In What Planet I Allow that to Happen ?Part 2 bry Elaine Elle Espinosa ©️ 2026

Competition in 1986

Like I mentioned before in "What Planet I Allow This to Happen?", I joined the dance competition at Knott's Berry Farm without my parents' permission. Actually, it was me and my big, dumb ideas. I signed the permission slip myself, thinking I was smart enough to get away with it.

Unfortunately, the director of the dance competition called my home, and my dad answered the phone. Back then, there were no individual cell phones; there was only ONE PHONE!!! in the house, attached to the wall, with a long cord and a rotary dial that you turned to dial the numbers. And no matter how fast you tried to race to the phone to answer it, my dad answered it first.

Have you ever-and I'm saying this in all honesty-done something so stupid that you knew there was a 99% chance you would get caught? But for some crazy reason, you thought there was that magical 1% chance you might get away with it?

Well, maybe not all of you thought that way, but I surely did. At 16 years old, you're willing to hope for anything you can. Maybe not in today's era, but back in the day, life was different, especially in 1986.

Kids back then actually had to think outside the box rather than relying on modern computers to find the answers, as they do today. We tried to be creative and didn't think about the consequences. We just thought maybe our dance would make us famous, without realizing that there was more to it than just magically dancing. 💃

So, as soon as my father found out that I had signed the permission slip, he was in shock...and he approved it. Now I was shocked!

My father was strict-very strict. We came from a line of military soldiers, so in our home, the military custom was very much implemented.

I said to myself, "Now what torture or punishment will I endure?" LOL! But he did not say a word. He simply approved it, hung up the phone, looked at me, and went to his office.

Now I was puzzled. Like, wait a minute...thinking, "NO LECTURE? NO WHIPPING? WHICH I'M SURE MANY OF US ENDURED....NO TIME-OUT OR 'GO TO YOUR ROOM'!! NOTHING?"

He just went to his office and closed the door.

That night, I did not sleep-not one wink. I kept saying to myself, "Any minute, he's gonna come to my room and whip me." But nothing happened.

Have you ever sensed that something was up but couldn't pinpoint what the actual aftermath might be? As if your mind was just about to give up, but your body sensed something completely different?

Not even my mom said a word. Both of them were too quiet. Very quiet. Extremely quiet...

Part 3 continues...