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Bobby met Kristy in the library to study for finals. She lived just down the hall from him and, like him, she was a sophomore who had yet to declare her major. They studied together, quizzing each other and swapping memorization strategies, for two hours before heading back toward the dorm.
As they neared their campus home, Bobby asked, “Kristy, are you okay?”
Kristy shrugged. “I’ve been really tired lately. I think I’m coming down with something.”
Bobby nodded. “I swear everyone gets sick for finals. I think my roommate caught it. I just hope I can keep from catching it until I make it through exams.”
Kristy smiled. “Good luck. I’m hoping to sleep this off this weekend, before exams start.”
“Good plan. ‘Night, Kristy.”
🔍
It was almost a month into the new semester before Bobby saw Kristy. You wouldn’t think it’d be so hard to run into someone who lives just down the hall, Bobby thought. “Hi, Kristy,” he greeted her cheerfully. “How’d your plan, to sleep off that cold before finals, work?” His plan to not catch it before the end of finals had failed miserably.
Kristy’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Now that she was face to face with him, she realized she wanted Bobby to hear the news from her, not the gossip vine. “Do you have a couple minutes?”
“Sure,” Bobby said casually, following her into her dorm room and sitting in her roommate’s chair.
Kristy sipped from the glass of water on her desk, searching for words. “Bobby, it wasn’t a cold at finals last semester.”
“Then what was—” Bobby started to ask.
Kristy reached up to pull off her winter hat. Bobby hadn’t realized that she hadn’t removed it when they came inside, or that her normally shoulder-length hair wasn’t sticking out from underneath it. Her hair was gone—not just cut short, or even shaved. He supposed there were a number of things that could cause hair loss, but the sight only brought one word to mind for him.
🔍
When posters started going up around campus about the spring dance, Bobby realized he was looking forward to it. He wanted to go with Kristy, not as a date-date but just to have some fun. He knew she was struggling to keep up with course work while recovering from chemo.
He gathered his courage just before spring break, and asked her to the dance.
Kristy shook her head. “Bobby, it’s not you. I love hanging out with you. But look at me. I can’t go to the dance. I don’t want to be the only person who looks ugly in a fancy dress.”
“You’ll look fine,” he protested, wondering if Jim felt like this when Trixie told him she wasn’t pretty.
Kristy shook her head. “No, I won’t. I’ll be the ugliest person there. I’m not going. Next year, though? When I’m not skin and bones and bald as an egg.”
“I’ll plan on it,” Bobby agreed, but couldn’t help feeling discouraged.
🔍
After his next class, Kristy’s best friend, Amber, caught up to him. “Bobby, plan on going to the dance with Kristy.”
“She said she wasn’t going.”
“We’ll talk her around. The rest of the girls and I are taking her dress shopping tomorrow if we have to drag her. You’ll help her relax and actually have some fun at the dance. She needs some fun.”
Bobby knew he’d go to the dance either way and he didn’t plan to ask anyone else, so holding out hope that Kristy would change her mind wasn’t a trial.
His mind wandered in his next class. He knew Kristy would have a good time at the dance, if they could get her to go, but he wondered if there was anything he could do to help her feel less self-conscious.
🔍
“You’re awfully quiet back there, Bobster,” Larry observed as Terry drove them all home for spring break.
“I’m just thinking,” Bobby replied absently. What he really needed was advice, if he was going to put his plan to help Kristy relax at the dance into action. Larry and Terry would never let him hear the end of it, and he doubted they’d have any useful advice to make it worth his while. “Hey, Terry? Do you mind dropping me at Trixie and Jim’s instead of the Farm? I want to say hi to Trix.”
“No problem.”
🔍
Trixie knew Jim had had a long, stressful week. Luckily it was Friday night, and no one had laid claim on their time. Sometimes living on the same street as all of their friends and family had drawbacks. But tonight, Trixie could and did pull Jim into the living room to cuddle on the couch.
