The next day was Friday, and I didn't see W even once all day, which was fairly unusual, so I would have to wait until after the weekend. That evening, while I was helping my Mom make dinner, she asked in her teasing way, "So, are you going to find a cute girl to ask to the dance?" My normal answer is a sarcastic "right," and to roll my eyes. Instead I just dropped an "I already did," and ducked out of the room. My recollection is that she was peeling carrots, and I heard her drop both the peeler and the carrot into the sink as she stared at me walking away. Obviously I had to eventually provide more details, and she was convinced that I needed an answer before Monday, in order to prepare. I called W's house, but she wasn't home. So I had in interesting chat with her dad instead. Talk about being out of my depth, and I still didn't have an answer.
I had received my first real compound bow for Christmas the previous month, and it got a lot of use that weekend. I spent hours out in the field, shooting a single arrow into my haystack, and then retrieving it (aka deep in thought). That got me nowhere, but it was all I could do at that point. I probably prayed about it a lot, but I am not even sure what I was praying for. I am not sure if I was more nervous about her saying "no," or the ramifications of her saying "yes."
I finally managed to catch-up with W right before classes started on Monday morning. I only remember the results of that conversation as well, as opposed to exactly what was said. I guess her cousin had been trying to set her up with someone, and that had come through, so I was out of luck. I don't recall that being the reason for the original "Maybe," but I am willing to take her word for it. It was both a crushing blow, and a giant relief. I had been rejected, but no longer had to worry about the answers to all of those logistical issues that would have arisen.
I had Calculus later that day, and the topic came up with my classmate of course. "So are you going to find a girl to ask to the dance?" "I did, she said No." "Oh yeah, sure you did. You're full of ****." And he turned back to his assignment. The girl sitting behind us, who had heard our earlier conversations, asked: "Wait a minute, you're not kidding. That really happened, didn't it?" Shrug and a nod. The horrified look on her face was actually encouraging; at least someone understood.
I did end up going to that dance anyway, alone. From a practical perspective, I realized I needed to have a better idea of what that would entail, before I contemplated trying to invite someone to one again. I basically did nothing but stand in the corner with a couple of other people I knew, but I got to see "what the big deal was," if you could call it that. I have absolutely zero inherent interest in dances (or dancing), but it was the only context that I could imagine exploring serious guy-girl relationships at that point in life. That situation was also probably a key motivation in getting my drivers license. I'd had my permit for nearly a year by then, and had put off getting my license to avoid an increase in my parents insurance. But I wanted a "potential solution" available if I found myself in that position in the future.
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