The Fairy Tale Prom

 Originally Written Between 2013-2015

Once upon a time, little Kayla dreamed of going to her first Prom.  She would have the perfect dress and the perfect hairdo with the perfect bling accents.  Of course, she would have to have a manicure and a pedicure.  Long ago, her mom promised that she could borrow the family heirloom pearls and she looked forward to wearing them. 

Every spring, Kayla would go online and also look through the fashion magazines to find the latest trends.  She’d make a scrapbook of the jewelry, hairstyles, dresses, and beauty secrets of the movie stars and celebrities.  

It didn’t matter that she was only 12.  This was her dream.  And, one that she and her girlfriends all shared.   They’d pour over their scrapbooks and decided who should wear which dress.  What fun to start a new scrapbook each year – when she was 13…. 14….. 15…… and NOW!  Kayla was 16 and invited to the Prom by Noah.  Noah just happened to be the Junior Class President and the co-captain of the basketball team.  Not to mention….. he was absolutely the most handsome boy in the entire high school.  This was, of course, in Kayla’s opinion.

Kayla’s five best friends and co-scrapbook enthusiasts were also going to the Prom with their own Prince Charming’s.  What a day this was going to be!  A day never to be forgotten.

Preparations for the big day started in late February – formal dress shopping.  The six friends, along with their moms, spent at least three Saturdays at the Mall of America looking for dresses.  And once the perfect dress was found, they looked for hair accessories, shoes, the strapless bra, etc., etc.

At last, Prom Day was here!  Kayla and her friends spent the entire day getting their hair and nails done – not be mention the massage to help get rid of the nerves --.  Then, it was time!  Noah knocked on the door.  Her father opened the door and shook hands with Noah.  Kayla walked down the staircase looking just like a princess.  Her mom helped Noah pin the corsage on Kayla since he was too embarrassed to do it himself.

The limo arrived with her five girlfriends and their dates.  Mom and Dad, with their video cameras and iPhones, were capturing every second of this momentous occasion.   “Oh, what a perfect day,” thought Kayla.

The limo drove them to a very fancy restaurant.   Kayla heard all the ooohs and ahhhs coming from the other patrons as they sashayed around the tables to their long table; which just happened to be in the center of the restaurant.  The boys sat on one side of the table and the girls sat across from their dates on the other side. 

All placed their dinner order.  While they were waiting for their food, a woman at the table next to them snapped their picture with her iPhone.  You see, that woman found the scenario before her very unusual and troubling.  Kayla and Noah and their ten friends were not looking at each other.  They were not talking with each other.  EACH one – all twelve of them – no exceptions – had their heads down and were texting on their smartphones!  

That woman was me.  A week ago in Duluth, Minnesota.  At Old Chicago Restaurant.  My only lie is:  I did not have the courage to actually take the picture of the “texting dozen.”  I honestly didn’t know what their reaction would be.  Now that I think about it, they were so involved in their phones that I don’t think they would have noticed it.  Darn, I wish I would have taken that picture.  I could have posted it on U-Tube…… if I only knew how!