McKenna steps up next to me.
“I hope this isn’t what I think it is,” she whispers into my ear.
Mayor Briggs’ voice is extra animated. “We’ll be doing the Waterford Hurry-Up-and-Grab-Your-Partner Mixer!”
I shoot McKenna a confused look. She shrugs.
Mayor Briggs tells everyone, “So grab yourself a partner and join us on the dance floor.”
I extend my elbow to McKenna and she loops her arm through it. I glance around the room and my eyes land on Cody, his arm around Mrs. Holt.
“Would you look at my brother?” McKenna says. “I thought he and Lacey were talking earlier.”
“I think they were,” I say, my mouth feeling dry.
“They’d make a cute couple,” she says.
I’m saved from answering her because Mayor Briggs says, “And y’all are in for a big treat because Tater’s gonna call the dance for us.”
A round of cheers rises up, followed by one, “Lord help us,” from the back corner of the room.
“Does anyone know this dance?” I ask McKenna.
She shrugs. “We’ll just fake it ‘til we make it. Follow everyone else. It’ll be fine.”
Cass makes her way over to us. “What are we doing?”
Winona follows behind her. “It will make sense once it starts.”
It totally doesn’t.
Tater takes the mic. His voice is fast and high with just enough twang to make some words unintelligible. “Well, y’all I’m gonna ’splain this once. Then we’ll get right down to it. You’re gonna grab a partner, do-si-do, switch when called, and whatever you do, keep moving. This dance is all about the hurry. And the switchin’. Well, that and the grabbin’. We good?”
“Start the music, Tater!” someone shouts from the back of the room. I think it’s the same guy that said,Lord, help us.
“Okay, Clancey. Keep yer pants on, would ya?” Tater answers the guy. “Are we ready?”
Heads nod, but every eye I meet holds a mirrored confusion. I’m not sure anyone’s ready, but they’re being good sports about it.
“Ya’ll remember this tradition,” Tater says as if we’re all familiar with it.
He asks one last time, "Is everyone ready?"
We aren’t.
The music starts anyway.
“Swing that partner, round and round!” Tater shouts.
People start swinging partners.
McKenna swings me and I’m already busting up. There’s no order—just a massive crowd swinging partners, not even in the same direction.
Tater calls out the steps we all should know. We don't.
“Side-eye and slide, shuffle on back. Tip your hat and give it a smack!”
People shuffle in random directions, giving side-eyes and tipping fake hats. Some even smack their partners on the rears or the arms.
