Quoting Terry Mixon :

> Over the next half hour, Shawn and Ilane enjoy their food and chat. Shawn
> talks about music,
> painting, theater and good books. He deftly kept the conversation light and
> enjoyable. He asked her
> about things that she liked. Dancing, what it was like in a professional
> troupe. If she seemed to
> not want to talk about anything, he changed the subject.

Shawn finds Ilane to be very open to discussing just about anything.  She talks 
at length about her many years as a professional dancer, and touches on her 
later and briefer military career.  It's clear that she was *very* reluctant to 
give up her dancing career after she was drafted into the navy, but, always the 
optimist, Ilane seemed determined to make the best of her unexpected change in 
career that she could.

> The theater lights darkened a little and a man dressed in a formal suit came
> across the stage to
> stand before the gathered diners.
> 
> "My dear guests, welcome. We, the cast and crew, thank you deeply for coming
> tonight."
> 
> He looked across the crowd with a smile.
> 
> "As you all know, this is a special performance. Tonight, all proceeds from
> your most generous
> donations go to the starving artists fund."
> 
> The crowd broke into applause and he waited for it to die down before he
> continued.

Once the crowd noise dies down a bit, Ilane asks Shawn, "Do you know if they're 
still taking donations for that?"

> "And to those of you in the tables before the stage, we give especial thanks
> for your most generous
> additional contributions. On behalf of all of us, I thank you."

She gives Shawn a little smile.

> There was one
> intermission and drinks could be refreshed then. Shawn deferred to Ilane as
> to what, if any, drink
> they would have. 

She continued to have bloody maries, but with either a half a shot of *no* 
vodka in them.  By the time the night was over, she perhaps had a total of four 
drinks and her mind remained sharp.

> Occasionally, he leaned over to make some quiet comment and
> Ilane found her hand
> taken in his after a bit while they spoke. He released it but reluctantly.

Ilane's hand seemed to linger near his through the performance, and she seemed 
as reluctant as he was when it came time to part them.

> The second half was just as good as the first. It hardly seems like they had
> started when the play
> is done and the cast and crew are on stage taking their final bows. Shawn was
> on his feet, clapping
> like a madman.
> 
> He looks all lit up. He is obviously having a very good time but his eyes are
> focused on Ilane and
> how she is doing.

The dancer claps very enthusiastically, full of life as she always seems to 
be.  She meets Shawn's gaze and she looks back at him with eyes sparkling and 
happy.

-- 
Bob K. (aka Ilane Lanik)

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