These people are real and this story is real. Enjoy.
I never once thought I wanted to attend prom but there I was in English class with Mrs. Hunt running down the senior list and matching people up. I was a likeable odd guy in school. I got along with most of the groups that made up the school: jocks, cheerleaders, thugs, druggies, rockers & loners. One time Mrs. Hunt told me I reminded her of Ferris Bueller except I went to class. If I wanted to go to prom I wasn't going to let her decide my date. I was close to a few girls in my class so I figured what the heck, ask one of them. The one female I got along with the most was Izzy. Late one day while sitting outside of class (my teacher let me sleep from 1 til 2:15 then wake me up so I can go sit outside until school ends. Thanks Mrs. Cummings. side note: I even convinced her to let another student keep me company outside so I wouldn't be bored) I saw Mrs. Hunts class room door fling open and Scott running out as quick as can be. Chasing after Scott was Izzy yelling "Scott! Scott! Prom!!" I sat there and said "well I can go with Jessica." The following day I asked Jessica, she agreed to go with me. Thanks Jessica. Here is a fun fact to add to the story right now: I did not have my license in high school. Back to the story.
Jessica picked me up the day of prom and we drove out to Izzy's parents place which was about 25-40 minutes outside of Shreveport. The girls went off to get ready and do all that stuff. I sat there watching "As Good As It Gets" & "Sleepless In Seattle." Everyone starts arriving. Our group was made up of Scott, Izzy, Amber, Shotgun, Jessica & myself. During my senior year I had "long" hair that I got in trouble for. In chapel Izzy, Jessica & other girls would sit behind me and mess with my hair. I was not a fan. On the way there Jessica messed with my hair a lot while Scott played one cd for the whole nite: No Doubt- Rock Steady. I did not like that album at all. Prom was prom as usual. ECA girls dancing trashy, the band never took any of my requests (Me- Hey man, can you play Foreigners Jukebox Hero? Band leader- Dude, our girl can't even sing high enough for that.). Bummer. Scott & I mostly discussed The Strokes "Is This It" album, U2 "All That You Can't Leave Behind" and Weezer "(Green Album)." At some point I remember Izzy coming up to me and saying that the plan was to head back to her place and watch movie and all hang out. I thought perfect, that is my kind of nite. She said I should ask Shotgun for a ride after we get done watching movies. Later on at prom I ask Shotgun and he could give me a lift after the movies are over. He told me he couldn't. He had a curfew at 1am. After we left the prom we hit up a party. It was pretty fun but really not my style, one of us had to find Amber & Shotgun. They went missing. So that was that, that was my prom nite. They took me home around 11:30pm. The first thing I did when I got home was download No Doubts- Rock Steady. I love that album. The following days at school word gets around Shotgun gave Amber a hickey. As I am typing out this blog, Izzy confirms that Shotgun did give Amber a hickey. . . on the ARM PIT. Hahahahahaha. What in the world. Shotgun was a good guy, always preached in chapel and you could always see him at the pole. Truly a good guy but this dude gave this chick a pit hickey.
Anyway, graduation came and that was that. After graduation Izzy & I were inseparable. Always together, crazy close. Hung out all the time, non stop. I could trust her with anything and she would always be straight up with me. One Sunday nite I bump into Shotgun at a coffee joint that was holding a bible study, I walked in not knowing it was a bible study. We have small talk and he launches into this story (this is not verbatim but the jest of the conversation).
Shotgun: Dude, you remember prom?
Me: Yeah, it was a year or two ago.
Shotgun: You made everyone uncomfortable.
Me: I don't understand. What do you mean?
Shotgun: Jessica thought you were really mad at her when she was touching your hair. She told the girls in the bathroom that she didn't want you coming back to watch movies. So I lied about not being able to take you home.
Me: Wait, what happened?
Shotgun: We all took a vote and no one wanted to hang out with you. I didn't even have a curfew, we all watched movies at Izzy's place until 4 in the morning. It was fun. Well got to go.
Me: Ah. . . okay. Take it easy.
Once I got out of the coffee shop I was working the phones like I was on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. First call went to Izzy of course. She had no clue what he was talking about. I got Jessica's number from Izzy and she too agreed that he is making stuff up. Later on that Summer, Scott phoned Izzy. I asked him about it and he didn't know anything about it. It still bugged me, why would he lie about all of this. Seems stupid. It sucked to feel like no one liked me, I was a nice guy, very likeable. So why would this happen?
After high school I came across a guy named Larry David & his show "Curb Your Enthusiasm." I instantly connected with him on the show. We are a lot alike. Larry co-created Seinfeld and George Costanza is based on Larry. We cannot let things be. Back when I had a xanga (I bet you thought you would never hear/see that word again huh?), I blogged about this story and talked to Fay about it one nite. The next day VERY NEXT DAY, Fay & I go grab lunch. We are sitting there and in walks Shotgun & Mrs. Shotgun. I tell Fay "There he is, there is the guy I blogged about last nite." They sit down and Fay says to me "What are you going to do?" I told her to wait outside for me. She gets up and heads out. I walk up to the table. This is at least two years after the coffee shop bump in.
Shotgun: Oh Gilcrease, hey man what's up? Nice seeing you.
Me: I'm good. Not much, just been hanging out with Izzy.
Shotgun: How is she?
Me: She is good. She told me an odd story a few months (actually years) ago. Something about there wasn't a vote on prom nite, everyone enjoyed my company. Not only did she say this Scott & Jessica both notified me that your little coffee shop story wasn't real.
Mrs. Shotgun: When was prom?
Me: 2002
Mrs Shotgun: So what does it matter?
Shotgun: Honey. . .
Me: It just does Mrs. Shotgun.
Shotgun: I figured you of all people would get the joke. I was just playing with you man. You & me get the same kind of humor.
Mrs. Shotgun: Seems like it was funny.
Me: Nope, he wasn't doing it as a joke. So everything at prom was true, you not being able to take me home, not having enough gas?
Shotgun: Yeah, that's the honest truth.
Me: What about Amber's hickey, was that real?
Mrs. Shotgun: What?
Shotgun just looks at me.
Me: Well you two have a lovely meal. I got to go.
That is the last I saw of Shotgun. I still talk to Izzy & Scott. Well, that is it. That is my Senior Prom. Long post I know, sorry about that but I think you will enjoy it.
