So … you went to your high school reunion this year, did you?

And … what did you find?

You were, as we all are, sorta anxious to see the old gang. You wondered what happened to Henry. Henry, as you recall, was the class president and a kinda geek. You wondered about Sally, too. Sally was the class queen. Actually, she was really the Homecoming queen, the gal voted most beautiful, and was said to be on her way to a Hollywood movie contract as soon as she had, maybe, an acting lesson or two.

So now you were there. You had flown for hours and you had rented the best car that Hertz had on the lot. You had a new sports coat, slacks, shirt and tie. You didn't bring a suit because, well, it didn't fit anymore and you didn't know if suits were in or out in the old hometown. Probably out. But you did get a haircut one week earlier so that it wouldn't look like you just got a haircut to impress anyone. Your shoes were nicely shined … even if they were loafers. You insisted that wife Molly get a new dress. Cost was no object. Like we said, it wasn't your idea to impress the other attendees; just to, you know, look good. Actually, impressing Henry would be OK. Then too … Sally might just be there.

You could hardly wait to find out what happened to Dale. Dale had played football, and even though he wasn't that good, he was the best the school had at the time and, well, Dale thought he was very good. What happened to Dale, you wonder?

So, there you are. You are pulling up to the Hilton, where the ceremony is held. The attendant is ready to park your Lincoln but you make him wait awhile because, right now, there are none of the recognizable graduates standing there to see the Lincoln and, after all, you didn't rent a Mazda. You wait as long as possible. Oh, look over there, isn't that guy one of the old schoolmates? He is about the right age and he is glancing over at you with a kinda half-smile. But he isn't even looking at the car.

So … now you are in the ballroom; you have your name badge with your picture on it. You wonder why you didn't get a better picture and if you were really that young at one time. As you look around the room you see a lot of old people. Could you be in the wrong room? No, you have a name badge. Must be the right room.

Most of the guys have suits on. Actually, you are the only one in a sport coat. Whatever. You aren't going to worry about little things like that. You are, after all, not trying to … You notice that most of the wives have nicer dresses than Molly. You feel sorry for those that have to spend good money to try and impress. How vain.

You spot Dale, 'least you think it's Dale. He's over there in a corner with a bunch of guys. You stroll over and listen. Dale is telling about the time he took the ball down to the stadium 20-yard line and would have gone all the way if it wasn't that he tripped. How many times had you heard that story? You weren't exactly sad to find later that Dale worked as a construction laborer.

Henry was there, of course, and come to find out that his "nerdish" skills had allowed him to become owner of his own firm and that he had a really big house on the lake and was doing quite well, thank you. His wife was beautiful and her dress was gorgeous.

Yeah, well, good for Henry, huh?

Where was Sally? She must be here. Could that be her over there? The beauty in the shimmering silk thing that looks like it cost more than your entire savings account? You move closer so that she can see you. She does. You smile. You know that she will remember that you sometimes walked her to school and took her to the Rex Theater a few times. You move closer. She turns to you; "Hi, Sally, I've thought about you so much over the years. It's me, Lyle. Remember all the great times we had?"

She says "No."