Jim and Trixie had just settled down when the doorbell rang. Trixie jumped up to get it, hoping Jim wouldn’t get up; she wanted him to relax.
“Bobby!” She cried when she opened the door. “You must have come straight here. I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow.”
“I did come straight here. I need some advice on dresses,” Bobby said, hoping he wasn’t blushing the famous Johnson red.
“You need my advice on dresses?” Trixie asked incredulously.
“I can’t talk to Larry and Terry about this. They’ll make fun of me,” Bobby told her, following her into the living room.
Trixie sat down next to Jim. “Just what is ‘this’, Bobster? And why do you want my dress advice, of all people’s?”
“Because you wear dresses, ones that don’t cost more than a semester’s worth of books.”
Jim watched his wife’s brain churn at several miles a minute, trying to understand what Bobby was saying. He had to admit he wasn’t so clear, either.
“I think you should start at the very beginning, Bobby,” Trixie said finally.
“Did I ever mention a girl named Kristy last year? She lived down the hall and she’s in most of my classes—us undeclareds have to stick together, right?”
“Right. I think I remember something about her. You two study together, but it’s strictly platonic.”
“That’s Kristy,” Bobby agreed. “She really wasn’t feeling well at the end of the fall semester. We both figured it was end-of-the-semester-itis; Murphy’s Law, you know, if you can get sick for finals…”
“You will get sick for finals,” Jim finished with a rueful smile.
“Right. So when I saw her in January, I asked if she was feeling better. Turns out it wasn’t finals-itis. It’s cancer.”
“Oh Bobby,” Trixie murmured.
Bobby nodded. “Yeah. It sucks. Anyway, she’s part time this semester and doing chemo. She’s lost some weight and all of her hair, but none of her cheerful, optimistic, attitude.”
“Good for her.”
“Exactly. Now, there’s this spring dance after break. It’s no big deal—not like Prom or anything. The girls do buy new dresses and some of the guys ask a date to go, but mostly everyone just shows up with their friends. I asked Kristy to go with me, as friends. She said she didn’t want to be the only person there who looked ugly in a fancy dress.”
Trixie knew her baby brother and suspected she knew where this was going, but she wanted to hear all the details.
“Kristy’s best friend, Amber, caught up with me a couple of hours later and said she and some of Kristy’s other female friends already had plans to take her dress shopping and get her ready for the dance, so I should plan on taking her. I just kept thinking about what she said. She won’t be ugly; I know that. Sure, she won’t have her hair all done up pretty like she did last year, but she’ll still look great. I know we’ll have a lot of fun, but I’m afraid she’ll get self-conscious and won’t go.”
“So what is it you want to do?” Trixie prompted when Bobby fell silent.
Bobby’s blush darkened. “I want to guarantee for Kristy that she won’t be the ugliest person in a dress at the dance.” Bobby paused and then blurted out the rest of his plan. “By being that person.”
For a moment, the room was silent as Trixie and Jim glanced at each other, trying to determine whether they’d heard and understood Bobby correctly.
Then Trixie hugged her brother. “I’m so proud of you for realizing that friends are more important than pride.” She sat back. “Okay, I’ll give you some advice. First off, I think Kristy will be very touched that you’re willing to go so far, and she may hold you to it because knowing they’re all staring at you, not her, helps, but it’s just as possible that, self-conscious already, she’ll just be embarrassed. So, I’d have whatever you’d have worn otherwise handy.”
“I can do that. Tie matches her dress, right?”
Trixie nodded. “Now, as to your dress. You’ll want to ask Honey for help. You’re a flat-chested football player. Any dress that fit your hips would have far too big a bodice. Besides, you’ll want to avoid a pencil skirt.”
Jim covered a smile. He’d heard Trixie’s complaints about the style, and its prevalence, numerous times before.
“As long as you and she promise to keep it from Larry and Terry.”
