SOS - broken 4th grade heart
It is that time again! Go visit other Soap Operas this Sunday at Brillig and Walking Kateastrophe's.
I was all set to play Lucy to his Charlie Brown.
Phil (not his real name) was a whole year older than me, a 5th grader. The older elementary school kids of the church were putting on a Peanuts play and I had been paired to do one of the classic therapist scenes with one of the dreamiest 5th graders around.
He was blond and blue-eyed. We weren't in the same school so church was the only place I saw him. Looking back, what I felt is exactly what a crush is. Butterflies in the stomach, uncontrolled nerves. How does this happen to once confident little girls who could care less about boys? What triggers the switch?
Then, a couple of days before the performance, the first one appeared. A little red dot. That itched. Really itched. Then another. And more. Until I was covered in them.
I was taken to the pediatrician and to this day remember the exchange with him. I was sitting on the examination table, wearing the paper johnny and he said to my mother "Chicken Pox. She can't go out for a few days."
"But my play is in two days! Please can I be in the play?"
"No" he said firmly.
To which I burst into complete hysterical crying. Body shaking, hands over eyes, stomach aching crying. The pediatrician left the room, leaving my mother to deal with the slobbering, pox-infected child in front of her. And was I upset about missing the play? Not having a chance to perform?
No, I just wanted to be Lucy to Phil's Charlie Brown.
17 comments:
awwww how tragic! You are a brave girl to go on...
There was a boy I gave jawbreakers to. My tummy would flutter. He moved away. It took me years to look at another boy again :P
Oh, the fourth grade crushes.
I used to steal the boys hat who sat behind me and sit on it. Made him sooo mad. Oh he was cute!
Oh, I can feel the angst from here!
ahh.. the smell of greasepaint the flutter of butterflies... powerful stuff!
Hahahaha. Classic. All that tween angst!
Awwwwwweeeeeeee, so sad! I remember my first crush. It also happened at a school (not church) play. My dress was made of the same fabric as his shorts (not costumes) and I decided we were fated for each other. I was seven. Good logic, huh?
Oh, and SMID - I was brought up Unitarian, too... and even got kicked out of UU Sunday school. Maybe I should make that into an SOS, lol! As I'm sure you know, that was no easy feat.
Oh this is just too sad! I just want to give your fourth grade polka dotted self a hug, reassure her that there will be other boys, even though I know it wouldn't really help, coming from 29 year old me.
Those first crushes... aaagh, I feel the pain even now.
I remember being in 5th grade, and a girl came over and said, "Scott [the most super cute boy in all of 5th grade] wants to go out with you." I said (in disbelief), "No, he doesn't!" and then she turned around and yelled back across the class to Scott, "She said no!!" I will never forget he look of embarrassment on Scott's face.
Talk about a broken heart. Started my streak of bad luck with men... until Bryan!
That is devastating! Did you ever talk with him again?
awwwwe.. that is so sad. I remember my first crush. Never had the nerve to talk to him.
How did yours work out?
Curse the pox. Very tragic--how many famous love affairs can claim to be broken up by Chicken Pox?
So wait-- this is the perfect entry for SOS because you've left us hanging! What happened after that?
I know the old saying is "The show must go on!", but how does one put on a play about Charlie Brown without Lucy?
I still remember my 4th grade crush's name. So devastating. And who got to play Lucy? Did she steal him from you?
Ah, man, I have never heard tragedy to compare for a young first-crush girl.
Waaaaaaaagh!
How sad, your first crush was cursed by the pox! Sounds like something Shakespeare would come up with!
(I'm still here, just laying a bit low as that's how I feel...)
Cute.
Post a Comment