How to Have Fun at an 8th Grade Dance

By Hay, Guest Contributor

The rumor was that Fernando liked me – that’s what Nick told Anijah anyway, when he asked her to the dance. Hmm, just last week I made a bit of a scene in class when he kept telling me how delicious turkey legs were. Maybe that was his weird version of flirting? I heard boys tease girls when they like them- who knows.

Should I say yes if he asks me, even after the turkey incident? If I wait to be asked by a vegan, it will be a lonely dance… I’ll do it!

I decide I can’t take the suspense and I’ll just ask him myself.

“Hey Fernando, are you going to the dance with anyone?”

“No…”

“Well, do you want to go with me?”

“I don’t know, maybe…”

I’ll take it! At least he didn’t say no. Besides, a maybe is just a baby yes that needs nurturing.

I have to spend the rest of the school day with him, when suddenly Miss Chapman tells him he has to change the ending to his poem – it’s about manatee blubber and it might upset me.

Wow, the teacher’s got my back? And yet she is reminding Fernando that I have animal sensitivities, right when he’s going to make this dance decision! 

One day goes by… two days… one week… two weeks… nothing. Still at my maybe…

So one day Brianna says, “Hey Fernando, are you going to the dance with anyone?”

Uh oh… gulp… here it comes… wait for it…. right in front of me, he says: “NO, I’m not.”

WHAT? RUDE!

Brianna says, “Well, I think you should go with Hay.”

HA! He just awkwardly walked away.

At that moment I decided Fernando’s maybe was actually a baby stupid with no chance of nurturing – he doesn’t get to decide anymore, solo it is!

So instead, my 8^th grade dance was spent running around with a group of girls – dancing, laughing, taking goofy pictures in the photo booth over and over. It was a GREAT night!

Sure beats hanging out with Fernando all night, wondering if he is going to try to kiss me with turkey breath!

Photo credit: Hay