A simple question for us all: To dance or not to dance?

Wearing a white empire-style gown and a necklace of pearls, Claire Addison looked resplendent that night. She twirled around once in her kitchen before us, holding the full skirt above the ankles with a pinch of her fingers.

In high school at the time, I'd just dropped off my girlfriend, who was to babysit the Addison's children. She gasped at the dress; "It's so beautiful, Mrs. Addison," she said.

Claire beamed as her husband, decked in a black tux, put his arm around her. It was their anniversary, and he was taking her to a ball at a fancy hotel in thebig city to celebrate. She'd been talking about it for weeks.

They (and I, too) were about to leave when a knock at the door interrupted Claire's last-minute instructions abot the children. Winter's longering chill filled the kitchen as Mr. Addison opened the door.

The neighbor farmer, Mr. Corby, stood ont he dark porch, almost out of breath. "Luke," he said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but my cows are out. They're all over the neighborhood - could you help me round them up?"

Earlier that year, a creek had flooded after a warm spell; that night, an embankement where a fence stood gave way. The cows had found the hole. We would have to sweep nearby woods, and it might take an hour or more to make sure we had all of the cattle.

Mr. Addison held in a sigh, and I caught his eyes glancing surreptitously to the window. There wasn't a light on at a singlefarm across the cornfield. If Mr. Addison helped, he would need to shower again and redress. A couple of hours might pass, and by then it would be late. He turned around and gazed at his wife.

Her eyes fell downward.

Then he looked at Mr. Corby, stood straighter for a moment, and I swear his heels seemed to dog ino the floorboards.

"Actually, John, we were just ..."

But then Claire unhooked the pearls from her neck ad stepped to her husband's side. The kitchen light warmed her face. "We'll help," she said. "Give me a moment to change."

Did Mr. Addison make the right decision? I suspect so, becuase if he would have immediately jumped to Mr. Corby's assistance, hewould have shown ehere his priorities truly rested and failed a test. But satisfied with his answer, Claire knew she and her husband also had another test to face. She gave the right answer, too.

If there is to be any disappointment inthis tale, it must be caused by those who would have chosen to dance that night.

Originally published Jan. 9, 2005