The school I attended in my middle-school years had a policy that girls could only wear post-style earrings:  nothing that dangled, no hoops.  (This was before it became fashionable for guys to wear earrings, so I don't believe a policy on that existed at the time).

I was so excited, the summer before 7th grade, to get my ears pierced.  Finally, I could add my own personal touch and accessorize the school uniform.  I received a few pairs of earrings for my birthday that summer; they all were the post-type that I was allowed to wear st school.  But I couldn't wait to get something dangly.

Mom kept discouraging me from doing that, telling me that I could only wear those on weekends and vacation days.  So I was really thrilled when the class Christmas party rolled around.  We had picked "secret Santas" so each student would receive a small gift from another student.  My present, in a tiny box, was a pair of dangly earrings!  They were big--and brightly-colored.  I couldn't have been happier.  As soon as I opened them, I took off my boring old post earrings and put in the beautiful new ones.  My homeroom teacher didn't say anything--after all, it was a class party and school would be out in an hour anyway.

But then I was asked to run a message downstairs to the third-grade classroom (this was before the years when there were phones in each room).  The third-grade teacher took one look at my fancy new jewelry and began yelling about the school dress code.  Instead of a "thank you" for delivery of the message, I got a lecture.  Way to spoil the moment.

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