Life: My Story (16) The 11-15 Years Part 2

A Mickey Mouse Club crush, a seventh grade year from hell, and a plan that worked!

The end of sixth grade was a big deal annually at Nichols Hills Elementary. One of the highlights was a dance on the outdoor basketball court. Parents were in charge and they annually turned the court into an amazing venue. This year was to be no exception. The big thing for me was that you could ask a girl to accompany you to the dance—the first time in my life when I could actually ask a girl to go with me to a dance. What I thought was the coolest thing was that you could actually bring a date who did not go to our school. It took me less than five seconds to decide who I was going to ask, and I was absolutely sure she would say "yes." I knew there would be some logistical problems to navigate since she lived in California, but I figured my Dad would work that out for me. The girl? Annette Funicello! I was in love with her (along with every other boy who watched the Mickey Mouse Club at that time in history).