Dancing With A Chance Of Love (A Link Larkin Love Story)

April 17th, 1962

I was sitting in my room on a Thursday night and thinking about all the changes in the world. I thought it was wonderful! The world was becoming integrated! But my mother hated it! She was so racist! I looked at my black and white tv and sighed. Why is the world so cruel? I got off my bed and went to go set the table for dinner. Once I got downstairs I heard my mother say "All this talk about integration is driving me crazy! Blacks have their land and we have ours! Isn't that enough?" I rolled my eyes. She's just scared of the world changing. Then my mom saw me and said "Oh Holly, good your down to set the table" I smile then walk to the cupboards and get plates and silverware. Then I go get napkins. I go over to the table and set the plates and silverware in everyones spot. We have 5 people in this family. Of course me and my mom and dad. And I also have an older brother and sister. My sister is the oldest. Shes 18 and she's heading off to college next school year. She is really nice and pretty. Shes probably one of the most popular people in her grade. But she never really talks to me. I guess she thinks she's too cool. And then there's my brother. He's 16, one year older than me. We love to joke around. He's so funny and he's really nice. But he's really protective. We play pranks on each other all the time then chase each other around the house. I love him but some times he gets on my nerves. What brother doesn't? We all sit down at the table and start eating the turkey and mashed potatoes my mom made. they were delicious. Then we get a call on the landline. I jump up and answer it. "Hello" I say. "Hi its Michelle" "Oh hi michelle! Whats your reason for calling me?" "Um I was wondering if you wanted to come to a party at my house Saturday" "Hold on a second" I put my hand over the receiver. "Mom is it ok if I go to my friend Michelles party on Saturday?" I ask. "Will it be an integrated party?" "MOM! what does that have to do with anything?" "I asked you a question Holly and I would appreciate it if you were respectful enough to answer it" I roll my eyes and ask Michelle "Will it be integrated?" "No" she replies. "It's not integrated mom" "Well then I see no reason why you can't go. What about you John?" John is my dads name. "I have no problems with it" yes! I say in my head. "Michelle I can come" "Oh good! Be at my house around 7 ok?" "Alright thanks! Bye!" "Bye" she says then I hang up, sit back down and finish eating.

Once I'm finished eating I head up to my room. I have to do my homework. Ew algebra. Im good at it but i hate math. It takes me a little then i do language arts and french homework. I got stuck on number 27 in french but i finally figured it out. Then I decided to lay on my bed and think some more. I fell asleep probably around 10 o'clock. 

The next day I got up and changed into a white blouse and a pink and blue skirt that went down to my knees. Then I used hairspray to make my hair straight but at the bottom my hair flipped up. (Do you know what I'm talking about? It's like Sandy from Grease) I go downstairs and grab an apple to eat. Then I hear a car horn. "That's me" I say as I grab my bag and start to head out the door. "Bye honey, love you" my mom says. "Love you too" I say as I shut the door. "Hey Kimberly, hey Michelle" I say as I get into the car. Kimberly, my friend who is a year older than me, drives me to school every day. "Hey Holly" they both say. I climb in the back and she drives to school. We finally get there and I get out and head towards my locker. But someone kisses me on the cheek. I smile and say "Hey Christopher" "Hi Holly" he says. Chris is my boyfriend. We've been going steady for about four months now and his family is the same as mine, they are rich and hate African Americans. Our families insisted on us dating so I did to make them happy. I don't really want to date Chris but I don't want to let my family down. he walks me to my locker than says "Have a good day babe" I say "You too" with no emotion. I carry my books to my first class, social studies. On my way there someone bumps into me making me drop the books. "I'm sorry" we say at the same time. Whoever ran into me bent down to help me pick up my books. They look up and I see Link Larkin. He hands me the book and says "Hi I'm Link" I say "I know who you are! I'm Holly" "Nice to meet you Holly" he says standing up. The halls are empty now except for the teacher heading towards us. Shoot. "Why sent you two in your classes? Detention!" he yells giving us each a pink detention slip. We start walking towards detention and Link says "I'm sorry I got you in trouble" "No it was both of our faults for running into each other. He smiles. When we get to detention he opens the door and I take a deep breath before walking in. It's not like I imagined at all! Music was playing, people everywhere were dancing. Most of the people were African American. Link went in and started dancing and I sat on a desk watching. He was really good. That's probably why he's on the Corny Collins show. He looks and sees me sitting on a desk. He comes over and says "Come on, dance!" I shake my head no. "Aw come on ha e some fun" I smile then stand up. He grabs my hands and we started to do the twist. (a dance popular in the 1960s. Look it up on YouTube) he smiled and said "Your pretty good" I blushed and said "Not too bad yourself" we continued dancing until we were tired. Wee sat on the desks and watched everyone else dance. Link stood up quickly and said "I forgot I have the Corny Collins show that I have to go to" I stood up too and said "Oh" "Come with me" he said "What! Is that allowed?" he nodded. "Please come. It will be fun" I thought about it and said. "All alright" he smiled and grabbed my hand leading me to his car. We got in and he drove to the show. We ran into the building and he said "Sorry I'm late" someone, I'm guessing they were the manager, said "That's alright darling. Just be on time tomorrow alright? Now who is this?" she said pointing to me. "Uh this is Holly, a friend from school" "Ok well welcome to the Corny Collins show Holly" "Thank you" I say. "I have to go to wardrobe and makeup. Will you sit over there?" he says pointing to a chair" "No problem" I say then go sit in the chair. I smile. He's sweet and kind and he can surely dance:) but what am I doing. I have a boyfriend. I'm not doing anything wrong by being here am I?