Gary squared his shoulders, eyed the park’s central fountain where a cluster of teens gyrated to the Renegade track, and muttered, “I’ve got this.” Three hours earlier, he’d watched the dance trend bloom from a single TikTok clip to a viral earthquake. Now, his sweat-dampened T-shirt clung to him like a second skin as he shuffled forward, knees hyperextended, arms flailing like broken windmills.
“You’re doing the left foot wrong,” said a voice. Gary spun to find a kid no older than twelve, thumbs flying over a phone screen. The child’s fingers paused mid-swipe. “It’s the right foot. And the hips. Like you’re hugging a ghost.”
Gary’s face heated. “I’m fine. Just… testing the vibe.”
The kid snorted. “You’re vibing like a confused penguin.”
Undeterred, Gary launched into the routine, feet slapping the pavement in a rhythm that screamed “I’ve never seen this before.” A woman nearby dropped her coffee. A dog barked. Then, mid-twist, Gary’s sneaker snagged on a crack. He catapulted forward, arms pinwheeling, and face-planted into a bush.
Silence. Then, a single clap. The kid stood, applauding. “Okay, that was… authentic.”
Gary emerged, dirt smearing his face, and grinned. “Told you I’ve got this.”
The kid handed him a water bottle. “You’re gonna need this. Next time, maybe skip the jazz hands?”
Gary took a swig, nodded, and wobbled off, still miming the dance. Somewhere, a ghost hugged a hip.”,