The Engleson Files

So there I was, inside the Princeton Secondary School gymnasium in my grade 9 year and it is the last dance of the night. It was a special dance because the school spent the big bucks on us and had a video show come into town; this was always a rare treat. The evening started out with three of my hockey teammates getting suspended from school for being drunk and disorderly - and this happened before they even entered inside! As I finished giving my sample to the breathalyzer and entered inside, I could see our principal, Mr. Clayton, standing on stage and sternly telling us all to behave ourselves and saying that if anyone else is caught drinking they will be suspended from school as well. For most of the night I hung out with my friends at the side of the gym and pretended to play it cool - but really, there was only one thing I truly wanted that night: a dance with Rachel Jenson. Every so often I would get out on the dance floor and kick it up with the ladies, but the night seemed to fly by and I still did not have my opportunity to dance with her. Then this song by Mr. Mister began to play and was quickly announced that it was to be the last song of the night. I panicked. Looking everywhere, I spotted Rachel standing with her friends over by the doors going into the cafeteria. Mustering up the nerve; I walked closer, said hello to the gauntlet of girls and then asked Rachel if she would like to have the last dance with me. After the laughter subsided and the group of girls all ran away, I sheepishly turned around and watched the rest of this video in a feeble attempt to pretend that is what I was doing in the first place - praying that no one witnessed this horrific spectacle. After the lights came on and the dance ended I met up with my buddies, watched another one of my hockey teammates throw up outside the main entrance of the school, drove home and went to bed.

So, that’s where I was - where were you?