First Dance June 1965
Becky Chalmers and her sister-friend, Sharon discussed the spring dance to be held at Yardley Elementary School. This would be their first dance ever. Becky nervously lifted her feathery dark hair catching a bit of it and twirling it around her index finger, a comforting habit. She was baffled by the attention given this first dance by her mother. Sharon kept the dance within the realm of an everyday event. Sharon was almost always earthbound. “Who are you going to dance with Becky?” Sharon asked.
“Probably David. My mom says we’re compatible.” Becky didn’t want to be without a boyfriend for the big event. “Scotty Cadwallader asked me to dance with him, too,” Becky said, “I’m not sure I want to though.”
David was slim and graceful, Scotty was big and clumsy, but Becky had made a deal with Scotty. This week, Scotty was a hero having rescued a tiny kitten who couldn’t get down from the big maple tree at the edge of the school playground.
“That kitten climbed all the way up to the top of the tree. I’m an expert rescuer. It was no sweat to save him,” Scotty told the group of girls who surrounded him. “Do you want to take this kitten home with you?” Scotty asked Becky.
“I’ll take good care of him,” Becky said, snuggling the tiny creature.
“Remember, I gave you the kitten. You have to dance with me on Saturday,” Scotty was pretty proud of this trade.
The kitten nestled in Becky’s arms. “I’ll dance with you once,” she said.
In the Chalmers household, Becky’s mom, Jackie, focused on her daughter’s first dance. Jackie was ready to launch Becky, her oldest child, into the grown-up world of school dances. After all, Jackie had met Jim when they were both nine-years-old.
Thinking ahead Jackie Chalmers said, “Becky, I think you’re old enough to wear pantyhose to the dance.”
“Do you really, Mom? I promise I’ll be very careful with them.” As soon as Becky told Sharon about this milestone, Sharon went home and asked for pantyhose, too.
On Friday morning, the two mothers: Jackie Chalmers and Pat Edwards, went to Sears and Roebuck in Trenton to buy the necessary apparel.
“Here’s some of this new pantyhose for Becky, and look they have training bras,” said Jackie, pleased.
“I searched and thankfully I found pantyhose in Sharon’s size,” Pat said, with less enthusiasm.
Jackie said, “Let’s get them training bras, too Pat.”
“Don’t get carried away, Jackie,” said Pat.
Jackie paused, but bought Becky a training bra anyway.
Those students chosen for the decorating committee spent all of Friday afternoon fixing up the school cafeteria for the occasion. Becky and Sharon watched. All but one of the tables were folded up and pushed to a corner by the janitor. The kids stretched crepe paper streamers and flowers made of colored construction paper around the remaining table. Lemonade and cookies baked by the mothers would be served.
Becky said to Sharon, “Look where the chairs are lined up against the wall. My mom told me they’re for the wallflowers. She said girls who don’t get asked to dance have to sit there. I’ll never be a wallflower.” Becky was unquestionably sure.
This significant event would take place from 2 pm to 4 pm on Saturday afternoon. When Becky and Sharon took their morning walk to the Yardley library, they were eager and slightly jittery.
Mrs. Pincher, the librarian had a surprise for the girls. “Your friend David Yong told me about the spring dance. I made you corsages from pink tissue paper.” She showed them the paper flowers and put them in small boxes for Becky and Sharon to take home.
“Oh, thank you Mrs. Pincher,” Becky said. “Sharon, we’ll wear these flowers to the dance. It’s better to wear a tissue paper flower than to be a wallflower, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I never knew Mrs. Pincher could be kind,” Sharon said later.
Mrs. Pincher got along well with Becky who visited the library frequently; but she still had to struggle to be nice to Becky’s twin brothers, Jimmy and Billy Chalmers. The secret of who wrote a bad word on the library wall some time ago, had come out last week, although the snitch didn’t know for sure which twin was the culprit.
It was time to get ready. Each of the girls started with bubble baths at their respective homes. Dried off, her hair still dripping, Becky heard her mother say, “Becky, I have a special surprise for you.” Jackie held up a training bra; the package of pantyhose was tucked under her other arm.
