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[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

The following Saturday evening.

It's about the 2nd week of October, and as is traditional, Water Towers hosts a Harvest Festival dance. It's meant to be a civilised way for the older girls and boys to socialise with one another, and a raffle is held for prizes, the ticket sales for which go to a local church Harvest Festival food drive. The dance is for those in the lower and upper sixth, but this year if you are involved in the play you are allowed to attend even if you are younger. The dance is held in the WT dining hall. The prefects are expected to decorate it, so yesterday afternoon was spent in a flurry of paper leaves and wheat stalks. Dress is smart but not black tie. No bare shoulders, girls! Gloves must be worn. Light refreshments have been made by the girls in their home economics classes this week. Girls carry a dance card (something like this); boys need to approach the girl of their choice to request a dance! It is bad manners to refuse to dance with someone at all, though a girl can turn down more than one dance with the same boy. The dance begins at 7pm and finishes at 10pm sharp.

I cannot wait for the dance to start! I just have the sweetest blue dress. The periwinkle almost matches my eyes, and the little bows on the bodice are so charming. At first I was disappointed that the dance wasn't more of a ball, because I do like to wear a proper silk gown, but now I'm quite agreeable about the whole thing. I have some nice new gloves, and I curl my hair so it looks like Barbara Stanwyck's. That took practically all afternoon but it looks so wonderful I'm glad I bothered.

It has been quite a good week, really. It was too rainy on Wednesday to play lacrosse - I really can't be bothered with it and so I was glad to do gymnastics instead. Far less muddy and more graceful. And at rehearsal I saw Al and he was very apologetic for not meeting me for tea, and he seemed to be a bit cooler with Syl so that good, though he and Tez continue to be thick as thieves. Benedict was quite charming in his cool way and I may have indicated that maybe, just maybe, I will let him have a dance with me tonight. I think he liked the idea.

Is it seven o'clock yet? I can't wait to go down.