The entire school was involved in staging the Christmas Dance each year. It was the highlight of the fall semester, signifying the end, hopefully successfully, of the fall term and the beginning of Christmas break. Teachers attended, not only as chaperones, but also as participants in the evening. Alumnae were even known to attend the annual dance. Each class took a role in getting ready, whether it was in decorating the gym, providing refreshments or arranging for a local band to play. Our class was involved with the decorations. Naturally, this meant that Sarah, Amy, Rachel and I were working with our classmates to design the decorations and ultimately hang them in the gym. The dance was semi-formal, which meant that I could again wear my wonderful gold satin cocktail dress.

As we made the decorations, we talked about whom we were bringing and what we would be wearing. Rachel would be bringing her steady boyfriend. Sarah was still debating over which of two boys she was dating to ask. Amy wasn't dating anyone at the moment, so she decided to ask a young man from her church youth group. I told the girls that I would be bringing Robby, of course, and wearing my gold satin cocktail dress. When I described it, my friends thought it sounded dreamy. I assured them that it was lovely to look at and to wear.

Grade reports came out on Friday with the dance being held the next evening. Again, the teacher of our last class handed them out and again the four of us were asked to report to Mrs. W's office. This time we knew what to expect. To confirm my hunch, I quickly glanced at my grade report and again saw all A's. I saw Rachel and Sarah smiling, indicating that they had gotten all A's also. Amy was not smiling as broadly, we later found out because she received an A- in Phys. Ed. While not keeping her from the Distinguished Honor Roll, because it was a non-academic subject, she nonetheless, technically, did not receive all A's. We tried to cheer her up as we went to Mrs. W's office to receive our recognition.

By the time we arrived, Amy had accepted the grade and was smiling as broadly as the rest of us. Mrs. W jokingly referred to us as the "Four Musketeers" since we were the only Juniors to make the Distinguished roll in both quarters. Before we left, Mrs. W. again encouraged us "girls" to keep up the good work. We thanked her for her kind words and returned to our class for the end of the day.

Saturday morning found me rising early, because I had an appointment to get my hair and nails done in preparation for the dance. Sharon, who had been home from college for a week, was going with me as she had also planned to attend the Christmas dance. In addition to my white satin lingerie, I wore a short sleeve light blue silky blouse with a rounded collar and a denim swing skirt. Sharon wore a sleeveless blouse and an A-line skirt, both in shades of green. We arrived early at the beauty salon. Even though I was prepared to wait, I found that Karen was ready for me.

As I headed for the shampoo bowl, I noticed Sharon about two steps behind me headed in the same direction. Her stylist, Tracy, was also ready for her. As shampoo capes were draped over our bodies, we were reclined to the shampoo bowl, there to enjoy a stimulating and relaxing shampoo and conditioning. Karen directed me to her styling station after toweling off the excess water. Since Tracy worked at the next station, the four of us were able to talk about the upcoming holidays and about the evening's dance. Tracy kidded my sister about going to the dance just to keep an eye on me. In response, Sharon said that her little sister was on her own tonight. We all laughed over that.

With rollers in our hair and pink hairnets covering our rollers, Sharon and I were seated under to plastic dome-hooded dryers. The manicure table was rolled between us as Karen and Tracy started working on our nails. After soaking, filing and cleaning my nails, Karen applied medium red enamel. I noticed that Sharon was getting the bright red polish for her nails. In both cases, the polish gave our nails a wet look, even when it had dried. I simply loved the appearance of my polished nails.

Back at the styling stations, Karen and Tracy went to work, creating their magic with our hair. With comb, brush, styling gel and hairspray, Karen created a nice style, with a bit of curl. Additionally, she took the tendrils of hair framing my face and curled and teased them to add to my appearance. Karen also sprinkled some glitter on my hair, giving it more of a holiday appearance. Sharon had her longish hair done in an up do, which gave her entire face a very dramatic appearance.

Back at home, we had time to eat a light mid-afternoon meal and then start to get ready. I changed into my gold satin lingerie, being careful not to disturb my hair as I put my slip on. Of course, the requisite sanitary pad was properly positioned in my panties before I proceeded. I then did my makeup with extra care, making sure that I applied just the right amount of blush to my cheeks and mascara to my eyelashes. I carefully blotted my lips after applying several coats of creamy lipstick.

I stepped into my four-inch heels and then into my crinolines and placed them around my waist. Even though we were the same height, I knew that Robby loved to see me wear four-inch heels. She would always tell me how nice my legs looked in the heels. Each time Robby would say that, I would blush in mock embarrassment. She did not feel the least bit self-conscious as I towered above her while in my heels.

I put on a gold necklace and bracelet. From my ears hung decorative little Christmas trees, swaying with each step. I carefully put my dress over my head and then went to Sharon's room to have her zip me up. Sharon was just about ready also. She was wearing a knee-length red satin sheath that fitted her well and matching four-inch heels. She quickly obliged my request to be zipped up and then asked me to return the favor.

Just about then, Robby arrived. I hugged my big sister and said I would see her at the dance. I then went to meet my date. She gave me a wrist corsage done in seasonal flowers. I smiled and quickly put it on my wrist. Robby looked particularly dapper tonight in a dark blue suit, light blue shirt and red striped tie. I picked up my purse, made sure I had our tickets and left on Robby's arm. She held my arm and gently guided me to the car. From there, it was on to school and the dance.

All of the girls looked particularly festive in their dresses and dressy skirt and blouse sets. Rachel wore a dark blue, full skirted, silky dress. Sarah looked lovely in a dark green sheath. Amy wore a long red skirt and a green, long sleeve satin blouse with pointed collar. We introduced our dates and our friends to each other and then found an area where we could all sit together. We even saw Paige there wearing a lovely dark green satin pantsuit with a white satin blouse and dark green heels. She was moving gracefully across the gym with a young man in tow. It was also interesting seeing the adults, even Mrs. W, dressed in festive holiday attire, enjoying the evening. Sharon arrived a little after we did with her long-time steady boyfriend. When she found our group, I introduced everyone. Sharon smiled, told me to have a good time and then said she would see me later at home.

The decorations that we had so painstakingly made and carefully hung truly gave the gym an appearance of Christmas. Our hard work was being enjoyed by all. Unfortunately, the pleasant evening ended all too quickly. The band, at the request of the teachers, closed the evening with the old standard, "I'll See You In My Dreams." As Robby held me and guided me around the floor, I knew that I would indeed see her in my very pleasant dreams that night. After the last number, my friends and I hugged and said our good-byes and said we would be in touch during the holidays. My first semester as a Manor Hill Junior was now officially complete. To say the least, it had exceeded my wildest expectations.

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