Jim Chalmers was told about his daughter’s new apparel. He asked his wife why Becky needed to squeeze into pantyhose, “Becky doesn’t have an ounce of fat on her?” Jackie, who had been wearing a girdle almost every day since the twins were born, gave her husband the look. Jim knew he’d slipped into dangerous territory and asked no more questions, suddenly remembering the car needed a wash.
While Jackie watched, Becky struggled into the pantyhose, “Mom these are too tight.”
“You could wear Bobbie socks and your old Mary Janes (shoes),” Jackie said, knowing what Becky’s choice would be.
“I think I’ll wear pantyhose with my Sunday shoes instead,” Becky sighed.
At the Edwards’ house, Pat explained to Sharon how to adjust her pantyhose. Pat didn’t want her little girl to grow up fast.
Becky and Sharon were ready.
Jim and Jackie drove Becky to Yardley Elementary School in the baby blue Dodge Dart station wagon.
Pat and Lee Edwards, Sr. rode with Sharon in the back seat of their Rambler.
The new hit, Wooly Bully, boomed from a stereo as the girls entered the cafeteria. Becky happily danced with David.
After the next few records were played, Scotty cornered Becky at the refreshment table. “It’s my turn, Becky,” Scotty said.
Becky thought, I may as well get it over with now. Scotty escorted Becky to the middle of the cafeteria where the limbo was to take place. (The purpose of the limbo was to bend backward as low as possible and edge underneath the bamboo pole without knocking it to the ground.) Scotty, bigger than everyone else, was the first one eliminated. Becky didn’t hide her laughter.
“Let’s dance some more, Becky. I want all the other boys to see us,” said Scotty, loudly.
“No, Scotty. I only promised you one dance.” Becky did not envision her first dance partnered for the rest of the occasion with Scotty. Unfortunately, the damage was done, none of the other boys wanted to be Becky’s partner. Scotty was too intimidating.
Becky became a wallflower. Becky observed everyone else. Once chosen, Sharon never sat down in a wallflower chair again. Becky went from slightly annoyed to tearfully sad while she watched David pick a different girl each time a new record was played.
Girls just didn’t ask boys to dance with them in 1965. That was the rule.
I’ll go get some lemonade, Becky thought.
Becky was munching on a cookie when Scotty snuck up behind her and did the unthinkable. Becky felt the back of her bra, beneath her party dress, pulled and released—it snapped back. This nasty trick had started on the playground just a week ago. It hadn’t been witnessed and stopped by the teachers, yet.
Becky was distressed beyond tears. Turning to run to the wallflower chairs, her pantyhose snagged on the leg of the refreshment table. The rip was disastrous. Becky’s left pantyhose leg descended around her ankle. She ran for the girl’s room instead. I’m giving that kitten back to Scotty, Becky stomped her foot on the tile floor. She hid for a few moments in a stall. Pride took over, Becky removed the pantyhose, dumped it in the trash, and lifted her chin resolving not to let Scotty ruin her afternoon.
It was one thing to be brave in the girl’s room, but when Becky returned to the cafeteria she took a seat in a wallflower chair. She was stunned into an embarrassed quietness. Dances were supposed to be fun. Becky looked at the other girls. A few of them had occupied the wallflower chairs for an entire hour. Mary Turner was crying, her tears dripping onto a lovely party dress.
Outside of the building, parents spied through the cafeteria windows, some were silent now. Jim Chalmers’ heart was breaking for his daughter and the other young girls sitting in the wallflower chairs. He rounded up the wallflower fathers and convinced them to crash the party with him.
The men entered the cafeteria. Jim stood before his daughter offering his hand to Becky. She quickly rose from her chair. Jim did the twist rather awkwardly, but Becky didn’t care. “Oh, Daddy, I’m glad you’re here,” she said.
The magic hour came quickly. Crepe paper sagged, the cookies were gone, the dance was a memory. Before leaving, Jim Chalmers had a discussion with Scotty and few of the other boys about the consequences of any further bra-snapping.
At home, Becky kissed her daddy goodnight before climbing the stairs to her bedroom. Still absorbing what happened at the dance, Becky pinned the pink tissue paper corsage to the blue satin quilt, curling up with her kitten in the window seat. “Maybe someday there won’t be wallflower chairs,” Becky said to the moon.