Page 32 - Contrast1958Winterv2n1
P. 32
WHAT WILL I WEAR?!!
[essie Bazzeghin
A person passing by the girls' dorm, any girls' dorm, is likely to
hear this question at any hour, day or night. This is a slightly modi-
fied version of the phrase familiar to all fathers "But Daddy,
I haven't a THING to wear." In college this ancient phrase is modi-
fied, as it is of little use when Father is home and you aren't. Unless,
of course, Father is also swayed by phone calls or letters. So it be-
comes, "WHAT WILL I WEAR?", or, as it might be translated,
"WHO HAS SOMETHING IN MY SIZE I CAN BORROW?"
In Psychology we learn that a stimulus brings about a response,
and the "What Will I Wear" response has many stimuli .....
phone calls, announcements, posters, and the coming day. There is
an unwritten line at the end of the What, When, Where and How
Much of a poster, a "WHAT WILL YOU WEAR" line. The answer,
"I can't say now; I'll let you know tomorrow," does not necessarily
mean that a girl is not sure that she can go, but "WHAT WILL SHE
WEAR?"
And so Boy calls Girl, and asks her to the big dance, and she
consents. For him it's all set; he will wear his suit. But for her. .
Let's follow the logical way in which she solves the problem that
looms before her, the "WHAT WILL I WEAR" problem.
The thought has vaguely occurred to her before, when the pos-
ters first were posted, stimulated by that unwritten last line.
Gosh! If I went I could wear my dress I wore in Millie's wed-
ding, with the matching shoes, and have my hair done ... or I could
wear my graduation dress, with my stole and silver shoes and .
golly! I have my Senior Prom gown with the lace overskirt "
~nd so Boy calls, and Girl accepts. Up the stairs she flies, (for the
call is always on the floor where you are not) and into the room where
the Crowd is gathered.
"Who was it?"
(Gasping for breath) "Oh, nobody special, just some senior
boy. Wants me to go to this prom next week or sometime. Well, I
hear French calling to me. See you later."
To the Roommate though it's a different story ...
"HE Called, HE called, HE called!! And he asked me to the
Prom! HE called, and HE asked, and I am!!!"
(Silence)
30