When I first entered the Navy, I was sent to San Diego, California for basic training and school. Not being a drinker, my recreation consisted of going to the zoo (San Diego has a good one), parks, shows, church and dances.

There was a dance place in town that catered to the young people, and it was kept clean and had a strict set of rules. To be admitted, one had to be in class "A" clothing, either clean uniform or civilian clothing with coat and tie. Girls had to be in long dress and could not wear clothing that was too revealing. Anyone caught with alcohol was thrown out and bared from re-entry. If anyone started a fight out they went. I liked the place and went there often.

They had a band every night except Sunday, usually a local group. Sometimes they would have a big name like Frankie Avalon. It cost $1.20 to get in and soft drinks cost 20 cents.

Many girls would go there and they were usually between 16 and 20 years old. They would all be in nice dresses and, for the most part, acted like ladies.

Girls would sit along the side of the room in chairs and the boys would just sort of hang out on the floor. When the music started the boys would go to a girl and ask them to dance. In short order the floor would be full of people. We danced slower dances in those days, and danced together. It was a lot of fun and no one got into trouble.

There was a rather pretty girl sitting in a chair at the side, and I noticed that she had turned down several dances. I thought that she was just shy and did not know how to dance. Now, no one could believe that I was a dancer, especially if they had watched me try. There were so many people on the floor that no one knew if you could dance or not, and no one really cared.

I went over to the girl and ask her to dance. Most of the chairs were empty so it afforded us a bit of privacy. She said she could not dance.

I said, "Neither can I, but on that floor no one will know or care"

"No", she said, "Really. I can't dance. Really."

Now this girl obviously had a lot of class, and was very attractive. So Big Mouth me said, "Why? Did you lose your legs?"

"Yes", she said, "As a matter of fact, I did," and pushed her full skirt to the chair.

Boy. I sure felt low. She was not kidding. She had no legs. I tried to think of what to say, and fell into the chair alongside her.

"I- I'm sorry. I -I should not have been such an ass," I said. "I really don't know how to face this situation."

"I'm sorry, too", she said, "I have never told anyone that before. I really don't know why I did that to you."

I looked at her, and my mind started working overtime. She could not weigh over 100 pounds with legs. Without, she couldn't weigh more than 80 pounds.

"I think you should dance," I said.

"What are you talking about?", she said in a startled sort of way. "I just told that there is no way I can dance."

"Yes there is," I said as I put my arm about her. "You just act as if you were dancing, and in short order you will be."

I picked her up and held her against my body and her arm went over my shoulder. I looked down and adjusted her position so that her full skirt just touched the floor. Then we went whirling onto the floor.

A waltz was being played and I whirled that little girl all over the dance floor. Her eyes just sparkled. Many times other fellows tried to cut in but I would not let them. People were soon talking about how beautifully she followed my every move. It turned into a wonderful evening.

Her father came to pick her up around 11:30, and she excitedly told him what had transpired. He left her in the car and came back in the dance room looking for me. With tears in his eyes he thanked me for treating his loving daughter so nice. Believe me, it was MY pleasure.

Later I came to know this little girl a lot better. She was 16 years old and went to a special school for handicapped children. Her father was an engineer working for Rohr Aircraft Company, and she and her mother were very close.

It seems that when she was 5 years old she chased a ball into the path of a Pacific Electric train and lost both legs about half way between the knee and hip.

I may have gotten to know her better except that several of the other boys found out my secret and it got to be difficult to find her not dancing.