Friday, May 19, 1961
Lisa’s mother dropped us off at the door then went to park the car.
Several coat racks were set up by the front. We paid our five dollar admission which included a raffle ticket and two forms, one to pick the Dance King and one for the Dance Queen.
“Put your raffle tickets here,” one of the teachers pointed to a large glass fish bowl. “And your ballots for the Dance King and Dance Queen here.” She indicated to a box covered in blue and another in pink.
“Come on, let’s check our hair.” Lisa pulled me to the ladies room after we put our raffle stubs in the bowl.
The bathroom was jammed with everybody looking in the mirrors. We glanced at our reflections and left.
“We have to decide who to pick for the Dance King and Queen,” said Lisa when we were back in the lobby.
“Pauline will get it,” I said. “And her date.” I knew the way politics worked. It didn’t matter to me who won.
“I have an idea,” said Lisa. “Give me your ballots.” I handed them to her. Lisa scribbled names on the blue forms and the pink forms then popped them into the appropriate boxes.
Everyone looked so different dressed up. Most of the boys had western shirts and bolo ties. They looked real sharp.
Lisa’s mom waved at us from a group of several of the teachers.
The band was on a raised platform at one end of the gym. They began tuning their instruments and picking out cords.
“Hey, there.”
I turned around. Rick wore a deep blue shirt and a western bolo tie with an arrow-shaped slide made of turquoise. With black pants and boots to match, he looked so handsome.
He took my hands and held me away from him.
“Well, don’t you look beautiful?”
I blushed. “Thank…thank you,” I stammered nervously. “You look great, too.”
We just stood looking at each other. I still couldn’t believe I made it to the dance.
Then the band started to play and Rick took me to the floor with a toe-tapping western tune that everyone swayed to. All those dance lessons my mother insisted on paid off. I followed Rick’s lead easily.
He smiled down at me. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he said.
“Either can I.” I smiled back at him, so happy I thought I’d burst.
Out of the corner of my eye, Lisa whirled by in Carl Culpepper’s arms, laughing. She didn’t lack for partners. Everyone liked Lisa. She was funny, kind and she was my best friend.
Music started for the second number and Jeff Cutler asked me to be his partner. It was nonstop from then on. The names and faces of my partners blurred. How different from the dances at the private school where I hugged the sidelines waiting to be picked to dance. Here, everyone danced. It didn’t matter if you were popular or not. I caught glimpses of Lisa twirling past. Finally, Rick claimed me for the fifth one.
“Aren’t you the busy one,” he remarked.
I laughed, “Yeah, I’ve never danced so much in my life. School dances in Boston were never like this.”
“What were they like?”
“Painful,” I replied. “We sat like pigeons on the sidelines, waiting to be picked.” I sighed, remembering those uncomfortable events. “I spent a lot of time on the sidelines.”
“The guys must have been blind.”
“Oh, Rick.”
I noticed Lisa talking to another group of kids, a bunch of ballots in her hand.
“What is she up to?” I asked, pointing.
“She’s on a mission not to have Pauline chosen as Dance Queen,” said Rick.
“Did you vote?” I asked.
“Sure did.” Then he added, “For you and for me.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I am not. Every vote counts.” He laughed. “Lisa’s determined we’re going to win.”
“That’s impossible,” I exclaimed.
“Is it?”
“Pauline’s gonna win. She wins every year, she’s been crowing about it all week.”
“I’m sure she was,” he agreed. “Maybe this year it will be different.”
“I doubt it,” I said, not giving it another thought.
“Let’s get something to drink.”
“Okay.” With his hand on the small of my back, Rick steered me to the refreshment table. A huge bowl of pink punch dominated it. He took two cups and gave one to me. We moved to the side.
“Here’s to us,” he said toasting me.
“And miracles,” I added.
We turned to go sit down when someone slammed into me.
“Watch out.”
It was too late. Pauline’s cup of punch spilled all down the front of my dress.
“Look what you made me do,” she screamed.
I stared at the pink stain covering half of my dress and the pink puddle of punch pooling on the floor beneath me.
Pauline held her empty cup and stared at me. I saw something else in her eyes; a glint of satisfaction.
