The New Year's Eve Dance

Never forget the music that is the soundtrack of our lives, for if we let the music die, something inside us dies along with it...for Mary...
Bill hated this time of year. He kept thinking about how much he hated it as he got himself ready for the dance that evening. It would do him good to get out though. Bill couldn't remember the last time he had been to a dance. It was his friend Sam who had talked him into going out tonight. There was a New Year's Eve singles dance tonight at a local Sheraton Hotel and Sam thought it would do his friend some good. It had been a while since Bill had been to anything similar and he reluctantly agreed to Sam's request. For some reason he had been reluctant to get back into the dating scene since his wife died over two years ago. He did have to admit though, as he stood in front of the mirror in his dress shirt and slacks, that he still looked pretty good for a guy of fifty. He was still in good shape and the touch of gray around his temples perhaps lent a certain dignity to his ruggedly handsome face.
In a little while Bill's friend Sam arrived and the two men headed off to the dance. Bill reflected on his situation as he sat in the passenger seat of the car. He had lost his wife to illness a little over two years ago. Their social life had mostly revolved around her family. Bill had moved up to the N.Y. area a long time ago with his job. All his relatives were still down south. He gradually lost touch with his in-laws and felt funny calling them since his wife passed. He was thankful his friend Sam, a divorced guy he knew from work, gave him a call and invited him along. He did not have real high expectations, but at least he wouldn't be spending another New Year's Eve alone in front of the TV with a six-pack.
In short order the two men arrived at the dance and went inside. They paid the nominal admission fee and made their way to the banquet room. The room was decorated in a rather festive manor, with big balloons and colorful ribbons appropriate for the holidays. A hired DJ was playing old school dance music, or disco as we used to call it, over a large PA system. After a few moments Sam spoke.
"Let's head over to the bar." said Sam.
"Oh, I'm with you bother." replied Bill.
The bar was relatively crowded and it was standing room only. For the most part the women occupied the chairs while the men huddled around, drinks in hand, like vultures waiting on the death of their prey.
The two men ordered drinks and took their place amongst the well-dressed vultures. Bill had managed to position himself in close proximity to a fairly attractive blonde sitting at the bar. After some brief conversation, he quickly realized she seemed to be more in love with her drink than she would ever be with him.
After a couple of drinks, Bill excused himself from any semblance of conversation they may have had and decided to take a walk around the room. He gave a sort of nod and point to Sam who was busy chatting up a well-dressed gal perched in a bar stool. He figured Sam understood the message.
The music was loud but not quite so overpowering that you couldn't talk. That was a plus. There was a mirrored disco ball hanging from the ceiling and subtly changing light schemes, in bright colors as would suit the holidays, alternately reflected off it as it slowly revolved.

Bill walked slowly around the big room taking in the sites. 'I'm Your Boogie Man' by KC