“Fair enough. I’ll help you enlist Honey tomorrow. Any other questions?”
Bobby nodded. “What about flowers?”
Trixie shook her head. “Orchids are as far as I go.” She gestured toward Jim.
Jim held up his hands. “I can give you a few hints I’ve picked up, but I hardly ever have to go beyond orchids. Mart’s the expert; I don’t know whether he picked it up from one of the dictionaries he swallowed or if Di taught him because it mattered to her, but he’ll help you. I know the color and type of dress matters. It’ll probably matter to Honey as well, so see if you can’t get Kristy or one of her friends to send you a picture of her dress.”
Bobby nodded, thanked them, and then left the couple to their evening.
Jim shook his head after the door closed behind Bobby. “You know, if it were anyone else, I wouldn’t know what to think, but Bobby?”
“Bobby might just be able to pull it off?” Trixie suggested with a small grin. “He might. I hope someone takes a picture. I want to see this.”
Jim laughed. “Me too.”
🔍
“I’m so sorry Bobby,” Honey apologized, feeling awful. “It’s taken longer than I expected to finish the dress. I still need to hem it, but I’ll make certain it gets to you before Saturday.”
“Don’t sweat it, Honey. Thank you for making the dress in the first place.”
“I can take it to the Penthouse, or try to meet you somewhere, on Wednesday,” Jim offered.
“I’ll have it done by then,” Honey promised.
“That could work, then,” Bobby agreed. “Or, what are you three doing on Saturday? We have a noon game. I’m sure I could round up three or four tickets.”
“I’m already committed to Mother’s luncheon,” Honey declined.
“We’re free. Will you have enough time for us to take you to dinner before you have to get ready for the dance?” Trixie asked.
“I should. The game will be over by three and the dance isn’t until 7.”
“Good. Let’s plan on that, then.”
🔍
“I don’t see Bobby,” Trixie remarked, scanning the crowds as they headed into the gym for Bobby’s basketball game.
Jim laughed. “Trixie, it’s less than half an hour before his game starts. He’s in the locker room with the rest of his teammates, preparing for the game.”
“If they’re all teammates tonight,” Trixie replied. Bobby had complained to Trixie the previous school year that his team’s losses weren’t a reflection of a lack of quality, but a lack of unity. He’d been working on his teammates the past two semesters, trying to convince them to leave everything else in the locker room, and to play the game as a single team. Last she’d heard from him, Bobby’s successes had been limited.
🔍
Bobby’s team won their game, Trixie and Jim cheering them on. He was smiling, pleased with the victory, when he emerged from the locker room. Trixie and Jim were waiting for him. “Nice game, Bobby,” Jim praised.
“And I saw a lot of nice teamwork this game, which means your leadership in the locker room is starting to have an impact,” Trixie pointed out.
“Small steps,” Bobby admitted. “It depends on everyone’s mood. Today, everyone was in a good mood, and we played very well. Other days don’t go as well. Thanks all the same. At risk of sounding like Mart, can we go eat? I’m starving.”
🔍
As they walked back toward Bobby’s dorm from his favorite campus dinner spot, Trixie could tell her brother was nervous. She thought he was quite brave, especially since he planned to surprise Kristy with his outfit. At last, Bobby looked at his sister. “Do you have the dress?”
Trixie nodded. “It’s in the car. Jim went to get it,” she pointed out. Bobby hadn’t realized Jim had separated from them, detouring to where there car was parked, instead of following Bobby and Trixie to the doorway of the dorm.
When Jim caught up to them, he handed the hanger to Bobby. “We’ll come up in a little while, and make sure you’re ready. Besides, Moms will never forgive me if I saw you before a dance and didn’t get pictures.”
“You mean blackmail material,” Bobby muttered.
“Bobby, you’re planning to wear a dress to a school dance. There will be photos online, and I won’t be the one posting them. If you mean to go through with this, you have to accept that.” She gave him a gentle push. “Go on.”