I leaned over and grabbed her arm, my face inches from hers.
“That was deliberate,” I spat.
She looked startled and started to protest.
“Shut up,” I hissed so low no one else could hear.
Her eyes got big, her mouth opened. She stopped talking.
“You are hateful and evil,” I said holding her gaze with mine and tightening my grip on her arm. She struggled to shake me off and couldn’t.
“You better stay away from me if you know what’s good for you,” I growled.
She paled, and then blinked.
“And you better stay away from Rick Ferguson,” I added.
No one ever talked back to Pauline. Now I stared her down, called her bluff. Time stood still. It seemed like hours until her eyes shifted away from me.
“Get away from me,” I said disgustedly, letting go of her arm I gave her a slight push backwards. Then I turned my back and walked away. Pauline Richardson would never hurt me again — and she knew it.
“What did you say to her?” asked Lisa in awe.
“That’s between Pauline and me,” I replied.
“Come on, let’s fix your dress,” said Lisa pulling me along with her. Thankfully, the ladies room was almost empty.
“Maryann,” Lisa dabbed wet paper towels at the front of my dress, “Pauline is such a witch. She did it on purpose. I saw the whole thing.” Lisa shook with rage.
“I have to leave, Lisa. I can’t stay here like this. Just look at my dress,” I pointed to the huge pink stain.
“Wait here,” she said, throwing away the soggy towels. “I’ll talk to Mom.”
My first dance. My first date with Rick and now my dress was ruined. I couldn’t believe this happened.
Huddled by the sink, I splashed cool water on my face unable to look down at the damage to my dress. I grimaced at my reflection, trying hard not to cry.
Girls came in and tried to console me. I waved them away.
“It’s no use,” I said. “My dress is ruined.”
“I can’t stand that Pauline,” one girl said.
“Yeah, me too,” another agreed.
Lisa burst in with my coat.
“It’s all arranged,” she said, helping me put on my coat. “Rick will take you to change, and then he’ll bring you back.”
“Rick?” I looked at her as if she were crazy. “Aunt Bess will never let that happen. She won’t let him on the ranch, let alone in the door.”
“Oh yes, she will,” said Lisa. “Mom just called her and explained what happened. Since Mom’s a chaperone, she can’t leave. So Rick will take you instead. Your aunt agreed. I mean what could she say? You need to change your dress.”
Lisa shuffled me out the door where Rick waited in the hall. Before I knew it, we were in his truck driving back to the ranch.
“Pauline better stay outta my way,” muttered Rick.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” I didn’t care what Lisa said. Aunt Bess would be furious.
“It’s fine,” he replied taking my hand in his. “Your aunt said it’s okay.”
Thirty minutes later we got to the ranch and Rick parked in front of the house. He shut off the engine, then leaned over and kissed me.
“For luck,” he said grinning.
“Oh, Rick.” I felt like weeping.
Inside, Aunt Bess seemed more worried about my dress than Rick standing beside me.
“Look,” I cried, taking off my coat and gesturing to the front of my dress. “It’s ruined.”
Aunt Bess saw the hurt in my eyes. “I think we can get the stain out. You go change so we can get you back to the dance.”
“You don’t understand,” I shouted. “It’s ruined. Everything’s ruined. I’m not going back to the dance.”
Rick reached for me. I pushed him away, ran up the stairs and slammed the door. I took off the dress and stained slip, leaving them in a heap to the floor.
“Why did this have to happen to me tonight?” I cried and sat down on the bed beyond tears.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Go away,” I yelled.
The door opened.
“Maryann, come on let’s get you in another dress,” said Aunt Bess.
I stared at her.
“I told you that I’m not going back.”
“Yes, you are.” said Aunt Bess.
I should have laughed that she insisted I go back to the dance with Rick.
“Do you want that girl to win?” she demanded hands on her hips. “She will if you don’t return and rub her face in it.”
She went to the closet, looked through my dresses and pulled out a blue flowered print.
“Here try this one on.”
“It doesn’t fit.” My mother bought the dress. I’d only worn it once and it never felt comfortable or looked right on me.
“I’ll be right back. I think I have a dress that’ll work.”
