After we started dating I would go up and see Pat or take her
out every weekend for four months. I asked Pat if she would go steady
with me, and she said yes. When you asked your girl friend to go
steady, it was called "Pining her" Your girl friend would wear
something of yours, that would tell others she was going steady.
A lot of girls wore their boyfriends Varsity jacket or sweater,
but I did not think it looked good, a large jacket draped over a short
girl. I went into a Jewelry store next to the florist shop were I
worked, and purchased a Pearl ring.
During this time, a lot of parents would not allow their
daughter to go steady. Pat just loved the ring, but she did not know
how her parents would react to the fact we were going steady. Pat put
the ring on a chain and wore it around her neck; she would tuck the
ring under her sweater, until she got to school, then she would pull
the ring out, and wear it on the outside.
One morning she was running late for school, and forgot to tuck
the ring under her sweater, when she sat down at the breakfast table,
her mother noticed the ring. Pat's mother was a schoolteacher and she
knew what was up.
"Are you and John going steady?"
"Yes mother"
"I will need to talk to your father about this Pat"
"Ok, mother"
When Pat told me at school what happened at the breakfast
table, my heart sank. Pat's parents never did say anything about it.
Pat got a white dress for our first prom. I was working at a
florist shop, I ordered a black Orchid, they let me have it wholesale,
but it still cost me $35.00, which was a little more then my weekly
wage.
Pats mother could not believe I gave Pat a black Orchid, she
must have had some idea what it cost. The day after the prom, I
watched Pat press the Orchid in a book.
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