Desperate to fit in, I begged my mother for these shorts and the prerequisite white tank top to go with them. Worn down by recently moving 1,200 miles with four kids, she gave in to my request and I came home from Countryside Mall with a much-coveted pair of navy blue satin beauties. My parents wouldn’t go for the tank top, so I had to settle for a plain white T-shirt, but no matter, I had my Dolfins. I was in for sure.
I remember the first day I wore them to school: Walking to the bus stop that morning, I expected to feel totally rad, but instead I felt naked and exposed. They were awkwardly high-cut and I was unaccustomed to wearing so little clothing. I tugged on the hems but the scant few inches of material didn’t do much to cover my behind. My thighs adhered to the molten vinyl bus seat. The shorts rode up and fluttered provocatively when I ran around at recess. I couldn’t wait to get home to change.