🔍
She and Jim watched the sun sink lower in the sky as while Bobby got ready for the dance. Jim shook his head. “I don’t know if I could do it.”
“Me neither. I mean there are always a few kids at any school who can pull something like this off without anyone batting an eye, but the captain of the basketball team? He’s going to get a lot of attention for this, and not all of it good.”
Jim put an arm around Trixie’s shoulders. “Bobby’s a smart young man. He’s had at least two weeks to reconsider his idea. He knows what he’s getting himself into.”
“I hope so,” she agreed. “Come on, let’s go see if he needs any help.”
They walked into the dorm and made their way quickly to Bobby’s room. He poked his head around the door cautiously when he answered it and admitted them quickly. “I look completely ridiculous.”
“Not as much as I thought you would,” Jim admitted.
“You look fine,” Trixie agreed. “Now do you have the corsage for Kristy?” Bobby picked it up from his desk. “Are we taking pictures in Kristy’s room, or should I take a couple now?”
“I’m not sure how Kristy will feel about pictures, and I really planned to go pick her up alone,” Bobby admitted.
“Fair enough,” Trixie agreed.
When they were ready to leave, Trixie hugged her brother. “I’m proud of you, Bobby. You’re brave. Now, go on, enjoy yourself and show Kristy a good time.”
“And don’t do anything Dan wouldn’t do,” Jim advised.
Bobby grinned. “That gives me a considerably longer leash than I expected.”
Jim laughed. “You’ll have to call us this weekend and tell us how it goes.”
“Sunday afternoon, just like always,” Bobby agreed. He and his sister had a standing weekly phone date.
🔍
Bobby could hear Amber’s voice in Kristy’s room as he approached. “Bobby said he was on the way, so he’ll be here shortly. We’re going to go ahead and meet you there. We’ll all have a blast, and if you get tired and need to leave early, that’s okay.”
Bobby stepped into a study room, wanting Kristy to see him first. Once her friends were in the elevator, he went to her door and knocked. “Kristy, it’s Bobby.”
She opened the door. Bobby tried to drink in everything at once, not even realizing she was doing the same. He’d seen her wear the navy blue headscarf with silver designs before, but tonight it looked like it was made for the rest of her outfit. Her dress was midnight blue and sparkled just a little in the light. The modest cut, floor length, and short sleeves hid most of the evidence of her illness, leaving her looking trim rather than excessively thin. Her friends had found silver and blue jewelry that looked like sapphires to Bobby, though he doubted they were real.
Finally realizing he was staring and hadn’t said a word, Bobby spoke. “You look beautiful,” he assured her, presenting her with the wrist corsage he’d purchased. Mart had recommended irises and one that tied around her wrist with a ribbon, rather than elastic, in case her skin would bruise too easily around the elastic.
After Bobby had tied the corsage on her wrist, Kristy found her voice. “What on earth are you wearing? Is this some kind of fraternity hazing?”
“It’s a dress,” Bobby answered matter-of-factly.
“Why are you wearing it?” Kristy demanded.
“Because, while I can see that you look absolutely gorgeous, you said you were worried about being the ugliest person in a dress tonight. I want you to go, dance, have fun, and know without a doubt that you are not the ugliest person in the room.”
She laughed a little and threw her arms around him. “You’re the best friend any one could ask for!” She stepped back, wiping what might have been a stray tear from her eye. She smiled brightly. “Alright, let’s go have some fun.”
“Let’s,” Bobby agreed, offering his arm.
🔍
Kristy and Bobby danced for a while. When he sensed she was tiring, he suggested they go outside. He found a soft spot on the green with a clear view of the stars.
Kristy giggled as she sat beside Bobby. “Now I know you’re not accustomed to dresses. A real girl would never sit in the grass in a fancy dress.”
