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Out Of My League – Friday Fictioneers

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Good noon, EST friends.  Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Fictioneers.  I struggled with this one; I cannot lie.  I did not want to go the obvious route, though I did have a nice little inspiring idea bouncing around in my head.  Actually, I think this would have been one of those über rare occasions where I could have written two totally different stories!  Maybe I will!  Probably I won’t.  😛

Thanks always to Rochelle for keeping us ducks in a row week after week.  And for this week, Rochelle chose a photo from Karuna, so thank you Karuna!  Please, click on the blue frog to read other interpretations for this photo.  Should you feel inspired yourself, click on Rochelle’s name to get the rules and regs.

Out Of My League

In her youth, she considered herself drab, no — ugly.  She was all arms and legs with buck teeth. But was good at sports; her one saving grace, she figured.  At one time they called her Olive Oyl so her self-opinion didn’t change, even though she got braces, which fixed the teeth, and she eventually filled out, even gaining some boobs!  It didn’t matter, she thought she had gone from ugly to okay.

Imagine her surprise when, 35 years later, she was told, more than once:  “I liked you but never dared to ask you out.  You were out of my league!”

74 thoughts on “Out Of My League – Friday Fictioneers”

  2. She sounds pretty hot to me. Of course, I was never exactly Mr. Popularity. Goofy looking farm boys never got a second look from the girls in school, so I can definitely relate to your post.

    I did find out a few years ago (from the girl’s mother) that one of my classmates had a crush on me in Jr. High. That was a boost to the old ego. I had a crush on her too, but both of us were too bashful to ever let the other know.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Does she now? Well You know, in French there is an expression: “À chaque pot, son couvercle” meaning “to each pot his lid” 😀

      I tell ya. That happened to me – only the guys told me to my face that they had crushes on me and I had no clue whatsoever as I was always “one of the guys” so they were all my friends and never let me know (or I was too blind to see…)

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  3. “You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t!”..lol
    Funny, I thought my hubby was “out of my league” when I saw him..and now here we are 20 years later..lol

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Great one, so true for far too many young ladies. Picture perfect adulthood & ungainly in youth, Beautiful in youth & wrinkled apples in mid-life…such is reality.

    Liked by 1 person

    • One time my daughter, about 16, and I were looking through the newspaper announcements, including all the 25th Ann. ones. Usually these had a photo of the smiling bride and groom and now their latest pic taken for this event. My daughter studied these a few minutes, then said, “Just goes to show it doesn’t pay to marry for looks.” 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  13. I can relate to this. I liked a girl, called Liz, but thought there was no chance. Meanwhile, there was another Liz. When Josie told me Liz likes you, I thought she was talking about the second one, so I had the confidence to ask her out and she said yes. The trouble was, it was the wrong one on both counts, not my first choice and not the Liz the other girl was referring to. Never mind, I suppose, but you can’t help wondering what might have been.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Makes you wonder how often such things happen…. I bet you, in most cases, the girl would be surprised to find out she was being admired from afar…

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  14. Dear Dale,

    I dare say that this girl is in a league of her own these days. 😉 That little pot definitely found her lid.
    When I was on the planning committee for my 40th reunion we all represented different social groups in the school. Every one of us thought we were the ugly duckling.
    Once more you’ve taken the prompt and written something delightfully different.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rochelle,
      I would say she did indeed!
      Goes to show that our self-perception is wacked when we are teenagers!
      So very glad you liked my take!
      Lotsa love,
      Dale

      Like

  16. Your story reminded me that I grew up always feeling like I didn’t belong. That was the result of being an army brat who moved every few years. As an adult it occurred to me that in all likelihood no one else thought I didn’t belong. (Except for some time in Florida and Hawaii, I went to army schools. We were all moved.)

    Liked by 1 person

    • That has to be so difficult and yet can teach you how to become adaptable…
      Great photo which has inspired so many different takes..

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    • And yet, often times, we put our own lables on ourselves!! And that is also such a shame! Thanks for stopping by, Liz

      Like

  21. such a lovely and unique take on the prompt. Reveals your optimism .
    The story is so beautifully inspiring . Its not how we look but who we are that matters ! Enjoyed it a lot . 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Ah, this is so well put, Dale. So realistic in its depiction of a gawky teen too! I was painfully shy and plump with it, never quite comfortable in my own skin. It’s taken years for me to feel anything like at ease. Lovely tale and wonderfully told

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Oh, did I love my sloppy joe sweater, so I could stay shapeless and sexless as long as possible. I honestly didn’t think that boys fancied me at all, but now your story has made me wonder…
    Interestingly, quite a lot of the girls who started out as stunners, didn’t end up that way, while those who were plain, if not ugly ducklings early on, ended up blossoming into real beauties 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  28. It is so sad when that happens, but 35-years later love and relationships can be kindled. I like that you created a happy story from the prompt, after so many of us went dark.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Sarah Ann. You know, I very rarely go dark or sad… especially with such a photo! I need to add a touch of lightness or humour 😉

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  30. What a great story, Dale. I used to be called Olive Oyle too and when I was 40 something, I gave a workshop on Women and SelfEsteem; one participant happened to be my high school friend I had not seen since high school. She thought I was so confident in high school , which I was not. Your story has touched so many of us…great job when a writer can do that!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much, Oliana. Kinda wish I was a bit more on.the Olive Oyle side now 😉
      So very glad it touched you.

      Like

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