It was a party in the community room of Butler Gardens, our apartment complex in Southeast D.C., on Friday, 7:30-11:00 p.m. The price of admission? Two bottle caps.
I was around eight or nine years old. It was a really big deal. My sisters, Paulette and Diane, and everyone else were going. Because I had two older sisters, I would be able to stay until the end. But all of us had to be home immediately afterward.
First, I had to plan what to wear. Of course, I wanted to look good and be fly. So I wanted something of my sisters’. Unfortunately, Mom liked to dress me like a baby. But… this time she surprised me! She sewed up my dark blue dress with its lace collar and lace down the front. Then mom took it in on both sides, so it was a little tight. I just knew I looked great. And I had just started to have boobs!
The beginning was like every other dance: boys on one side, girls on the other, both laughing and pointing at each other. When the music started, my stomach cramped. Would anyone ask me to dance? If he did, would I dance right? But once a boy grabbed my hand and took me out on the floor, I started shaking my stuff! I was wild all over the floor. Then I knew I could dance.
After two or three fast songs, they played slow songs. I didn’t want to dance slow. The boys were fast and held you tight. I didn’t like that. Then, finally, the fast music was back.
We girls talked about which boys were cute and which boys dressed the best. Everybody liked one boy, Maurice Jones. He had light skin and good hair. I liked dark skin and curly hair.
At the end of the next slow record, the boy I liked asked me to dance. My first slow drag.
Very exciting!
