Jack

“Power ranger’s make up!” That was what we chanted as we did the bunny hop down the driveway. Jack was another boy I was friends with growing up. My sister was best friends with his sister, so by default, Jack and I were friends. He was the kind of friend I felt comfortable enough around to completely be myself. He taught me the word “Fart”. (Such vulgar words were never allowed at my house. We used words like “Break wind” or “Pumps!” i.e.: Magan just Pumpsed!! Don’t even ask me where that last one came from…) Jack and I had lots of fun together. But there was nothing special there. We grew up and lost contact and I never really thought of him again.

Until I bought his cat… Her name was Ashley and she was 20 lbs. That’s a lot of cat… I went over to his house to pick her up with my mom and sister. He was fighting with his brother when we arrived and he walked out of the room mumbling about how embarrassed he was. And that was all the contact we’d had since our childhood.

My Junior year of high school I got an invitation to his sister’s wedding on facebook. We started chatting and she told me that Jack went to my high school. I was determined to find him. I looked him up on facebook and found out he was friends with Mark, one of my fellow trombone players. (I played for four years) I finally found the face that matched the boy on facebook.

“Hi!” I said walking up to him at his lunch table. He looked at me awkwardly wondering, I’m sure why some crazy girl was standing over him while he was attempting to eat his lunch.

“hi…”

“I’m the girl who bought your cat! Ashley…?”

“You’re name’s Ashley?”

“No… Ashley… your cat?”

“I’ve had a lot of cats. What’s your name?” I put my hands on my hips and started doing the bunny hop.

“You mean you don’t remember this? Power ranger’s make up!” He gave me the strangest look.

“No.” and got up and left. I was pretty much mortified. The next day on my way to one of my classes, I saw Jack and a bunch of his friends were walking to class. Mark, the boy I knew pointed at me and whispered something to his friend. They got in formation and started doing the bunny hop while shouting “Power ranger’s make up!” Jack shoved Mark and glared in my direction. I ducked my head and walked into class.
A typical movie moment. After re-living that one, I feel like shouting, “I’m not Josie Grosie anymore!” at the top of my lungs. I did eventually learn how to behave in social settings. But that’s another unattainable idea that girls like me can’t seem to grasp. Popularity. Maybe some day.