Sunday, September 16, 2007

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:

Anonymous said...

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

Dedee said...

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!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Oh, I can feel the angst from here!

painted maypole said...

ahh.. the smell of greasepaint the flutter of butterflies... powerful stuff!

Brillig said...

Hahahaha. Classic. All that tween angst!

Jen said...

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.

Nell said...

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.

anno said...

Those first crushes... aaagh, I feel the pain even now.

Unknown said...

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!

Alex Elliot said...

That is devastating! Did you ever talk with him again?

Real Life Drama Queen said...

awwwwe.. that is so sad. I remember my first crush. Never had the nerve to talk to him.

How did yours work out?

Scribbit said...

Curse the pox. Very tragic--how many famous love affairs can claim to be broken up by Chicken Pox?

Betsy said...

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?

Flower Child said...

I still remember my 4th grade crush's name. So devastating. And who got to play Lucy? Did she steal him from you?

Jenn in Holland said...

Ah, man, I have never heard tragedy to compare for a young first-crush girl.
Waaaaaaaagh!

Fourier Analyst said...

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...)

Gunfighter said...

Cute.