“What’s a Sock Hop Dance?’ Billy asked when Molly brought it up during dinner.
“I don’t really know,“ Molly said. “I just know it’s a dance.”
“Sock hop dances were a big thing in the 50s. The girls wore poodle skirts and white blouses,” Mom said to them. “And saddle shoes with white socks!”
“It is called a sock hop because everyone took off their shoes and danced in their socks,” Dad added to the discussion.
“What?” Molly said to her. “What is a poodle skirt? And do I have to wear one?”
“It sounds like you need more information,” Dad said.
The next day, Molly stood at the counter of her class office, leaning her elbows on it.
“Good morning, Molly,” Mrs. Young said from her desk. “How can I help you?”
“I am looking for more information about this dance on Friday. Is there a brochure or a sheet describing a dress code for the dance or anything?”
“Molly, there is a sheet posted on all of the bulletin boards. They have been there for the last two weeks,” Mrs. Young said.
“Really?” Molly asked. “Have I been that unobservant? Sherlock would be so disappointed in me.”
“Sherlock?”
“Never mind about that. Is there a copy of that posting I could have?” Molly asked the secretary.
Mrs. Young opened a drawer in her desk, extracted a piece of paper from it and brought it to the counter.
“Here you go, honey,” Mrs. Young said, handing her the sheet and giggled. “You will see at the bottom that it says to ask your class office for more information.”
Molly smiled at her and left the office with the page in her hand. She walked to her English class. She sat in her seat, set her backpack on the ground, and began to read aloud, in a whisper, from the page.
“Sock-Hop Dance Friday night. Doors open at 6:30 and close at 10:30. Come dressed in the 50s style. Girls let’s see your ponytails, poodle skirts, saddle shoes and white socks. Guys come in white shirts, letter sweaters, and blue jeans. There will be Hoola-hoop and Limbo contests. Hop-scotch, jump rope, and Pin the Tail on the Poodle on the side. The Lettermen/Letterwomen Clubs will be sponsoring a Photo Booth for $2 a photo. The Sock-Hop Dance is the Fund – Raiser of the Cooking Club. Snacks and Punch will be provided. Admission at the door – $3.00 per person or $5.00 per couple.”
Molly leaned back, slouched in her chair, and groaned.
“Molly, are you okay?” Mrs. Chesterfield asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Molly sat up. “I was just wondering if I have any socks.”
Mrs. Chesterfield gave her a funny look and turned toward the chalkboard. Molly put her head in her hands.
Later, Molly entered her lunch hour class, American History. As she walked through the doorway, she smiled. Instead of stopping at her assigned seat, she went directly to Mr. Dalton’s desk. The teacher had his feet on his desk and was leaning back in his chair with his hands clasped behind his head and his eyes closed.
“Yes, Molly?” he asked her not opening them.
Surprised, Molly asked, “How did you know it was me?”
“I heard you,” he said remaining in his relaxed position. “What can I do for you?”
“I never thought of that,” Molly said to herself. “Using your senses to observe things.”
“What?” Mr. Dalton suddenly sat straight up causing Molly to step back.
“Sorry, Mr. Dalton,” Molly recovered from her surprise. “I wanted to ask if there is anything you could tell me about Sock-Hop Dances from an American History point of view?”
Mr. Dalton placed his elbows on his desk and his head in his hands. He slowly smiled at Molly. He stood up and crossed his arms in front of him, He walked back and forth behind his desk and when the bell rang. He slowly turned to face Molly who had remained standing in front of him.
“Class!” he announced to the students in the room. “Let’s thank Molly for this marvelous class assignment. Molly, you may go to your seat.”
Molly trudged to her chair and dropped her backpack to the floor.
“You have a, required, extra credit report due on Friday on the subject of the history behind Sock-hop dances. Questions?”
Several hands were flung into the air at once and Mr. Dalton carefully surveyed the people holding them. He slowly smiled and said, “Beverly?”
“Why?” Bev asked.
“Molly asked about it,” Mr. Dalton smiled at her.
Molly slouched lower in her chair.
“Now, here is our plan for today,” Mr. Dalton walked from his desk and began to write on the board.
Molly and Bev carried their lunch trays to a table in the corner of the cafeteria. Harold was already there, crunching an apple. Bev dropped her tray on the table and Molly silently sat beside her.
“What’s up guys?” Harold asked.
“Oh, Molly got us a required, required, extra credit assignment in History today,” Bev complained.
“I’m sorry. How many times do I have to say it?! I just wanted to know, and I asked him for information. He turned it into an assignment,” Molly tried to explain to Bev.
“You asked about what?” Harold asked before taking another bite of his apple.
“Sock-hop Dances,” Molly answered.
Harold started to cough, and he leaned forward. Molly started to pat him on his back. He looked at her with tears in his eyes and started to laugh.
“I am okay, Molly,” he said. “But Sock Hop Dances?”
“Who cares about the history of dances?” Bev almost yelled at them.
“Did you see this?” Molly had taken the dance notice out of her backpack and placed it on the table in front of them.
Bev snapped it off of the table, read it to herself, and passed it on to Harold. After he read it, he joined Bev in looking at Molly with a questioning look.
“Don’t you wonder why? Why poodle skirts and saddle shoes? Why hoola-hoops and limbo? Why socks?”
