Despite that last kiss no relationship developed between Larry and Bob. Just as well since Bob graduated a two weeks later and moved away for college.

We were at his graduation since Betty was in the same class. After the ceremony Bob came up to Larry.

- I don’t know how I can thank you enough. Without your idea about the “influencing” paper I’d never have got into the university I wanted. Now I even got a partial scholarship. Thank you. Oh, I almost forgot. This is from my mom.
(To me). You have an amazing son. Just imagine turning a botched purchase of unsellable skirts into a premium good!

At that he handed over a thick lilac envelope to Larry. He hesitated for a moment and then proceeded to kiss Larry. Those two really had that down pat. Too bad they never really got together. Exit Bob. Larry looked at me and must have guessed what I was thinking.

- No Mom. There never was a spark. Just a friendly goodbye kiss.

The way he looked at the departing Bob did not exactly support that statement.

- The short lilac skirt idea was all yours and not Bob’s?
- Well, I had to, and it worked out well for all concerned, didn’t it? Bob got what he wanted. I got what I wanted. As you yourself kept telling me I’d be dead meat in school if I didn’t conform. The problem was that if I managed to conform on their terms I’d at best be a non-entity. I wanted more out of high school than that.
- So you decided to make the school conform to you instead. Why this way?
- By traditional high school standards I have very little to offer. I’m not a jock or ruggedly handsome. What I have are awesome legs and I’m great ballet dancer. So why not turn that into something desirable instead of a drawback? Besides, I’m sorry I never told you that but I like skirts. I like the swishing and flow of air on my legs. And that short pleated lilac skirt really does showcase my legs.

I couldn’t argue with that.

- I see everything went according to your plan. You wanted to be cheerleader as well?
- Oh, that. No, I hadn’t planned on that. Not that I complain. Some things just happened. Mostly for the better.
Once more that glance towards Bob.

- And the envelope? What’s in it?

Larry opened the envelope and it was full of Andrew Jackson portraits. Green, not lilac, ones.

- Oh Mom. I told her I didn’t need a cut!

Larry remained very popular the rest of his high school years. He entered into school lore as “Lilac Boy” and people still talk about him many years later. The next year he was the only one to wear the very short lilac pleated skirt. I believe that would have been the case even if the school hadn’t changed the boys’ dress code. As head cheerleader Larry got a special dispensation - as long as he wore a black shirt. The school colors you know. The ballet studio’s recitals had to be changed to bigger venues since all his many friends wanted to see him dance (in his lilac tights, never white) as well as all the other boys who had taken up ballet to emulate him. Cheered on by the excellent cheerleading squad the baseball team went from victory to victory. It became a tradition that the baseball captain took out the head cheerleader for one date every semester so I wasn’t spared the expense of dresses. Otherwise Larry was mostly boy. He never again dated a fellow cheerleader to avoid conflict of interest but the girl he dated in junior and senior year was a delight. She even looked VERY handsome in her tuxedo at their prom.

I’m happy to tell you that my son had a great time in high school. My lovely, adorable and very odd son. The son I’m so proud of. Only an odd boy like him could make the school conform to him. He very often does things “backwards”.

The school survived Larry and after some years went back to what it had been before “Lilac Boy” - mostly. I wish I could say the same thing about the college he went to.

But THAT is a completely different story.

THE END (barely covered by a short pleated lilac skirt)