CROT

=**Square Dance** =

“ All join your hands in a circle. Circle around the old apple tree. Now half way around, and the other way back. Now break and swing. Now promenade and promenade your honey. Promenade the old apple tree. Now the first couple out and you circle. All around the old apple tree. Form a star with your right hand, then back with your left hand, beneath the old apple tree. Then on to the next and you circle. Circle four around the old apple tree. Form a star with your right hand, then back with your left hand, beneath the old apple tree. Now on to the last and you circle. Circle around the old apple tree. Form a star with your right hand, then back with your left hand, beneath the old apple tree. Balance all and promenade your honey. Promenade the old apple tree. When you get home, everybody swing your own, all around the old apple tree.”

==== My partner looked at me with his big blue eyes and smiled. Inside, I melted. He grabbed my hand and swung me high up in the air. I watched as the three other couples swung each other as well. I am lucky to have such a great partner. We are both good at square dancing, especially since we both have been doing it for as long as we can remember. It was a tradition here in Pocono, and it was every Friday night. All week long the girls would wait for a boy to ask them to “go to Square Dance” with them, except for Sadie Hawkins of course. Sadie Hawkins stands for the one week where the girls get to ask the boys. I am lucky because everyone knows that my square has the same people every week, and we don't let others intrude. Which also means that our partners stay the same because we are the best dancers. I may be sounding selfish, but Square Dance is not fun when you have bad dancers in your square. Trust me, I know. ====

7:15 - Jr. Jr. Square Dance (Ages 8 & under) 8:00 – Jr. Square Dance (Ages 9 - 12) 9:15 – Square Dance (Ages 13 & up)

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Her dress was navy blue, with pink, yellow, and green flowers. When she twirled, her dress spun out in all directions. The spaghetti straps on the top of her dress were loose, but not falling off. Her hair had bits of frazzled pieces from all the dancing and moving. It was let down, just past her shoulders, and she had clipped back the hair that hung in her face. She wasn't wearing any jewelry, except for the few string bracelets attached to her ankle. Her feet were bare and dirty from the old wooden floor. =====

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The old band that sat on the stage consisted of people in their 60's, 70's, and 80's. Everyone loved them. They might not be that good, but they know what we like, and they know the words. The instruments consisted of an accordion, a keyboard, some old drums, a tambourine and a violin. There was also a singer. They sat on the old stage in the Dining Camp. The Dining Camp is where people can eat lunch, but for Square Dance, all the tables and chairs are cleared away, which leaves a big open space for all of the fun. =====

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There were kids screaming and laughing. The sound of music echoed throughout the entire lake. There were little kids lined up in chairs to watch all of the big kids dance. There was a long line at the ice-cream window. Everyone was hungry for ice-cream after dancing. Grandparents drifted in the lake on their party boats, listening to all the music and sounds of the happy little community. Teenagers sat outside on the deck talking, after they got tired of dancing. 10:30pm was the intermission. By then, all of the little kids were gone. That was when all of the teenagers came streaming out of the Dining Camp. They all ran into the water and came back soaking wet. The younger teens, who weren't used to swimming, tried to see how many people they could fit onto the small hammock at the Office. Square Dance ended by everyone standing in a line with their arms around each other, singing //God Bless America//. =====