Guest Post by David Chase

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a mentor who is also a fabulous writer. My mentor, Dr. David Chase, Conductor Emeritus of The La Jolla Symphony Chorus, is both!

The Aloha Dance

by David Chase

June 8, 1990

Darren dressed up for the biggest dance of his junior high career: red dye in his dreadlocks; ten

or twelve bracelets adorning his black and grey outfit; nose ring with the extra ornament

dangling from the slender wire; fingernails freshly painted shiny black; and, of course, a new

pair of combat boots. After two hours plus of this preparation, he jumped in the old car and

talked with increasing excitement all the way to the school. “Damn! I’m gonna have a good

time!”

When we arrived, he suddenly realized that he’d forgotten his ticket. I offered to go with him

and try to help him talk his way in. Surprisingly, he accepted the offer and into the inner

sanctum of the school we marched, past tuxes and prom dresses, through clouds of perfume;

tall Darren in his take-me-or-leave-me outfit and short Dad in his old sport shirt, feeling like a

Deepsea Diver swimming through a beautiful but unfathomable world.

As we approached the table where the teachers sat, I began to grasp what was going on. It was

Darren’s version of a parent-teacher night. He was showing me to them and vice-versa … all

according to his rules. Each teacher was genuinely happy to see him, delighted by his inventive

attire, and pleased to get a glimpse of the father of this interesting kid.

He introduced Mrs. Krasner: “This is the coolest teacher in the school.” She said, “This is the

coolest kid in the school…” then, looking me directly in the eye (I was still in my bewildered

state), “I really mean that. He is.”

As I walked out, I slowly began to comprehend the magnitude of the event. I had been allowed

an unexpected part of his rite of passage. For Darren, there had been an unexpected

opportunity to integrate it all – kids, teachers, and parent – in a short ceremony of his own

invention. I emerged from my Deepsea Diver’s condition as I left the campus, and I began to feel

elation.

Only after it was over did I realize the honor that had been bestowed on me. It was the most

pleasant event I had shared with my son since sixth grade. Thank god he’d forgotten that ticket!