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Dance Devon, Dance
Devon doesn't see the world like you or I, he's a beautiful soul wrapped in a beautiful body all wrapped up in an enigma. So as the rain throws itself at him as if he were on the deck of a ship out in the vast ocean, he just smiles. As others race for cover in a city where there's always shelter, he stands stock still. Arms spread feeling the tiny stings of the heavy drops, face tilted to the sky and his shoulder length hair looking like bladderwrack clinging to a rock. The square was empty save for him, his pumps sodden but he wiggled his toes as if he stood on a beach dipping his toes in the shallow waves. He was happy.
People were nodding his way from under the eaves of a myriad of shopfronts. They laughed and thought him an oddity, sneered and sipped their coffee in the many restaurants and cafes that overlooked him. He was cute, petite, young. They told themselves it was the exuberance of youth, but in truth he was 28. It wasn't youthful folly at all that had him stood there spinning in the centre of a busy city centre. They blamed it on being "simple" "affected" "a looney", "just another headcase in a world full of nutters."
Devon's shirt had become see through. It clung to his pale, lithe yet muscular physique. He didn't work out, but he was slim and kept busy in his mundane job that gave him a workout. He didn't really think of how he looked to others, he just thought only of how he felt inside. At this present time he'd shut out the outside world by closing his eyes. It had been a terribly hot fortnight, and this awful shower was a blessing. It felt so good on his skin, so soothing and refreshing. Nature has a way of bringing relief, and all his inner turmoil was washed away in a second, the moment that shower begun.
Passersby were curious, he was an unusual little thing. He was plugging in his Bluetooth earbuds and then dancing. He needed to drown out the noise, pretend he wasn't there. He could be anywhere if he lost himself, transported with the power of his imagination. There were precious little opportunities for release, he worked twelve hour shifts six days a week. He couldn't sleep very well for the thinking his overactive brain always forced upon him. But in the here, in the now, he was invested in this. This moment, this experience. It didn't matter what he was listening to on his player, he was dancing filled with the joy of the music and the rain and that it was his day off and he was alive.
There were more than a few who thought "what an exhibitionist" and others who thought "go for it, you're braver than me". But that latter group didn't shift, they left him there alone. They wanted secretly to be like Devon, to look and move like Devon, to have his gumption. To be carefree, be spontaneous, look as good looking silly and unpredictable. The older ones just dismissed the idea to join him by saying to themselves," oh no, I'm far too old for the likes of behaviours like that." And that made them sadder and ask themselves when they'd lost those feelgood feelings they once had. The young ones thought "wow that looks like fun, but I I'm too embarrassed to join in." Whilst the rest, well they had a million and one reasons not to try, so they never did.
A thousand pairs of eyes looked at him. A thousand brains sat or stood there conveying a myriad of emotions. Some dismissed and ignored him, some just ridiculed and condemned him, others checked him out and appreciated the spectacle. Then, a young girl called Yuina who was with her three friends, put down her brolly and stepped into the deluge. She too had her music playing, she too was lost in the moment watching this beautiful young man enjoying himself. It was like his happiness was contagious within her. She stepped into the rain eyes closed and laughing, and was drenched in seconds. But she was happy, she was a part of something others couldn't understand. She stepped into Devon's world for a few minutes, and though he didn't know it, they were one.
A pretty eighteen year old tourist and a sodden handsome young man, arms wide and dancing. Lightning streaked overhead and many jumped, but they watched transfixed. Neither one stopped. They kept dancing, and meantime Yuina's friends were laughing and taking photos of her and the stranger. They meant it not in a nasty way, but they wished they were brave and free of spirit like her. They admired her for getting caught in her emotions and wished it for themselves. They put their things in a neat little pile in one dry corner, kept an eye on them, then joined her. They were in hysterics, soaked through but living the moment. Nobody else joined them, no-one shifted they just pretended it wasn't happening. Others thought "good for them" but hurried on under the cover of the shop awnings.
And just as others started to think "that looks like fun" the shower passed as quickly as it had begun. The moment was over, they'd missed their chance. Yuina and her mates rushed over to the stranger, and Devon felt the rain stop and took out his earbuds. He was besieged by the happy chatterings of excited Japanese teenagers. He didn't know what he they were saying but it was clear they wanted a photo with him. He wasn't sure why, but he obliged. And then the world was back to normal. Lost in a sea of busy people back to their usual routine or hectic lives, the spectacle soon forgotten.
