Dancing with a Ghost as summarized by Joe Machado & Jamie Moore Many, many years ago, on a Saturday evening, a boy named Manuel left home to go to a dance located in Benavides. Halfway there he noticed a very beautiful girl wearing a pink dress. Even though he did not know the girl he asked her if she was in need of a favor. The girl replied," Yes, I am in need of a ride to a dance." Gladly, Manuel offered her a ride and she gratefully accepted.

Her name was Maria,but she was not known by many people because she had been away for ten years. When they arrived at the dance, many discovered that the girl had problems with the new styles of dance but was the best polka dancer they had ever seen. After midnight, couples started to leave the dance. As the couple exited, Manuel put his coat over Maria's shoulders. On the way home, Maria had asked to be left at the exact spot in which she was picked up. Manuel wanted to escort her to her house but she insisted that she be alone. She offered his coat back but was told to keep it until the next morning when he would visit her.

The next morning Manuel arrived at the same spot he had left Maria and found a little white house about a quarter mile away. As he drove up a lady opened the door. Manuel asked if he could see Maria, but the lady froze. "Maria? Maria has been dead for ten years!"

"But Miss, this is not possible! I took her to the dance last night! We had such a good time and she looked so beautiful polka dancing in her pink dress. I even lent her my coat."

The lady started to cry. "My daughter was the best polka and corrido dancer, and she was buried in a very pretty pink dress. I'm telling you that she died in an accident ten years ago! Come with me. I know what will change your mind."

The two of them walked silently to a cemetery. It was true. There before them was a stone with the inscription: Maria Lozano, 1920-1940, RIP.... and upon the grave, Manuel's coat. That whole evening Manuel had been dancing with a ghost.