“I guess,” Harold said. “Are you going to it?”
“I was,” Molly said. “I thought the three of us could go together.”
“Of course, we’re going,” Bev said. “It is our first school dance. My mom is even going to get me saddle shoes.”
“Well, I wasn’t planning on going,” Harold said to them.
“Why not?” Molly asked.
“I can’t dance.”
Molly’s Dad dropped them off at the front door and as the three teenagers emptied from the car, he called Molly back to the vehicle.
“Yes, Dad?” Molly leaned into the window.
“Have fun and be careful,” he said to her. “I will be back here around 10:30 but if you need me sooner, just call me, okay?”
Molly looked at her Dad for a few moments. “What is it really, Dad?”
“You are just growing up too soon. Have fun!”
Molly watched the car exit the school parking lot. She turned to join Bev and Harold. They were dressed for the evening. Harold had his hair slicked back, black leather jacket, blue jeans, and black loafers.
“Where did you get the shoes?” Molly asked him.
“Goodwill. It was my sister’s idea,” he said. “You two look like twins.”
Molly smiled at him because that is what they were going for, to be twins. They both wore poodle skirts that her Mom put together for them. The difference was the color. Molly’s is pink and Bev’s is dark blue. They wore white blouses with sweaters over them. Molly’s sweater is dark blue, and Bev’s is pink. Their hair was pulled back into ponytails and they wore frilly trimmed white socks and saddle shoes.
“Where did you get your shoes?” Harold asked.
“Goodwill. Your sister told us to go there,” Bev laughed.
Harold opened the outside door and they entered the atrium of the school’s gymnasium. Molly silently reminded herself that she was going to practice observation while she was at the dance. The sound of “Rock Around the Clock” instantly filled the room. They got in line to enter the gym. Most of the people in front of them and, those wandering around them, were dressed in similar costumes, clearly following the party theme. A table was set up next to one of the two doors into the gym itself and two girls are sitting there. An aluminum lock box sat on the table between them and she could see dollar bills. Taped on the front of the table was a poster announcing the event, The Sock – Hop Dance presented by the Cooking Club with the admission prices. The first girl was taking the door admission money from those entering the room and the second was pressing a marker into the top of their right hands with a red dot. Harold gave the first girl $5.00 for himself and Bev. Molly handed over $3.00 for herself. They held out their hands and were marked with the red dot.
“Have fun!” the girl said after marking Molly.
“Thanks!” Molly said and the three of them entered the gym.
Inside, the room was bright and loud. Streamers attached to helium balloons hung from the ceiling. Molly saw on the stage, located to their right, a man was there behind a record player with huge speakers mounted on either side of it. He had headphones on, and he was dressed like Harold in a black, leather jacket and dark sunglasses. He was dancing to the current song. Behind him, and to his left, a small band was setting up. The drum set was front and center, a pair of chairs stood to its left and two microphone stands stood tall to the drum’s right. Molly was excited to see there would be live music. A group of six people were scrambling around the drums. She noticed Mr. Eichenberger was one of them. Molly was excited to see that there would be a live band playing music. There is nothing like live music. In front of the stage, a group of kids was laughing as some guys were trying to do their best using hoola-hoops.
Molly looked to her left and saw the refreshment tables lined up in front of the bleachers. The end tables held punch bowls and red, plastic cups. Next to them, a girl was stationed to fill the cups with the punch for each guest. The longer table in between is adorned with two tiered towers of cookies, and several empty trays. Behind these tables were more tables where another group of girls and one adult were hustling and bustling around. Molly recognized the adult as Miss Heinz, the Cooking Club sponsor.
In the far corner of the room, Molly noticed some students were lining up in front of another table. Behind the table was a large drawing approximately seven feet tall and six feet wide. It said, Sock – Hop Dance, SLMS, above an arch of musical notes and records streaming down serving as the legs of the arch. As she watched, a couple stepped in front of it, and boy in a letter sweater raised a camera in front of them and snapped a picture. She realized it was the photo booth. Wo adults stood nearby watching the kids on the dance floor. They were Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, the two coaches who sponsored the Lettermen and Letterwomen clubs. They, too, were dressed for the evening. She was swaying her poodle skirt and he was nodding his slicked back hair to the beat of the music.
In the center of the gym, students had gathered, and some were dancing but most were watching those who danced. Molly noticed directly across from them stood the three principals. Principal Marty was in the center and she is dressed in a blue ankle length skirt with a matching blue sweater. Miss Marvel was standing to her left and her red hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a pink poodle skirt like Molly, but she wore a blue, polka dot blouse. Mr. Charles stood to Principal Marty’s right and he is dressed in a gray, three-piece suit. It was clear to Molly that he did not want to be there. As she watched, she saw Mrs. Young walk up to them. She was dressed in a bright yellow dress and saddle shoes. Over her shoulder, she hoisted a large brown purse. She said something to the three principals, and they laughed. Mrs. Young left them smiling and walked toward the photo booth.
“What shall we do first?” Bev asked.
“Let’s get the picture over with because I promised my sister,” Harold suggested looking at the two of them.
Molly laughed and grabbed his left hand and Bev took the other. Harold smiled and led them toward the photo booth.
To be continued…
My First Stories 