The Night I Saved Prom

by: Justin Thyme 

Mary Ellen Stoddard was the most beautiful sophomore in high school—beautiful voice, a lead role in the school musical. I was just in the chorus, but I watched her closely at rehearsal—movie-star beautiful. 

My sister, perhaps not beautiful, was a senior, the best actor in the school, and everybody liked her, including me. She also had a lead, and she was secretly in love with Lars Christensen, the lead lead. He was cool: tall, thin. He could sing and dance and laugh. He took my sister and me home each night after rehearsal, and we sat in the car until late, talking. That is, they talked. I sat in the back seat mostly in awe. 

Mary Ellen was one of the untouchables. What made me think I could ask her to Prom? Besides, I couldn’t drive, and I didn’t have anyone to double with. 

So, I asked Mary Ellen to Prom, and I asked Lars if I could double with him and Karen Palmer. They all said yes. Perfect. We made reservations to eat at Brattens, 40 minutes away, after the dance. No one asked my sister to Prom. 

We had just gotten to the dance when Mary Ellen dropped a bomb: “My mother says I have to be home at 11:00.” Eleven! I had planned on 1:00. We wouldn’t get to Brattens before 11:30. Mary Ellen and I danced but we didn’t talk much. Prom ruined. At her door (10:45) I said, “I had a great time.” Right. 

I said to Lars at my house, “Wait here.” A few minutes later, my sister wearing a Prom dress and a smile slid into the backseat. Everything came alive. What a time we had. Lobster. Me and three seniors. Best Prom ever.