I felt too emotionally drained to fight any more. Staring at the blue heap on the floor I felt tired and defeated. Let me just crawl into bed and have a good cry.
Aunt Bess came in holding a blue-gray dress in a similar A-line cut to the dress on the floor.
“Where did you get this?” I asked taking the hanger from her.
“I wore it to a dance with your Uncle Jacob. He called it my stormy blue dress. Said it was the color of my eyes when I got mad.” She laughed. “I think it’ll look real pretty on you.” Her eyes softened,
A faint hint of lavender enveloped me as she put the dress over my head.
I looked in the mirror. “It fits,” I whispered.
“Of course it fits,” replied my aunt matter of factly. She fussed with the neckline and sleeves, and then stepped back. “You look real pretty,” she declared.
Our eyes met in the mirror. She leaned over and hugged me.
“Thank you, Aunt Bess.”
I blew my nose and rubbed a tissue across my eyes.
“Now, let’s get you back to that dance.”
In the living room Rick jumped to his feet from the sofa.
“You look great,” he said. “In fact, I think I like this dress even more.”
“You look real nice,” agreed Russ.
Rick held out my coat. “Come on, Maryann. Let’s get back to the dance.”
“Now you drive real careful,” my aunt cautioned as we headed toward the door.
“Yes ma’am,” replied Rick, taking my arm.
Russ and Aunt Bess walked us outside to the truck. Rick held the door and I got in. As we pulled out, I looked back. Russ had his arm around my aunt. I had no time to think about that because Rick reached for my hand.
How could things change so quickly I wondered? How could I feel so terrible one moment, then so happy the next?
“I’m glad we’re going back,” said Rick after we got into the truck and back on the road,
“Me too,” I admitted. He held my hand until we were at school.
We walked in just as they were drawing the winner of the raffle.
“And the winner is…” the band played a drum roll for effect.
“Lisa Barrows!”
Everyone cheered as Lisa went up to claim her prize, a $50 gift certificate to Sam’s Mercantile.
She waved and said, “Thank you!” into the microphone. More cheers erupted.
The band started a slow number and Rick took me in his arms. We let the music wash over us.
“I’m glad I came back,” I whispered in his ear.
Rick held me tighter. “Me, too.”
After the music ended, the announcer came on. “Get your ballots into the boxes. We’re gonna crown the Dance King and Queen real soon.
Another lively number started and Billy Gray grabbed my hand. Partner after partner spun me around the floor. I danced and danced until I thought my sides would split.
“This is the last dance,” they announced. “Grab your partner.”
The band played Patsy Cline’s Crazy and Rick pulled me into his arms. I wanted the music to go on forever. Then, the music stopped.
“And now the news you’ve all been waitin’ for,” said the principal. “The Dance King and Queen.”
Pauline and her date stood in front, confident they’d announce her as the winner.
Another drum roll…Lights dimmed…
“The Dance King and Queen are…” The drum roll continued then stopped. The silence was unbearable.
Who was it? I wondered.
“Rick Ferguson and Maryann Madigan.”
Everyone went wild. Rick hugged me. I hugged Rick. He took my hand and pulled me up on stage amid clapping, cheering and stamping feet.
“The Dance King,” announced the principal, putting Rick’s crown on. Then turned and picked up mine. He hesitated before putting it on my head.
“I just want to say I admire this young lady’s perseverance. I heard there was an ‘unkind incident’ earlier which necessitated in a change of clothing.” He glared down at Pauline. Then he placed the crown on my head and the school photographer snapped a picture of the two of us.
By that time it seemed like Rick and I been congratulated by the entire school. When we were finally ready to leave, Pauline and her date had disappeared.
Lisa ran up and grabbed my hands.
“Congratulations Dance Queen,” she said.
“I can’t believe it,” I said still dizzy from the crowning and all the congratulations. It all happened so fast.
“Well let’s just say that a lot of votes were cast after you left to change. Pauline isn’t as well liked as she thought.”
“Oh Lisa!” I hugged my friend knowing she was responsible for me being at the dance and for so much more.
“I’m glad you’re staying over,” she said. “We are going to have such fun tonight.”
How grateful I was that Aunt Bess insisted I come back to the dance.
How did she know how important it would be?