With just a little over a month until the homecoming dance, I have yet to figure out what I was going to wear. The biggest reminder that I was running out of time was the last call for homecoming Mums to be ordered.
Part of Texas's unique homecoming tradition were the Mums. Mum's were these very elaborate and decorative arrangements of ribbons, bows, and bells and all kinds of ornaments. Very tacky, but it's the tradition.
The boys would wear a garter version on their sleeve . As for the girls, they would get these grand versions that would dangle around their neck like a giant medallion. And I do mean gigantic, Gargantuan, GINORMOUS!
When I first saw them my freshman year, some of the girls looked like a whole parade float just strolling down the hallway with all kinds of ringing and jingling. You could hear them from across the damn school.
The ladies from the school booster club were some of the ones that were selling Mums this year and had a few premade ones on display at the tables. Sizes and prices varied. The smallest being $25 each and going all the way up to $300 depending on what customizations you wanted.
(DEAR GOD! $300 FOR A 1 TIME USE MEMORABILIA?)
I had enough saved for a small set for Lilly and I. As grand as some of these mums were, I went simple. It felt overwhelming just by these small ones and I didn't want to overwhelm Lilly with such things. But, Traditions are traditions, I went ahead and placed my order and reserved it for "Alfie and Lilly".
With time getting shorter, I was really needing to have a serious discussion with Lilly about the wardrobe. I didn't have any formal attire of any kind in my closet.
Frantically, I was flipping through the pages of an old agenda book from middle school I had saved her number in. Once I found it, I'd give her a call. It was the first time I had actually called her number even though I had it ages ago. I did not know what to expect.
(Now to wrangle the phone away from my sister)
Pebbles being the teen that she was, was always on the phone whether with one of her many friends, or a boyfriend. I quit keeping track. I really hated asking her anything because I always got attitude from her. I took a nice deep breath before knocking on her door.
Pebbles opened the door partially with the phone at her ear. She gave me a dirty look and didn't even have to say anything. All she did was give me a nod which meant "What do you want?"
"Hey. Can I use the phone right away?" I had my hands pressed together, begging and groveling to her. "It'll be quick, I swear."
She rolled her eyes at me and went back to her call. "Eyy. Let me call you back right away." She ended the call and passed me the cordless phone.
I took the phone back into my bedroom. Now that I found her number, I dialed it into the phone and waited.
"Hello?" An unfamiliar voice that sound similar to Lilly answered.
"Yeah, uh, hi. Is Lilly there?" I don't know why I was becoming so bashful all of the sudden. I've talked to her many times before.
"Hold on a sec." she put the phone down and feint voices could be heard in the background. One was definitely Lilly. That must have been her sister that answered.
Lilly: "Who is it?"
Girl: "I dont. Some dude."
Lilly: "Did you ask?"
Girl: "No"
Lilly:"Seriously!"
You can tell that she gets easily annoyed with her sister. The phone made a rumbling as she picked it up.
Lilly:"Hello?"
Alfie: "Hey. It's Alfie."
Lilly:"Holy shit! Hey, Alfie. Thought you lost my number."
Alfie: "In a way I kinda did. But I found it "
( I was actually too chicken to call. )
Her sister could be heard in the background "ooh who's Aaalfie?"
Lilly yelled back to her. "none of your damn business."
She fumbled with the phone. "Alfie, hold on a sec."
Alfie: "ummm...sure"
She started to walk away with the phone and took it to her bedroom. "Sorry, I'm back. What's up?"
Alfie: "Well, I'm trying to figure out what to wear. So far all I got is a nice shirt from FUBU and some nice jeans."
Lilly: "Ummm... yaah. There's no way in hell your wearing a FUBU shirt to homecoming."
Alfie: "I know. Just giving you shit." I let out a little laugh. "I do need to pick out something and I just wondering what you are wearing."
Lilly:"Actually I....
(A click from another phone was heard.)
"Alfie smells like dick!"
Lilly paused and started to laugh hysterically.
I started to growl. "Get off the phone!" I yelled out to my sister who was at the other phone in the living room.
(The other phone hung up)
Lilly was still giggling."You actually do."
Alfie: Fuck off!
Lilly started to laugh even harder.
My face was really starting to turn beet red from anger and embarrassment.
Alfie: "I'm sorry. That was my bitch of a sister."
Lilly let out a long sigh of relief finishing her laughing fit. "Anyways. As I was saying before that hilarious interruption, I had picked something out last weekend at Dillard's. It's a really pretty wine red dress. Probably going to pair it with a black cardigan."
Alfie: "WINE RED?!"
(I had no idea what shade that would be. )
Alfie: "I just know the primary and secondary colors. what's the difference between that and regular red?"
Lilly: "Goofball" she giggled. "Well. It's a very deep red. Like red wine. Duh."
Alfie: "I wouldn't know that. I'm not a wino"
Lilly: "Mhmm. Right." She said with such sassiness. "But you're Catholic. I'm very sure you do."
We couldn't help laughing at our little bickering like usual.
Alfie:"Alright alright. So I'll look for something in wine red. I'm sure the store will know what I'm talking about."
Lilly:"I'm sure you'll figure something out. Don't make me regret this."
Alfie: "Oh. I forgot to mention, I already got our Mums picked out and ordered." I paused to see if she had any kind of reaction. "Yours is pretty massive. I think only your head will be showing when you wear it."
At that point, I could feel that stare of disbelief she was giving me through the phone. "Are you fucking with me again?!"
I couldn't help it but to mess with her and leave her in suspense.
*CLICK*
I was waiting for her to call back immediately. But that didn't happen. I'm sure I'll get an earful the next time I see her.
The moment I opened my door, my sister was already on her way to get the phone back from me.
"Eyy. Was that a girl you were talking to?" Pebbles gave me a questioning look.
"Yes." I scolded at her. "Thanks for embarrassing me."
She sucked her teeth. "Shit. I thought it was one of your nerdy friends. Sorry."
I tossed her the phone."Yeah whatever."
"Nah for reals." There were very few moments when you can actually tell if she was messing around, lying or being sincere. She was actually being sincere. "What was that about?"
I sighed deeply. I really hated being ridiculed but it was always pointless retaliating with her. Might as well tell her. "Just figuring out what to wear for homecoming"
"Wait wait wait." She crossed her arms and became very interested all of the sudden. "You're going to homecoming?"
"Yeah." It surprised me that she became invested with what I was up to. "With Lilly."
"Shut the fuck up." Pebbles jaw fell with shock. "Did she like ask you or something?"
My sister knew me far too well. She knew I would always withdraw before initiating anything. Such a curse to be so timid.
I got a little defensive and straightened up with confidence. "No. I actually asked her for once."
"Whaaaat! You?" She really couldn't believe a word I was saying. "When?"
This actually made me think back. "Umm ...Like... a while ago. When they first announced it."
My sister stiffened her lips and became very interrogative. "Does mom know you're going?"
I froze and my eyes opened so wide that any further they would have probably popped out of their socket.
There it was. The one detail I did not think about. My parents didn't know. That wa
s truly the one thing I needed to do in order to make this work...
I had to tell Mom.