Rachel’s birthday party was the topic of everyone’s conversation in Mrs. Johnson’s first grade classroom. Everyone was invited and everyone was excited, except for me. Rachel said that her party was going to be a swim party with massive Slip ‘N Slides, sprinklers all over the yard, and that there was going to be the first annual cannon ball jumping contest from Rachel’s brand new hot pink diving board that her daddy bought her. Although, the more and more she talked about her party the more I got upset about having to miss easily the best party of my childhood.

What type of swimsuit are you getting, Lauren? Whispered Blaire from the other side of the room.

My swimsuit is as blue as the ocean with beautiful little pink circles and I will wear a matching pink bow that my mom made me, responded Lauren.

All I could do is sit in my worn hammy down clothes and listen to everyone talk about their brand new swimsuits. Brand new, free of stains, unrecognizable smells, and assorted holes. I’ve never had something brand new. I almost did but then Lisa had to get braces, Jake broke his arm and we don’t have insurance, and then on top of all of that my family had to help pay for Sami’s college tuition. My life is a pair of hammy down clothes. Being the youngest I’m always affected by the problems of others. I am the one with stains, weird smells, and holes, and now I can’t even go to Rachel’s party because of the rest of my family’s expenses.

What will your swimsuit look like Jamie? Blaire asked.

Snapping out of my pity party I responded, I can’t go to the party. My family will be out of town.

I didn’t want to lie but I had too. I was too afraid to tell her that my family couldn’t afford to buy me a swimsuit and there was no way I would show up to that party in my normal clothes. If I did then my entire first grade would be ruined, I would be a laughing stock, and my whole reputation would turn to rubble. Disappointed and ashamed, I sulked back home in my worn, dingy, second hand shoes that rubbed the part of my feet that was exposed from the holes in my used to be white socks.

Mom, can you please buy me a swimsuit for Rachel’s party? I pleaded.

No, Jamie, we’ve been through this, we don’t have the money for a new swimsuit. Can’t you wear some of your older clothes?

No mom! Everyone else will be wearing a brand new colorful swimsuit and I would be the only one in normal clothes!

Frustrated I stormed out the door and outside I happened to notice a garage sale in my neighbor’s yard. And that was when I saw it. A perfectly pink one piece swimsuit just sitting on the table with nobody watching it. The swimsuit gleamed in the sunlight begging for me to take it. It had perfect white polka-dots that were splattered against the pink and the bottom was a frilly pink ruffled skirt. I had never seen something so flawless. I sneaked up to the table and snatched my first brand new swimsuit.

Hey, you! Come back! Shouted my neighbor.

She quickly got me and I was in tears, why did I steal this? I explained my situation in between wailing sobs.

Alright, alright calm down, explained my neighbor. I will let you have this swimsuit but you’re gonna have to pay for it by helping me around the house. Understand?

I smiled with a big toothy grin and a tear streaked face, hugged her, and ran back home.

I was having the time of my life at Rachel’s party, sprinting over sprinklers, splashing, and sliding. I felt as if I was an aquatic princess in my brand new swimsuit and I had never felt so proud of what I was wearing. My perfect one piece swimsuit offered me the ideal Slip ‘N Slide surface and I even won the first annual cannon ball jumping contest! Although despite my cannon ball expertise I couldn’t leave that Slip ‘N Slide. It was the best thing I had ever been on, it craved my presence, it’s allure was so strong I acted as if it had mesmerized me. I slipped on that slide as if my life depended on it and only until my mom dragged my stubborn self away did we finally leave. On the way home I fell asleep with a smile on my face, exhausted legs, wet hair, and my very first party experience underneath my belt with my pretty, perfectly pink swimsuit.