A Memorable Prom

Almost 40 years to the day was my senior prom. It was a memorable prom, as my date spent most of the time in the bathroom, but more on that later. 

So a few weeks before prom, my friend, we'll call her Sue, wanted me to go on a double date with her and her boyfriend Timmy to prom. Timmy and I knew each other as he was a bass player and would loan me a bass. 

Anyway, I didn't have a date and was okay with not going. But Sue had an idea. One of her neighbor friends, Curtis, was single and wanted to go to prom. He went to a different school than ours but was okay going to our prom. So she set us up, and we go out on a couple of dates before prom. It was okay, so I agreed to go with him. After all, he seemed like a nice guy.

With two weeks to go, I found a last-minute prom dress for $35 at Lerner's, which was steal back them. There was no limo, and we went to prom as a group. We had dinner and then headed to prom for pictures. Honestly, on the day of prom, I really didn't care to go, but I did. 

Everything had been nice, and we were out dancing, and he started making moves, and I wasn't into it. Sure, I kissed him on one date, but he just started kissing me while we were dancing. I admit I felt uncomfortable even though others were making out. I suggested we go sit down. As soon as we do, he says he wants to go steady. It was the end of the school year. We went to different schools, but he would be attending college, and I was doing well. I didn't know yet. 

I told him as politely as I could that I thought he was nice, but I didn't want to be tied down. I said summer was coming, and he would attend college in the fall. I told him I was sorry, and then he excused himself to go to the bathroom. 

I honestly didn't think it was that big of a deal. I was 17 and truly trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing. Would I have said things differently if I knew Curtis would react differently? I don't think so. I think part of the reason he asked was that if I said yes, then he would've proceeded to make moves on me on the dance floor. The reality of this whole exchange had him running to the bathroom and missing for at least a half hour. 

My friend asked me where he was, and Sue sent Timmy into the bathroom. My friend's date went in and found him crying. I tried to apologize, but he didn't want to hear it. So Timmy and I went back to listen to the band, and Sue and Curtis paired off for a bit. We ended up dancing and critiquing the band. Eventually, Sue and Curtis returned to join us, and we danced a bit before leaving. Sue and Curtis had to be home by 11, and Timmy and I didn't have a curfew.

We dropped them off, and Timmy took me home. We talked about how different our parents were compared to theirs as they lived in a more rural area than ours, and their parents were older. We truly were in disbelief about what had happened.  Part of me felt bad that I made him cry, but I wouldn't lie to him to keep the peace?  Curtis was nice enough, but it wasn't what I was looking for.  As I said, I was still trying to figure myself out. 

All names have been changed to protect the innocent.