Too bad you can’t wear it, I thought. But I knew Mom had spent a lot of time on the dress. Only the world’s most ungrateful daughter would refuse. Reluctantly I put it on.
All through church I prayed, Lord, let me get out of here without anyone seeing me. Especially Dennis Pearce, the boy I had a crush on6. He was one of the cutest guys at Neptune High. Although we were in some of the same classes, Dennis had never taken any notice of me.
At the end of the service I bolted for the door. But I had to wait on the steps while my parents chatted with their friends. Just a litte while longer... Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the Pearce approaching. Before I could escape. Dennis was right beside me.
I started gabbing7 a mile a minute, hoping if I kept it up he wouldn’t notice my horrible dress. “I’m going to college in September,” I said.
“That’s great,” Dennis replied. “I got accepted to the police academy.”
“Wow!” I said. Somehow I kept the conversation going. Soon we were walking to the parking lot together. The next thing I knew Dennis had asked me out on a date!
We courted8 through college, and eventually got married. Months after our wedding I asked Dennis if he remembered the day he had first asked me out.
“You bet I do,” he said. “You were always quiet in schoo1, almost stand-offish. I didn’t think you’d be much fun. But you were so animated9 when we talked on the church steps, I wanted to get to know you better.” Maybe that zebra-striped yellow dress watsn’t what 1 would have chosen, but that day it was the perfect dress for me.