Bobby raised an eyebrow at Kristy, sitting right beside him, in her dress, on the grass. “And that makes you, what, exactly?”
“Willing to ruin a dress for the sake of friendship,” she answered, smiling. “I really do want to thank you for what you did tonight.”
“It seemed like the least I could do,” Bobby answered honestly. “It must be hard, dealing with classes and healing at the same time. I have enough trouble keeping up with classes.”
“It can be hard. All of my friends are in our class, so I have to stay with the class if I want to graduate with everyone. I haven’t resigned myself to the five year plan yet.”
“Try not to overdo it, okay?”
She smiled. “You sound like my mom.”
“Don’t make it sound like such an insult,” Bobby retorted. “I’m sure she cares about you, just like I do.”
“I know she does,” Kristy admitted.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be,” Bobby admitted.
“What?”
“Wearing the dress. I thought I’d be way more uncomfortable, and really embarrassed, with everyone staring at me all night, but they didn’t really. I mean everyone stared when we walked in, but then everyone seemed to shrug it off as ‘Bobby’s up to something again’. I guess after all the speeches in the locker room about being a team whether we like each other or not, and dragging two people who thought they were enemies to my house to play ball with my siblings, everyone expects me to do something crazy.”
“I think it helps that the dress doesn’t look completely ridiculous on you. It fits, like it was made to be worn by a guy.”
Bobby chuckled. “It was. I asked my sister for advice when I hatched this plan, and she said anything off the rack would look ridiculous, so I should talk to Honey, who likes sewing, and have her make me something.”
“She did a great job; it fits you, not just your body but your personality. I’m not saying you couldn’t pull off sequins and sparkles…”
“But it’d be a stretch,” Bobby replied with a grin.
🔍
It was midafternoon before Bobby finally made himself check FaceBook. He knew his feed would be buzzing with gossip—and photos—of his appearance at the dance. No one had said much at the dance itself, but the internet would embolden many of them. He expected not everyone would understand.
The page loaded. The first picture was one Amber had taken early in the night, of Bobby and Kristy, laughing and dancing together. Kristy had posted it and tagged it “feeling grateful”. Her post read: Bobby Belden, thank you for the best night I’ve had in a very long time, but especially for being, without a doubt, the best friend a girl could ever hope to have. I hope that, in a similar situation, I would be able to be as selfless as you.
Trixie had liked Kristy’s post and commented. I’m so proud of you, my bravest little brother. Don’t let anyone convince you that it was a bad idea.
Bobby smiled. All of his friends had similar things to say, or had liked the picture but not commented. There were plenty of negative comments, too, as Bobby had expected, but none of them were from anyone whose opinion mattered to Bobby.
A knock on the door startled him. His roommate answered it. “Bobby, it’s for you.” Bobby got up from his desk to find Kristy at the door, a hesitant smile on her face.
“Hi Kristy.”
“Hi Bobby,” she said shyly. “I just wanted to thank you once more for last night. I had a really good time.”
“Your thank you note on FaceBook wasn’t enough?” He teased, a little embarrassed. He hadn’t done it for attention. Bobby stepped aside so Kristy could come into the room.
Kristy blushed. “I didn’t think you had seen it.”
“Just,” Bobby answered. He frowned. “I was afraid to see what everyone was saying.”
Kristy nodded. She’d already blocked a few comments on her wall. “Do you regret it?”
Bobby grabbed her hands. “Not even a little,” he told her, meeting her eyes. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He looked at the dress, draped over the back of his chair. “The only question is what to do with that now. I hate to think about how hard Honey worked on something she knew I’d only wear once.”
“Keep it,” Kristy advised, her eyes dancing. “When you’re a famous athlete, you can auction it off at one of those charity fundraisers the pro teams do from time to time. I’d bid on it.”
Bobby grinned. “I should give it you, then, and you can sell it,” he joked.
“I won’t be famous,” Kristy laughed, “But thanks all the same.”
