Small-town life includes getting excited about things that larger towns might take a pass on. For example, last week a young man found a oversized bit of fungus. Admittedly, it was impressive. And it was picked up and shared widely on the Internet. But it was a mushroom. Please understand that morels are a seasonal excuse for excitability here.
Naturally, basketball is a topic—for some, a religion—of abiding interest. Tonight, the faithful gathered in the Hatchet House for another reason. Filling three or more sections, we were witnesses to a rite of passage among youth. Prom Night.
The scene of picks and rolls, layups, and sweetly swishing three-pointers was repurposed, masked in black plastic with silhouettes of a city skyline outlined in white lights. PVC arches painted Hatchet Gold marked the entry point, the diagonal walkway of presentation. A DJ booth filled the opposite corner. fronted by a black-and-white checkerboard dance floor.
To either side of the walkway, round tables filled the gymnasium floor. Black fabric swept overhead, hung from the scoreboard to railings in front of the bleachers. The most anachronistic touch was a chandelier of cut glass suspended beneath the scoreboard. Somehow, it tied the scene together.
Normally, you wouldn’t get a large group of adults to come gawk at these interior decorating changes, but there we were. Many of us were thinking back to our own prom years and the annual transformation of the gymnasium. It wasn’t always fancy, but when the lights dimmed and music swelled it was adolescent magic.
Still, most of us were there for the kids. Our kids. Even if they were no direct relation. They didn’t disappoint. And they won’t be kids much longer. This was a coming-out party for young men and young women. Perhaps the last time or two we’d see them looking this good before they left for school or work and adventures we couldn’t share with them.
The young men looked crisp in suits and tuxedos, with ties and cummerbunds claiming allegiance with their dates. For one couple, a young lady’s bright red clutch was the accessory that complimented her date’s bright red tuxedo. His suit wasn’t subtle, but she won’t lose him in the crowd tonight. One young man wore no suit at all, but he was present and at home in his own skin. Another wore no jacket, not yet having learned that a jacket is as much a tool of chivalry as a fashion statement.
Each person was announced in turn, adding a flair of formality and recognition. Short of graduation day, we were seeing and hearing some names that weren't so familiar to us. This was a true cross-section of the student body. We admired their clothing, remarked on how nice they looked, and we applauded. We saw grace. We saw the discomfort of young men spending time in unfamiliar “party clothes. Young women balanced at uncomfortable heights and walked in abnormal volumes of fabric. We saw that ... and we saw people realizing how beautiful they could be.
The guests of honor reacted in several ways. Some were comfortable, some cocky. Some were gawky and bashful. Some couples paused for their moment, waiting for cameras to click and flash. Others awkwardly but determinedly shuffled non-stop through the arches and toward where they hoped their seats were. It may be a long time or never before they are at ease being on display.
Some were not couples, but solo, or two friends who decided that date or no, this was too good to miss. They may have the most fun of all this evening.
We saw the Prom Court and the crowning of a Prom King and Prom Queen. When it was done, we were politely invited to leave the premises. The rest of the evening was not for us. It was time. Their time.
Whether you’re in a small town or a city, do yourself a favor and attend a Prom Night. Applaud and encourage tomorrow’s adults in what may be their first big night out. It will be meaningful to them, and maybe to you, too.
