They are the unfortunate tales of our unintentional failures and mistakes that we take with us wherever we go. Though there are many experiences that could qualify as my "Most Embarrassing Moment" there is this one story I still hold in top regards. I've decided to share my humiliation in hopes it will bring a laugh to you today.
Not surprising my story takes place in the 7th grade. Middle school seems to be the optimal place for these kind of stories. My family had been back from Africa for about a year and I was still the naive and clueless missionary kid from Africa. Glasses, braces, and way too many pimples, I was the nerdy girl who liked to read books and had never grown out of her "I love horses" phase. I don't remember many of my classes, with the exception of my 7th grade Social Studies class with Mrs. Yowler. I love history and, therefore, Mrs. Yowler was one of my favorite teachers. Our class had Social Studies everyday after lunch. Another reason I liked Mrs. Yowler's class was because of a boy (of course). I'm going to change his name in case any of my middle or high school friends read this (though they may figure out who it is anyways). His name, let's say, was, I need a cool name. Hmmm... Alfonso? Yeah, his name was Alfonso. Haha. He was pretty much the cutest boy in school. Tall, dark, and handsome(well, as tall, dark, and handsome as any gangly 12 year old could be) and he came from an Italian family. He loved soccer, and was really good at it. He and his friends would play soccer every recess, and though we wouldn't admit it, most of us girls would watch. Everybody wanted to be his friend. He always had jokes in class, and he was just SO cool. I was still at that age (I may have never grown out of it. lol) where you were required to act like you didn't care about boys, when really, you totally did. Alfonso was that boy for me.
He sat right in front of me in Social Studies. Yet another reason I soooo looked forward to the class. I would get to class early and wait patiently until he would come in after lunch and recess. On this one particular day, he came into class covered in sweat. His hair was soaked, his face was all red, and he was breathing like Darth Vader in fast forward. He must have been playing a pretty intense game at recess, I reasoned. He sat down in front of me and smiled, you know the smile, the one that makes girls' brains stop working? Yeah, that happened, and nerdy little glasses and brace-faced Sarah said the first thing that came to her mind when she saw the sweaty boy.
"Wow," she observed. "You're hot."
-_-
YOU SAID THAT?!!!? Yes, yes I did.
It was meant totally innocently, obviously from his state of being he must have been hot... temperature-wise. Like sweaty and gross hot. Of course, the dark and handsome Alfonso did not catch on to my innocent meaning. He smiled enthusiastically before saying loudly.
"Thanks Sarah!" A number of girls turned to glare at me. To make matters worse Alfonso turned to the guy sitting next to him, slapped him on the shoulder, and said enthusiastically, "Hey Ben, did you hear that?! Sarah thinks I'm hot." I flushed as red as a tomato playing golf with the sun. (No, I don't know what that means.) I just remember the feeling of blood traveling to my face. Embarrassment to the four hundredth power. I remember wanting to bury myself in a whole as I stammered,
"That is not what I--... I mean... you know... you're sweaty-- and hot... I mean your temperature is... hot..." Oh, guys I tried to save myself, but it just went downhill. By then practically the whole class was giggling at my fumble. Meanwhile, Alfonso just kept smiling at me with this large white grin of hotness. Yeah, I don't know which one it was there either.
I was mortified. I'm pretty sure I didn't speak in class for the entire rest of the week. I mean, I had just told the really cute guy who sits in front of me, that I might possibly "like", not "like-like" mind you, just the middle school definition of "like", that he was hot. I was going to die. In American culture, telling someone they are "hot", apparently was a big deal. It was without a doubt, the most humiliatingly horrifying moment of my middle school career. To this day, I've never forgotten it. Haha.
Moral of the story? Think before you speak... (and if possible avoid all eye contact with cute boys. lol)
But really, in the end Alfonso and I went our separate ways. Five years later we graduated together from high school and I haven't seen him since.... but I'll always remember the day I told him he was hot. It makes me laugh now, as I hope it made you laugh.
Embarrassing moments happen, when they happen it feels like the end of the world. But really, they just make for hilarious stories later in life. Thanks Alfonso. ;)
everyone who hears will laugh over me.”
Genesis 21:6