My mother is very concerned that we don't have enough money to buy a proper suit for my big graduation party. My father takes me to a few inexpensive stores and buys very eclectic elements for my graduation wardrobe. He buys a white shirt, violet tie, purple square patterned pants, black socks with purple stripes, and dark violet moccasin shoes. The last thing we buy is a size too big gray club jacket and purple suspenders.
I am very concerned. My father explains that we are going after a very unique look. I am upset about my pants looking like a checkers board. Our ten year old girl neighbor tells me I look great; just like clowns do...
My best friend Oleg is here. He is wearing the most beautiful navy blue suit, with a heavenly blue shirt and electric blue tie. He is trying not to laugh when he is looking at my clothes; it's hard to do... My other friends start gathering at my place...!
I decide that I have to turn it all into farce and act. I don't have any other way to turn it around. THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
I take my cheap white shirt off and start drawing on it with colored markers. I make two smoking fishes on both sleeves, a big blue butterfly on my back and few funny looking grasshoppers and dragonflies. I wear it, and I ask all my friends to sign it and write little poems on it. Now it becomes a collective creative event for all of us. My friends take their shirts and aprons off and we are all drawing on them.
Drawing on shirts turns out to be the most popular activity in school on our graduation day. I draw and sign more than fifty shirts. I draw on my girl's apron; it's a blue butterfly again, which became my signature drawing today. I think it's a metaphor for independence and freedom, but it's also a very sad symbol for me. Life now will take us apart, and we are happy about it.
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