My First Tango

My first tango: My mother taught me to tango, but the first official tango was during Carnival. I was thirteen years old and it was in my uncle’s club- Club Lomas del Mirador. Its funny because mostly the older people danced tango in those days…I took my friend Eduardo and danced a few steps. Then I noticed a beautiful girl dressed in black pants (in those days this was out of the ordinary). She was looking at me, and she came to me and asked if I wouldn’t dance with her. We embraced and I felt that everyone in the place was looking at me. I became very excited. My legs were trembling – everyone was watching. My mother was there, and my political Aunt, the wife of my Uncle was looking at me with special attention and expression. It was my first time. And with an unknown wonderful person.! Remember that in those days it was impossible that a girl invite a boy to dance. That club was not a tourist place, this girl was there with her family. One could say that I was the tourist. Also, it was uncommon for such young people to tango. So the people were looking at us with what is called in Spanish, picardia, mischievously. It was a room without a roof, a patio. When I finished the tango I had my heart in my mouth, and maybe in my hands, and I began to speak with my friend and he said, patting me on my back, “That was grand, Marcelo!” So in that moment I felt like the hero.