepfather in the back garden replacing some guttering. As his stepfather worked away, Clarence began to question him. -Chad, when you meet my mom, did you lust her or love her?

His stepfather stopped for a moment, raised his eyebrows as if he was searching into the distant past and declared, -I did both, buddy, yeah, both at the same time.

-Did you go out with her a lot before you come to live with her, Chad?

-No, buddy, we stayed in a lot when we were courting.

His stepfather seemed to be answering different questions from the ones he was asking but Clarence continued.

-Chad, am I too young to fall in love?

-Listen, buddy, ask your mom, she knows a lot about that stuff.

Clarence realised that his stepfather wasn't in a philosophical mood. He shrugged his shoulders, scratched his head, and then went to see his mother who was reading a book. -Mom, I think Sophie hates me.

-That's a bit strong-his mother replied, patting the seat next to her where she wanted him to sit-she doesn't hate you. Why should she hate you?-

-Because she thinks she's beautiful and she wants beautiful friends around her and she never spends any time with me now. She's always doing drama and rehearsing or auditioning.

-She's just trying to be an actress.

-So, she can't be an actress with me?-Clarence said, raising his voice slightly.

His mother took hold of his hand. –Look, Clarence, your friends are going to change, you know that. Even your girlfriends will change but whatever happens, your family won't change. We'll always be there for you. We love you come what way.

-That's another thing, mom. What's the difference between love and lust?

His mother smiled and looked down into her lap, embarrassed. -Well, Clarence, love is when you want a person forever and lust is when you want a person for a bit… a bit of time that is.

-So-Clarence rubbed his chin-you can't lust someone and marry them-

-You can-his mother replied-but those marriages don't usually last very long. Love is the best, son-

-Do you think Sophie loves me or lusts me?

-I don't think Sophie knows herself, Clarence-she said shrugging her shoulders.

Clarence stood up and began to leave the room. –I've got something to do-he said before heading the way to his bedroom.

There he made up his mind. He was going to the club tonight alone. He knew this was a bold move but he wanted his life back. He had a flashback to the accident. He re-lived his life being shattered but he told himself that his life was not going to stay that way. He was the captain, and he was going to celebrate. He began to search his wardrobe to see what he could wear. He pulled out his blue Gucci trousers, his big light blue orange t-shirt and his light purple jacket.

-Mom-he shouted from the door.

-Yes, son-came his mother's faint reply.

-I'm going out tonight, mom.

-Are you sure, son?

-Yes, mom, I'm going out on my own. I'll be all right.

He laid his clothes out on the bed, positioned as if he was wearing them. Then, he placed his underpants on top of his trousers and at the bottom he placed his Aberdale High School football team socks. He looked at his old purple sneakers and decided that they were too worn out to wear. He had no choice; he had to wear his sensible school sneakers. As he searched for his baseball cap, there was a knock, knock, knock on his door.

-Who's that knocking on my door?-he asked-identify yourself, parent-

There was no reply.

-Who's there? Who's knock, knock, knocking?

He go to open the door to find no one there. He looked to the left and then to the right and found no one. Just as he was turning back into his room, dismissing it as an uncharacteristic joke, he looked down. There he saw the trainers he had nagged his parents for. A pair of trainers that cost U$$ 100. He picked them up and kissed them.

-Cor, thanks, mom, thanks, Chad. They're brilliant, brilliant. These are business, my dancing shoes, man.

At nine thirty, Clarence was fully dressed and ready to go. As he looked in the mirror admiring his clothes he remembered the last time he went to Dancemania and how he look then. The more he did so, the more anxious became. Can I really do this? He thought. Then the positive, honest voice of reason spoke to him. You want to go, so let nothing stop you, just stay out of trouble. Don't accept any baddies from anymore and don't worry about people looking. He jumped up and looked in the mirror again. You're the captain. Celebrate.

This time he spoke out loud. –Ok, number one, let's go for it.

