Free Flings and Arrows by Debbie Viggiano

two small children. They were staring at her and Harry. The children looked puzzled, the woman flabbergasted. Tom was grinning broadly. June put up a hand and gave a little wave. She’d have said hello if her mouth had been available. Tom ushered the woman and children down the path. Before setting off along Jessamine Terrace, Tom turned and gave her a cheeky thumbs up. June was mortified. She needed Harry to stop kissing her. Another couple of minutes had since elapsed. If nothing else, she needed oxygen.
    June pushed Harry away. ‘Harry!’ she gasped.
    ‘Sweet Juney,’ Harry panted, ‘are you going to ask me in?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ June clutched her cardigan about her nervously, ‘it’s quite late.’
    ‘Nonsense! The night is still young – like us! Come on, let’s go in!’
    With a shaking hand, June opened her front door and flicked on the hall light. Ralph greeted them, bug-eyed and yawning. He ignored Harry but wagged his tail for June. Harry led June into the lounge. Ralph trotted after them, but Harry put the toe of his shoe against the terrier’s chest and shut him out.
    ‘Let’s get that salsa music going!’ said Harry walking over to the hi-fi.
    ‘Okay, but not too loud. Steph made a comment about it last time.’
    ‘Well it sounds like Steph needs to loosen up. This will certainly help.’
    Bold bars of piano sounded before a band burst into Latin rhythm. Despite worrying about Steph and Si, June instantly found one foot tapping to the beat. Harry turned to look at June and held out his hands. June kicked off her jewelled flip-flops and wiggled over. Harry strutted and pranced. June twirled and whirled, her bare heels flicking up.
    They danced for over an hour. Eventually June felt the last of the champagne bubbles pop and knew that she needed to stop. She was out of breath, hot and thirsty.
    ‘I need a rest,’ she shouted to Harry over the music.
    ‘Good idea. We’ll have an interval.’ He turned the music down.
    June walked into the kitchen. Opening the fridge door, she took out a carton of apple juice and some bananas from the chill drawer.
    ‘Ooh, I love a good banana,’ said Harry coming into the kitchen. He was about to take one for himself when June snatched them away and slammed the fridge door shut.
    ‘What about a nice cup of milky cocoa?’ June asked.
    ‘Never touch the stuff,’ said Harry. ‘Makes me fall asleep. Bananas on the other hand,’ Harry opened the fridge door and this time successfully extracted a banana, ‘are fantastic energy foods.’ He stripped the skin off and tucked in. ‘Lovely. Drink up Juney, let’s get back to the beat eh?’
    ‘You know Harry, it’s been a lovely evening. I wish it could go on. But I’d like to go to bed now.’
    Harry carefully put the banana skin down. He took June’s hand. ‘It has indeed been a lovely evening. Your company is divine June. So much so I want to spend every waking hour with you.’ He paused. Looked her straight in the eye. ‘And every sleeping hour too.’
    June blanched. Was Harry hinting that he wanted to stay the night? Just like his salsa, Harry’s kisses were fast-paced. How many bananas should she eat to match Harry’s stamina between the sheets?
    ‘Juney my darling, I don’t want to make crass passes at you. We’ve known each other only a brief while. We’re golden oldies and who knows what quality of life we have left? Or, indeed, how many years? I want to seize life and live it in the now. Therefore my darling June, with both trepidation and excitement I’m asking if you would–’
    June’s hands fluttered to her mouth. This was it. Harry was going to propose. Oh my goodness. They’d only known each other five minutes, but Harry was right. Life was short. You never knew when God would be sending one of his messengers down: Hello June. Your time is up. Put these wings on and follow me please . Look at poor Arthur. Here one minute. Gone the next. And whilst she didn’t really know