When dresses above the knees came into style my father put the law down, "No short dresses, absolutely not!"

I was miserable. Being teased by the other students constantly. One day my mother said, "I have a surprise for you", I asked her what and she said it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it.

We got into the car and in the back seat was 4 of the large garbage bags full of I didn't know what. We stopped by a second hand shop and dropped all the bags off. Then off went went.

Mom drove us to Carmel,(we lived in Seaside at the time.. right next to Monterey), to a mall there. Next thing I know we are shopping for all kinds of new clothes at our favorite stores; Montgomery Wards, Sears, JC Penny's and a few others. I had new clothes all in style and very tasteful. Next it was off to the shoe stores.

We got home and my father had a fit. He said take it aaaaall back, she will not be dressed in those and on and on he went. Finally when he stopped talking my mother said, "Douglas, what would she wear then?" he said, "What do you mean?" Mom went on to tell him, "Douglas if I take all of this back she will have absolutely nothing to wear, except her underwear." hehe My father gave in after a lot of huffing and puffing and face turning red. My mother ended the conversation by saying, "Doug, CeCe has been miserable. You have seen that. Just look at the clothes on her and you will see that she is still modest but also in style, so that she doesn't get teased and razed by all the other kids. I know she isn't exaggerating because I have watched them tease her. She will be a lot happier now at school and home."

I was forever grateful to my mother and will never forget what she did for me.

Lois Moore