Paula’s Dress……for Paula!
Picture This:
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It’s Fall 1974 in Smalltown, Texas.
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I’m the new kid in town. (My mom & dad have uprooted me without consent during my critical teen years – scarring.)
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I’ve got no friends.
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It’s my first day of enrollment in a new middle school.
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Mid semester, no less and it’s public.
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(ugh, someone should have told me that public school meant a little more than no nuns, no uniforms and no religion class!)
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I’m setting quietly in my desk trying to be invisible when the “Arthur Fonzarelli” of the school turns around in his desk and asks loudly,
hey, are you a prostitute?
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I respond innocently,
why no, I’m Catholic.
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The entire classroom roars.
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It wasn’t until years later that I finally figured out what was so funny…prostitute?… protestant?
Well they do sound alike!
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Anyway, an angel in disguise came to my rescue, our next door neighbor, Paula. She introduced me to new friends and made me feel welcome. She worked with me on my wardrobe faux pas and even taught me how to dribble a basketball.
So thanks Paula, this little groovy dress is for you!
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BTW: Paula is a pediatric nurse now and still an angel. She celebrated her 21st birthday again this week!
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Wow. Great story and a great person!
Love it!
thanks Cheryl!…You are such a sweet GOOD friend and always have been. You were great when you came to Palacios. I just remember having sooo much fun with you and your sisters at your house…Your mom was so sweet and treated me like I was one of her own..Love ya
Paula, I will never forget the first day of school – You and Lisa came over to get me and the first thing you said was…”you can’t wear that to school” and I had to do a quick change because I had some mid-drift showing! Ahh, but we survived!
Send me your address and size and I will send you your dress. Thanks for always being a good friend! I love you – Cheryl
This is so sweet. What a nice story!