But not for Yuina and her friends. They would treasure that photo forever. That was the moment a stranger had taught them a valuable lesson. You've gotta seize the moment regardless of what others might think, create a memorable moment and throw all you have in it. They didn't forget that short lesson, and it always brought them smiles of joy ever afterwards. And Devon, well he was just that kind of soul you long to meet, selfless, unassuming and sweet. Treasure them, don't be jealous or critical. We can all learn something from his actions whether we join in or not, but don't rain on his parade.
Dance Devon, dance.
© .Garry Saunders
People were nodding his way from under the eaves of a myriad of shopfronts. They laughed and thought him an oddity, sneered and sipped their coffee in the many restaurants and cafes that overlooked him. He was cute, petite, young. They told themselves it was the exuberance of youth, but in truth he was 28. It wasn't youthful folly at all that had him stood there spinning in the centre of a busy city centre. They blamed it on being "simple" "affected" "a looney", "just another headcase in a world full of nutters."
Devon's shirt had become see through. It clung to his pale, lithe yet muscular physique. He didn't work out, but he was slim and kept busy in his mundane job that gave him a workout. He didn't really think of how he looked to others, he just thought only of how he felt inside. At this present time he'd shut out the outside world by closing his eyes. It had been a terribly hot fortnight, and this awful shower was a blessing. It felt so good on his skin, so soothing and refreshing. Nature has a way of bringing relief, and all his inner turmoil was washed away in a second, the moment that shower begun.
Passersby were curious, he was an unusual little thing. He was plugging in his Bluetooth earbuds and then dancing. He needed to drown out the noise, pretend he wasn't there. He could be anywhere if he lost himself, transported with the power of his imagination. There were precious little opportunities for release, he worked twelve hour shifts six days a week. He couldn't sleep very well for the thinking his overactive brain always forced upon him. But in the here, in the now, he was invested in this. This moment, this experience. It didn't matter what he was listening to on his player, he was dancing filled with the joy of the music and the rain and that it was his day off and he was alive.
There were more than a few who thought "what an exhibitionist" and others who thought "go for it, you're braver than me". But that latter group didn't shift, they left him there alone. They wanted secretly to be like Devon, to look and move like Devon, to have his gumption. To be carefree, be spontaneous, look as good looking silly and unpredictable. The older ones just dismissed the idea to join him by saying to themselves," oh no, I'm far too old for the likes of behaviours like that." And that made them sadder and ask themselves when they'd lost those feelgood feelings they once had. The young ones thought "wow that looks like fun, but I I'm too embarrassed to join in." Whilst the rest, well they had a million and one reasons not to try, so they never did.
A thousand pairs of eyes looked at him. A thousand brains sat or stood there conveying a myriad of emotions. Some dismissed and ignored him, some just ridiculed and condemned him, others checked him out and appreciated the spectacle. Then, a young girl called Yuina who was with her three friends, put down her brolly and stepped into the deluge. She too had her music playing, she too was lost in the moment watching this beautiful young man enjoying himself. It was like his happiness was contagious within her. She stepped into the rain eyes closed and laughing, and was drenched in seconds. But she was happy, she was a part of something others couldn't understand. She stepped into Devon's world for a few minutes, and though he didn't know it, they were one.
A pretty eighteen year old tourist and a sodden handsome young man, arms wide and dancing. Lightning streaked overhead and many jumped, but they watched transfixed. Neither one stopped. They kept dancing, and meantime Yuina's friends were laughing and taking photos of her and the stranger. They meant it not in a nasty way, but they wished they were brave and free of spirit like her. They admired her for getting caught in her emotions and wished it for themselves. They put their things in a neat little pile in one dry corner, kept an eye on them, then joined her. They were in hysterics, soaked through but living the moment. Nobody else joined them, no-one shifted they just pretended it wasn't happening. Others thought "good for them" but hurried on under the cover of the shop awnings.
And just as others started to think "that looks like fun" the shower passed as quickly as it had begun. The moment was over, they'd missed their chance. Yuina and her mates rushed over to the stranger, and Devon felt the rain stop and took out his earbuds. He was besieged by the happy chatterings of excited Japanese teenagers. He didn't know what he they were saying but it was clear they wanted a photo with him. He wasn't sure why, but he obliged. And then the world was back to normal. Lost in a sea of busy people back to their usual routine or hectic lives, the spectacle soon forgotten.
But not for Yuina and her friends. They would treasure that photo forever. That was the moment a stranger had taught them a valuable lesson. You've gotta seize the moment regardless of what others might think, create a memorable moment and throw all you have in it. They didn't forget that short lesson, and it always brought them smiles of joy ever afterwards. And Devon, well he was just that kind of soul you long to meet, selfless, unassuming and sweet. Treasure them, don't be jealous or critical. We can all learn something from his actions whether we join in or not, but don't rain on his parade.
Dance Devon, dance.
© .Garry Saunders
