Chapter Two: The Dance
45 years ago and I still Remember like it was last week. Circa 1992 in the High Desert, California. Back then, life was simpler. I know it probably sounds cliche, but trust me life seemed a lot simpler than now. Long before Ethereum took over most aspects of our daily lives. Long before we had HealthEth, there were insurance cards we carried around. And long before we had BitCoin and Ether tokens, we used paper Money.
"Paper Money", Rose giggled. "I've always read about paper money in school, but it just seems so odd. I mean, what if it tore, or caught on fire, or what if you lost it?"
"Trust me, it was money!", I replied almost impatiently as if to say, let me finish my story.
It was my freshman year and that particular day was a day like no other. You see, I was on my way to my best friend's house.
My dad dropped me off at my buddy Josh's house to get ready for our very first high school dance. I don't know if Josh was as nervous as I was in that moment. If he was he hid it well. I don't even know if either one of us had ever danced with a girl before. Shoot, I don't know if either one of us could even dance.
I ran out of my Dad's van and stormed up to Josh's front door. I don't know how many times I hit that doorbell, but I imagine it must have been at least 12 times.
"Hello, Mr. Wrigley, I am here to pick up Josh." I half-shouted
"What?! You picked up a box?" said Josh's Dad
I swear Josh's dad is deaf. Or maybe he's just always funning with me. Either way, Mr. Wrigley is an odd type of dad.
"Uh, we are supposed to be going to the school dance at Quartzsite" I replied
"Well why-
"Dude, you are early!", Josh interrupted his dad as he approached the doorway
"You two going off dancing together?" asked Josh's Dad
"Yes dad, the high school dance" Josh replied
The three of us exchanged an awkward type of silence before Josh invited me in.
We hurried off to his bedroom where I presumed he was finishing getting ready. You must understand, Josh was meticulous about getting dressed and groomed. He had this ritual, well more of a struggle if you were ever to witness it. He would never want to do his hair after he put his shirt on for fear of hairspray droppings becoming visible on his shirt. So he would do his hair with gel goop and then brush and blow-dry followed by hairspray. The challenge was getting his Collared shirt and undershirt on without damaging his 'due. Ah it was so amusing watching him stretch the neck-hole with his hands while contorting his body so his big head could fit through the neck-hole without the shirt ever touching his hair.
As amusing as it was to watch him getting ready for his first high school dance in such comedic fashion, I felt myself growing impatient with anxiety.
"Dude, let's go!", I said
"Almost done dude."
We ran out Josh's house and into the van where my pops was waiting for us to take us to our first school dance.
My dad patiently waited outside while Josh took several years to get ready. He then patiently drove us both to the high school. At the time I was annoyed he was playing his Mexican radio station music. I think it was Raul FM or Pedro FM or something. Looking back I should have been appreciative of the man who never complained and only lectured me to teach me about life.
As the van pulled up to Quartzsite high, Josh and I jumped out of the van with only a quick "Thank you dad!" from me and a quick "Thank You Mr. Sanchez" and we both ran off towards the Multi-Purpose Room.
As we were standing in line for tickets I could hear "What About Your Friends" by TLC playing. I couldn't wait to enter. I was feeling nervous and excited. We stood in line for what seemed like as long as it took Josh to get ready, before the ticket seller looked at us indicating it was our turn.
"Two tickets please"
The ticket seller gave us two tickets for $5 each.
Josh and I walked in. The song playing in the background was now "Can we talk for a minute" by Tevin Campbell.
My nervousness had now subsided and I felt relaxed.
"Dude, should we go get some punch?" Josh asked
"Dude"
"Uh, Dude?"
I couldn't respond. My eyes had zeroed in on her. Blue eyes like the Ocean. Blonde hair with dark roots. Her smile seemed both mischievous and angelic. That was the moment in history I would first lay eyes on the girl who would change my life forever.