I can’t pinpoint exactly which summer it was, but it was summer and we were definitely in high school. Because all ridiculously mortifying experiences happen in those awkward years.

We were at my grandmother’s pool. We were playing monkey in the middle or keep away or whatever you want to call it. Darewood was in the middle with his crazy monkey arms that could basically get anything thrown within a ten foot radius (and I think Eric may have been there, too). Chelle was my partner in crime on the other side of the pool. Whatever we were throwing, it was in my hands.

Monkey in the middle.

Across the way, all 4 feet 11 inches of my bestie was jumping up and down trying to get my attention.  I could barely see her between Darewood’s height, huge head and crazy monkey arms. Finally I caught Chelle’s eye as Darewood moved to the side.

She was still jumping, but she looked kind of funny to me. Was it because she was so far away? Was it her height? Her hair? I couldn’t quite pinpoint what was off, but something was amiss. I heard her screaming, “I’m open! I’m open!” Right. I needed to throw it to her. And just as I’m about to toss the object her way, it clicks.

Chelle was open all right. As she bounced up and down like a kangaroo on crack, her right boob had escaped from its itty bitty teeny weeny bikini home.

Chelle, in all her glory.

It was flopping around like a fish out of water gasping for air. In fact, it was swinging so wildly, it reminded me of the Karate Kid movie where he’s in Japan and they pull out these little drum toys to cheer him on.

               Those little drum toys.              image taken from basementrejects.com

I was mesmerized. Then I was laughing. Like laughing so hard I may have peed a little. Darewood had turned around to see what was so funny, and the gentleman that he was (in that one moment in time) had him turning back around immediately pretending he didn’t see a thing. I laughed more.

Finally Chelle realized something was wrong. She looked down and saw what had happened. She screamed and covered herself right away. I could barely keep it together. One of the funniest things I’d ever seen.

This moment gave new meaning to being open to me. I realized it may not always mean what you think it means. And Chelle may take this moment back in a heartbeat, but it gave me the inspiration I needed to write my Maid of Honor speech. Of course laughing that hard is always well worth it, too.