Young Tommie Lewis was the apple of his mother’s eye, always a dainty boy with short dark hair, a little snub nose, large spectacles and a skinny build. School days were hard for Tommie. Sports day he would run, his arms and legs spinning as fast as he could, but he always came last. Nobody ever picked him for football. He usually sat on the sidelines wishing he could be first at something. In the juniors gymnastics became the bane of his life. Once he was made to climb the monkey bars. Getting to the top he froze. A teacher had to climb up to fetch him, handing him the rope to lower himself down. Poor Tommie just slid down the rope, causing blisters on his hands and legs; his mother played merry hell. So Tommie was forced to join the girls away from hazards.
Towards the end of juniors they held a disco. Tommie hated it, always pretending to be ill. This time his mother insisted. Slouching in the corner, the music blaring, everyone running around, he felt like crying. After the hotdogs and crisps the DJ set limbo bars. Never having seen them before, he watched his teacher approach.
” Come on Tommie you’ll be good at this, you have the right build”
Looking doubtful he joined the queue. Round after round Tommie went through, eventually winning and for the first time everyone was clapping and he had a medal. Tommie was on top of the world. When his mother arrived to pick him she was amazed.
”Mum, Mum, look I won the limbo dancing, got a medal and everyone clapped. Can you buy me the sticks? I want to practise and be the best in the world. ”
At home his father bought a kit for him and soon Tommie was practising every spare moment. One of his mother’s friends mentioned that a dance studio nearby gave limbo dancing lessons along with salsa dancing. Eagerly he went along. Tommie had found his niche in life. He quickly started to take part in competitions around the country, his mother his biggest cheerleader. He even won the British title at only 14. Tommie was a star, all the children in school patting him on the back, congratulating him. When the time came that he headed to Barbados for the world championship, he knew the competition would be tough but he would give it his best.
What an amazing place! Tommie was entranced by it, the blue sky, the heat wrapping itself around you and the aromas of cooking everywhere making his mouth water. This was the origin of limbo, bought over from Africa by the slaves centuries ago. As the rounds progressed Tommie managed to stay in. Watching the other competitors, he knew he couldn’t win, some were getting so low he couldn’t see how they managed it. Being still short and lithe he carried on but was knocked out in the fourth round. Elated to have so got so far, he headed home.
Tommie carried on limbo dancing but found he liked ballroom dancing as well, as it was all about counting the moves. Again taking part in competitions he did well, ending up working on cruise ships travelling the world .
His mother has his bedroom as testament to his talent. Medals and trophies adorn the walls, along with photos of him with various celebrities. She still pinches herself that her pocket sized boy has climbed to such heights. Anyone calling is always shown the scrapbook paper cuttings of his career.
