Mistaken identity

A message in my Outlook inbox on Friday directed Business Administration instructors to head over to the stadium.

I thought it was just like having to watch state-run television to record credits for members of the cheer leading squad. We did it a couple times in the past.

But this week's activity turned out different. At least to me.

As I walked out the faculty office door, someone hollered, "it's a three-hour pageant!"

Great. How much coursework is going to be wasted on this non-cur?

Without anything I could do I idly took a snap of Snow White --

-- admired Goldilocks' curvaceous body, half expecting Little Red Riding Hood next.

Where could my students be.... These are normal school pageant girls. We should all be worrying about swine flu.

These contestants should wear masks. After all isn't walking around Bangkok wearing a mask now considered fashion?

Cinderella...

Thumbelina...

Anastasia...

I vowed extra points for Rapunzel, my fave princess if she showed up.

But fairy tale aside I must be going senile if I could no longer recognize my own students.

Vanity Fair opening melody played in my mind when this one approached the makeshift stage.

She walks in beauty like the night...

I was now seriously wondering where the heck were my students particularly one that was missing.

They were nowhere in the stadium, nor were they among the staff running this cutie pie school play.

"There must be a mistake in that Outlook message. I don't have a single student here to supervise."

Just how did I survive having to be in an activity where I had no idea what was going on?

By the time these three held each other's hands in suspense to hear the judges' decision, I was ready to go back to the office.

The next day I innocently asked, "who won yesterday?" But more importantly, "what's the use of sticking around if my students were not among that pageant crowd?"

"I can't find student 521-0023."

"He was the one wearing white, and he was the only one you needed to look out for," came the reply.

"Well, all my boys were wearing white yesterday, weren't they?"

"No. I mean white, like white gown."

"That was 521-0023?!"

"Yes. Pretty, wasn't he? He didn't get the crown but he was a finalist. And by the way, neither were the rest of them what you thought them to be."

This is a repost. Edited for Sepia Saturday & ABC WEDNESDAY