This past Friday, I was sitting at my desk at work when I my cell phone went off. “Pasame la botella…” resounded throughout the Human Resources office. Thankfully, no one speaks Spanish and no one was really there either. It’s my Luke asking me what I’m doing tonight.

I respond with that I may be cleaning my bathroom after I get done running once work is over (boring, I know but true when you’re poor). He tells me that one of his buddies in the Army ROTC program here at UNL is in a tight situation; military ball is tonight and his date just backed out, would I go with the guy?

Ummmm sure. I can be that person, that person that’s nice and bails people out, sure. Cadet Hooper picks me up an hour later. I’m just surprised I got ready in under an hour, which right there deserves an Army Achievement Medal (hint to my 1^st SGT).

As we drive to site of the ball in his Impala (the kind with the bench seating), I try to make small talk about the Army. I come to realize this kid is my little brother’s age and I’m his date, kind of awkward in my view. Second, my dress is backless and pretty low cut, great view of my boney sternum for the lucky fella.

We arrive right on time and mingle with the other cadets and their dates. There are several soldiers from unit there and I know several more cadets so I have no fear of being bored. We go through the receiving line, greeting the Colonel (whom I turned down a ROTC scholarship from, thank goodness she doesn’t recognize me).

Dinner is short and so is the guest speaker’s witty speech. Dancing begins, my favorite part! Wait, my date hates to dance. WHAT?! After the obligatory electric slide, I pull the shy cadet out onto the dance floor for a slow dance because: a) that’s hard to mess up and b) I feel that as his date for the evening, I think I owe him one dance.

After the song ends, I attempt to teach him a classic Texas two-step with no success. I do get grabbed onto the dance floor for an exuberant round of swing dancing with another cadet (whom I don’t know). Fun!

The evening ended and I hug my date as he drops me off at my apartment across town. I’m smile to myself as I flop on my bed and kick of my heels. Not too bad. I like to think of it as a favor from a soldier to a soldier. And a chance to wear a fierce gown…