Ragnar, still standing beside Finn, lets out a bleat that very clearly sounds judgmental.
“Even the sheep dance better than we do,” I point out.
“They’re sheep, and they just gave us a dance lesson.”
Finn drags a hand down his face.
“My life has become completely absurd.”
“Welcome to my reality.”
Hamish and Rosita finish their performance with one final synchronized hop before sitting down in front of us like audience members waiting for the next act.
Ragnar hasn’t moved.
He remains stationed beside Finn.
“So what now?” Finn asks.
“Now we continue practicing.”
“Mary…”
“Finn, if we can’t dance here while we’re alone, how are we supposed to survive in front of the whole village?”
He looks at me, and something changes in his expression.
Determination.
“Fine. But if we embarrass ourselves, it’s entirely your fault.”
“Deal.”
We stand again.
I restart the music.
Hamish bleats approvingly.
At least I think he does.
“Ignore them,” I tell Finn. “Focus on me.”
Finn places one hand on my waist and takes my hand with the other.
This time, his movements are less stiff.
Maybe because we’ve already humiliated ourselves so thoroughly that nothing else matters anymore.
We start dancing again.
Awkwardly.
Messily.
But we dance.
“One, two, three... now spin!”
