Embedded Files
Gib lives on a farm. His parents aren’t poor, but they don’t have a lot of money to spend on luxuries either. When Shannon asked him to go to the prom with her he didn’t hesitate because she’d been his friend since 3rd grade and he figured he could afford a tuxedo and a corsage.
Shannon and Gib had been friends in elementary school and into middle school, but by high school they’d gone separate ways. She was an energetic, outgoing socialite while he preferred a quieter, simple life. They didn’t spend much time together any more. In fact, they rarely spoke to each other, but Shannon had broken up with her boyfriend and needed a prom date. She was a senior and she couldn’t bear the thought of missing the prom. Gib was a safe date.
Gib didn’t mind when Shannon asked him to rent a royal blue tux to match her dress, but he was surprised when she asked him about her corsage. She asked if she could pick one out herself to be sure it looked nice with her dress and she picked an expensive one. When she asked where they would go for dinner, Gib didn’t know how to answer—he hadn’t even thought about eating dinner out. But Shannon said, “We have to eat dinner at a nice restaurant. That’s part of the prom experience!”
Gib thought the “prom experience” would cost more than it was worth, but to Shannon he just said “Okay.” He really wanted to make it a nice evening for Shannon even though they were just old friends. Unfortunately he drove an old pick-up truck that even cleaned up wasn’t very pretty. So he asked his parents if he could borrow their brand new truck. He’d wash it and apply a fresh coat of wax, vacuum the interior and even put in a new air freshener. “That ought to make Shannon feel special,” he thought.
He wanted the ride to be a surprise, but the next time he spoke with Shannon she casually mentioned how excited she was to experience her first limousine ride. She laughed when Gib said, “When will you get a limousine ride?”
“Silly, Gib. Everyone who’s anyone rents a limo on prom night. Haven’t you reserved one yet?”
“No, I asked my parents if I could borrow their new truck.”
“Oh, my,” Shannon gasped, “I couldn’t possibly go to the prom in a truck!”
When Gib said he can’t afford to rent a limousine Shannon just stood there with her mouth hanging open for a long, awkward moment. She mumbled something about how much money she was spending on her dress, hair, makeup, nails, etc., even his boutonniere.
Gib replied, “I’m sorry, Shannon. The tux, corsage, and dinner are already a huge expense for me. I’m not going to add anything else extravagant.”
“But Gib, this is our senior prom! It’s a once in a life time experience. I can’t go to my senior prom on a pickup truck!” Shannon’s voice was rising to a point that other students in the hall were starting to stare. Gib was saved by the bell ringing for class. “I gotta go!” he said and took off down the hall. He left Shannon by his locker mumbling about what all her friends would say if they saw her arriving in a pickup truck.
That night Shannon called to tell Gib she’d gotten back together with her boyfriend and he wanted to take her to the prom. Relieved, Gib hung up the phone thinking that her boyfriend’s rich parents would probably give him money for the tux, corsage, restaurant, limo, and a little extra spending cash. He felt sad the next day when he overheard him bragging about how he was going to buy some liquor and weed so he and Shannon could “party all night after the prom.” He just couldn’t shake the hollow feeling in his gut as he kept seeing the boy’s sneer and wink that accompanied the conspiratorial tone of voice as he said the words “all night after the prom.” Shannon knew what she was getting into. Gib still cared about her though and just couldn’t help the way he felt.
Gib ended up going to the prom anyway. He asked another girl in their class who had never gone to a high school dance. Sarah was kind of shy, but friendly. She found a used dress that matched the tuxedo that Gib had already reserved. Fortunately Gib was able to use his down payment on the corsage to buy a simpler one and he cancelled the dinner reservations.
Sarah was excited when Gib showed up in his parent’s shinny truck. She had expected him to drive the old rusty one he drove to school. They had dinner at a diner where the waitress took their picture and gave them free refills for their special occasion.
At the dance Gib couldn’t help drawing a contrast between Sarah and Shannon. Sarah was beautiful in her second hand dress. She made her hair up into a very impressive style she’d seen on the internet and colored her nails to match her dress. Shannon’s hair and nails were extravagant, and her dress a little too revealing. The contrast made Gib a little proud of his date and he showed his appreciation by treating her like a princess for a few hours.
As Gib drove Sarah home they both shared about how wonderful the evening had been and they somehow knew that they’d be spending more time together.
When Gib got home he continued to think about Sarah and how lucky he was to find her for the prom. Then he started to imagine the prom that could have been if he’d done everything Shannon asked. He would have been forced to spend a good chunk of his college savings that his parents had forbidden him to spend, all for a miserable evening. Gib decided he didn’t like vanity. When he went to bed that night his thoughts turned more philosophical.
Gib reflected to himself, “There’s nothing wrong with buying a prom dress, eating at a fancy restaurant, renting a limo, and stuff like that, as long as you can afford it and it all for fun. Our attitudes are the key. Are we trying to make something special, or creating a sense of obligation?”
“If you can’t enjoy something without spending a lot of money, it’s vanity. If you have to do something a certain way because you’re worried about what other people might think, it’s vanity. If you have to be extravagant or you’d rather not bother going at all, it’s vanity. If you look down on other people with disgust for their simple ways, you’re vain. If you have to do something illegal or immoral to enjoy yourself, you’re a fool.”
Gib drifted off to sleep with a smile on his lips thinking Sarah’s not vain or foolish. She appreciates simple things.
Google Sites
Report abuse