When I was fifteen years old, some of the students from Gore school were bussed to Pond Creek, OK to roller skate at a gym in a city building. We went every other Wednesday night. The first time I went, I just could not get the hang of skating. I couldn’t even stand up on the skates. I was almost ready to give up trying to learn, but decided to hang onto the guard rails for a while and watch the others skate by me. A girl, just a class above me was an ornery tomboy and not the sharpest knife in the drawer either, tried to lure me out on the floor. I resisted. Then, a while later, she skated up behind me at the rails and gave me a hard shove right out into the room full of skaters. I floundered as I rolled criss-cross the floor right into the paths of those in the skating pattern. They tried to dodge me while I barely remained on my feet. I rolled completely across the gym floor to the other corner. As I got to the corner, a couple had just rounded the curve and I was headed right for them. In my effort of trying to dodge them, I lost my balance. I was grabbing at the air for support and grabbed more than the guys leg as I fell. I wanted to die of embarrassment, but he was most gracious and helped me back to my feet. If I had been near the girl who shoved me, I think I would have strangled her. She did do me some good though, as I finally got enough courage to go out on my own. The guy I fell for skated with me later that evening. I was a good lookin' chick back then. I even remember what I wore. It was a red satin blouse with long bloused sleeves and a skirt. None of us girls wore slacks very often back then. Ahhhh… What memories of my first roller skating feat.