“Andy!” Alexis growled between bites of cereal. “Let me eat!”

“We only have eight weeks.”

“Again, why me?”

“It’s almost the end of my hundred years. I have to fulfill my promise. Alexis, you fit the>poem perfectly. Call it destiny.”

“And it has to be the venous waltz?”

“Viennese Waltz.” Andy said with laughter.

“Why?” Alexis argued, “Do you think just because my parents teach ballroom dancingthat I know all the dances? Andy, go and haunt the ballroom!”

“Eight weeks, Alexis.” Andy said as he slowly faded away.” Only eight more weeks.”

I remember the day we found our perfect house. My parents had searched for months for a place with enough room for a studio and our home. The old plantation on the bay had everything we needed, including a ballroom. The polished oak floors and French doors with a view of the bay made it perfect for the studio. It even came with its very own ghost: Andrew Jackson Montgomery III. The realtor told us the legend of the ballroom ghost started soon after his death in 1908.

“It is said he haunts the ballroom looking for his dance partner.”

“How charming.” Mom exclaimed, “Our very own dancing ghost.”

“Really.” stated Dad, “You can’t believe that silly old story. Everyone knows ghost aren’t real.”

I hoped Dad was right. I didn’t want to see a dancing ghost.

Once remodeling was completed, we moved in and opened the studio downstairs. We loved our new home and Bay View Dance was becoming a successful studio. New students seemed to be signing up daily. Plans were being made for a Dance Showcase. The date was set for May 24 th , the anniversary of our first full year in business. It was going to be a huge celebration with dinner and dancing. Students could invite their family and friends. The instructors would be performing dance routines. It was a busy and exciting time.

One afternoon while doing my homework, I spotted a cute young blond haired man sitting at a corner table. I thought he must be a new student waiting for his instructor. But something didn’t look right. His clothes were old and strange. Most of the students wore practice skirts for ladies and jeans for the guys. The corner man wore black pants with a long jacket and a strange looking tie. His shining black boots came all the way to his knees.