So, That's How It is Now

The Boy's prom is tonight. He's one of the few kids in the school who actually has a real date. The others go as a group and randomly get matched up with a friend of the opposite sex as date.

He's asked a girl in his grade to go with him. They've known each other since Grade 10. They commiserated over the unfairness of a teacher who preferred drama students. In Grade 11, she helped him study for his least favourite subject to ensure a good mark. In Grade 12, they hang out, study, and do whatever school friends do together. A few months ago, she said to him, Boy, you better ask me to the prom or I will never forgive you, or words to that effect. That's how he ended up actually asking her to go to the prom with him.

To prepare for it, he's relying on advise from two other female friends, who together with Prom Date and another girl, plan out how the prom will unroll for their group and tell the others what to do. I called them the Prom Protocol Committee (PPC).

They said The Boy had to get a new suit and took him shopping. I put my foot down and said, "Don't spend more than $300 on a new suit." I figured it was okay for him to get a new suit because the old suit he's worn for all those orchestra performances, well it's a cheap suit that cost $130 three years ago and he rolls it up to fit in his backpack, and when he unrolls it to wear, the thing has no wrinkles. But could he really get a new suit for $300? I doubted it.

The girls took him to a mall and they searched and searched and didn't like any of the suits they saw no matter what the price. There was one $800 suit they didn't find too ugly. But if you buy the suit, you have to get a new shirt, tie, and shoes to go with it. You can't wear old, cruddy accessories with a new outfit. That means The Boy would have to spend almost $1,200 to get all new things. Even the kids thought this was outrageous. Wisely, they opted to rent.

So for $195, The Boy rented himself a tux with vest, shirt, tie, shoes - the whole shebang. That the girls chose for him of course. The next day, I heard him say to a friend on the phone, "You rented a tux too? Did you get PPC's approval?" These girls rule.

I told him he should get his date a corsage. He said, "What for?"

"It's part of the prom ritual," I said.

A few days later, he came home and said, "Mom, PPC said I have to get Prom Date a corsage. A wrist corsage." So I helped him order one from a local florist.

Last night, he said, "I was just reading up on how to take your date to the prom. Can I have some money to buy Prom Date's mom some flowers? I'm supposed to knock on the door and give her mother some flowers and say, 'I'm here to take your daughter to the prom.' I've seen it done in movies."

"That's a very nice touch," I said. "Has PPC approved this?"

"No, this is my own initiative."

I liked that he's finally taking an interest instead of letting PPC lead him by the nose. "Yes," he said, "I'm pretty excited about it. I just talked to Friend on the phone and he's just panicked about tomorrow."

There is a pre-prom reception that one of the girls' parents are hosting. They are catering the affair and hired a photographer to take pictures of the kids all dressed up. The kids' parents are invited too, so we can stand as proud parents beside our children. That means I have to find yuppy gear to get into and gt there.

But this prom is expensive. Here's my tally of the expenses for this one evening:

$80 - Prom ticket. He didn't have to buy one for Prom Date because PPC said you buy your own if you attend the same school. But if you bring a date from another school, then you pay for her ticket.

$40 - After-prom party

$195 - Tuxedo rental

$30 - corsage

$20 - flowers for Prom Date's mother

$40 - limousine contribution

$20 - cab fare home from after-prom party

$20 - just in case money

$50 - my car rental for the day so I can drive him, all dressed up, to Prom Date's house to pick her up and go to the pre-prom reception together

That's $495 for his evening. Aside from my wedding, I don't think I've ever spent $495 for a party.