Mogey and Smush stood near the statue of Admiral Herm Herman and surveyed the scene. The Midsummer Ball was the social event of the season, and the pals had worn their dapper best: top hats, tails, and cargo shorts (camouflage, of course).
"Who've you got your eye on for the first waltz?" Mogey asked.
"Well, there's Miss Cellaneous," Smush began, nodding at a gaggle of young ladies gathered 'round the punch bowl. "I'm intrigued by her interest in all things random. But on the other hand, Miss Shun's focus on the matter at hand is quite appealing."
"What about Miss Take?" Mogey inquired.
"Too clumsy," Smush said, as he unknowingly dropped several sauce-covered shrimp down the front of his shirt. "Miss Chief, on the other hand, likes to live dangerously. I think I'll go ask if she's got an open slot on her dance card for the likes of one Smush von Smush."
"I thought he'd never leave," said a voice as Smush marched off. Mogey turned to see a lady in a laurel dress standing behind him. "Miss Construe," she introduced herself. Mogey held out his hand to shake, but Miss Construe dangled her palm into his, clearly expecting her hand to be kissed.
"A pleasure to meet you," Mogey said as he obliged. "Miss Construe... I don't suppose you often find yourself confused by what people are--"
"Dancing?" Miss Construe interrupted. "Not at all. For example, I'm quite confident that this is Augustin Pickler's famous 'Crab Legs Waltz.'"
"That's not exactly what I meant. I was only asking if you--"
"Wanted to borrow your shorts? I might just take you up on that. I'm hunting for jungle ducks next week and that camouflage pattern would be perfect."
"Jungle ducks, eh?" Mogey asked, regarding Miss Construe as if for the first time. "How do you capture those?"
"We pan-roast them with sausage and herb butter," Miss Construe replied. "And there's no more succulent meat in all the land."
"Crab legs waltz it is!" Mogey announced, leading Miss Construe to the center of the ballroom for the first of many puzzling dances.
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