Ladies Choice
PART 2
“I don’t get it,”
17-year-old Nan complained to 16-year-old Bess after they got into their
bedroom for the night. “Why do we have
to be the ones to ask?”
“Because it’s ladies
choice.”
“I know that.” Nan was sitting on her bed looking up at
Bess, who was brushing her hair before she headed to her own bed.
“I don’t see what you’re
complaining about, Nan. Aren’t you the
one that thinks girls should be able to do anything that guys do?”
“Well, this is different?”
“How?” Bess turned to Nan,
and continued to run her brush through her hair.
“Bess, this isn’t swimming
or climbing a tree or being a doctor.
This is asking a guy to a dance.
That’s like asking a guy to marry you. He’s supposed to do it.”
“You’re scared,” Bess
realized.
“Why would I be scared?”
“You’re scared because you
want to ask Nat to the dance, and you don’t know how to.” Bess put her brush
down and sat next to Nan.
Nan sighed. “You’re right. I have no idea how to do it.”
“Well, then. Aren’t you glad you have me as your friend?”
Bess said cheerfully. Nan groaned
inwardly. This is going to be a long
week, she thought.
“Nan? NAN!” Jo said firmly and struck her ruler on
Nan’s desk to wake Nan from her daydream.
Nan slowly looked up at her.
“Would you like to tell me where your mind is at?”
Nan looked hesitant. “Nowhere.
I’m sorry, Mrs. Jo.”
“Please, begin reading
chapter ten,” she used her ruler again to point to Nan’s open literature book.
“Yes, ma’am.”
A half hour later Jo
dismissed class, “It’s 3:30. Nan, I
want you to stay here. The rest of you
are dismissed.” They all left the
schoolhouse except Nan and Jo.
“Nan,” Jo began gently. “What’s wrong?” She looked at the tomboyish teenager in front of her.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Jo,” Nan
apologized. “It won’t happen again.”
“No, it won’t. I want you to tell me what’s wrong. You looked distracted all day.” Nan hesitated. “Please, Nan. I’d like to
help you if I can.”
“I wanna change,” Nan told
Jo after a brief pause.
“Change? Change what?”
“Change myself. All these years I’ve been such
a…tomboy. Challenging the boys all the
time to races and such. I’ve never
really been a girl.”
“Does this have something to
do with the dance?”
“Maybe a little,” she
shrugged. “I’ve been thinkin’ about it
for awhile, though. I’m
17-years-old. Maybe its time I should
give up these games and act like a lady.”
“Games. Nan, you love doing things with the boys.”
“But I’m 17. I should start being a lady.”
“Do you want to?”
“A little. I watch Bess. She’s a lady. She’s got
the beautiful dresses, the beautiful hair.
I think about what it would be like to have those dresses or to put my
hair up nice. I could never look like
her, though,” Nan frowned.
“Nan, you’re very pretty
now, but could look really beautiful if you wanted to.”
“You think so?”
Jo nodded. “Yes, I do.” Nan sighed. “You’re still
not sure you want to give up playing with the boys, though?” Jo guessed.
“No. I love playing with the boys, I’ll the
feeling free to do that sort of thing, but part of me feels like a need to
start growing up. Part of me has the
desire to actually look grown up. I
can’t do both at the same time, though.”
“What makes you think you
can’t?”
“I could?”
“Nan, do you know who you’ve
always reminded me of?”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“You?” Nan was surprised.
“Yes. When I was your age, I felt a little stuck
too. As a young girl, I would always
challenge the boys. And I’d win too,”
she causally added. Nan laughed. “But as I got older, I knew I had to grow up
sometime, but I never wanted to lose that fire in me. I never wanted to quit having fun. You know what? I didn’t
lose it. I can still have fun if I want
to. I do have fun a lot.”
“Really? So what you mean is that I could start to
grow up a little, but I don’t hafta quit challenging the boys?”
“Exactly.”
Nan smiled. “Mrs. Jo, about the dance,” Nan looked a
little nervous. “I don’t know if I’m
going or not, but could you help me, you know, maybe…” she stuttered.
Jo held out her hand to stop
her. “I’d love to help you,” she
winked.