When he left the house he avoided his parents. He didn't want them to transfer their fears to him. Instead he shouted at the front door, -I'm off, mom, Chad. I won't be back late. Bye. And thanks for the sneakers, you are the best.

At the door of Dancemania, Clarence saw the two bouncers he had seen before. He was now sure they were identical twins: they looked the same dressed the same and both gave him a friendly nod of the head. Once he was in the club, that sense of adventure he had had on his first visit returned. No one seemed to be concerned about Clarence's face.

When he got to the dance floor there was room for nodding heads and bending knees only. The house was packed, with no gymnastics possible. The bass lines were even deeper than before. The frequency of the bass vibrated in the pit of his stomach. He hated the cramped conditions but he loved the music. The place was so packed that as people moved around they would have to squeeze past others. On a couple of occasions people looked twice as they squeezed past Clarence. But then a girl squeezed past and did not take her eyes off him. He felt very uncomfortable. He looked down but he could still feel her eyes on him. He moved to the music, turning away at the same time as he tried to cover his awkwardness. She turned with him.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and a voice shouted above the music. -Clarence, hey, Clarence. Do you remember me? Marica, from the Jamaican sistas. How ya doing, guy?

Clarence glanced up. As soon he allowed himself to look her in the face he recognised her. -Yeah, I remember you. I'm OK. Yeah, I'm cool.

-Where's Sophie and your friends?

-They don't really like this scene; they're more into daytime activities. Sumo's the leader of a new gang called The Red Skulls. They spend most of their time hating everyone and trying to get excluded from school. What a gang name… he's got a lot to learn. Everyone makes mistakes but he should know better. He's missing all the fun. I see Jeff sometimes. Sophie wants to be a famous film star, she's on telly.

-So, you're on your own?

-Yeah.

-Come and see Teen and Naz, they're over there, in our corner.

Over in their corner it was less crowded and there was more room to manoeuvre. The girls said that they really liked Sophie but they were surprised that they hadn't met her again. Teen handed Clarence a half-full bottle of beer.

-No Thanks-Clarence said-I'm trying to be a good boy-

-So what, you still doing those bad dance moves?-she said jokingly

-When I can-he replied.

Naz joined in. -After that night, everyone was talking about you. So you are gonna jump up and rock the house tonight?

-No-Clarence replied smiling with embarrassment-I'm just taking it easy tonight-

-We read about you in the News-Marica said-it was bad news, but we know you're cool. So just stay cool, all right, brother?-

-Yeah, I'm all right-Clarence replied, now smiling like everyone else around him.

For the next hour they danced in their limited way in their little corner. In this better lit part of the club, many people recognised Clarence from his last visit and he soon got used to the compliments that people were still paying him. Just before he was ready to leave, one boy came up to him and said

-It's nice to see you here.

When he told Marica, Teen and Naz he was leaving, they walked outside with him. All four danced as they walked.

-Hey, I heard you were an Aberdale Football Team supporter-Naz said as they go outside where they could hear themselves more easily.

-Yeah-Marica replied.

-When was the last time you saw them play?

-I haven't been to a match for ages but I've seen them on TV.

-When there's a good match on, come with us. We go all the time, no one messes with us.

-Ok.

-And don't forget,man,-Marica interrupted,-we down here all the time, this is the place. the drug heads have been removed and those that dealt in violence have gone in silence. We the queens here, so come again and do some of those bad, funky, fitness moves on the dance floor. Ok?-

-Ok-Clarence said-hey, it's your school doing the gymnastics competition next week?-

They all shook their heads.

-What's going down?-Teen asked.

-Well, I'm the captain of my school team. We're in the competition next Sunday at the Sports Centre. Come down and watch us-he said, brimming with excitement.

-We may do that-Marica replied, looking at the other two, who nodded in agreement.

Clarence made his way home deeply inhaling the late night car fumes which were like fresh air after the stuffiness of the club.