U-High Days - 7th Grade - Mom's Childhood

Wendy felt awkward and the shyness of her childhood followed her as she began U-High. This was the University of Minnesota’s laboratory training school with seventh through twelfth grades. She was still two months from her 12th birthday and her salvation of being thrown into a school which included 18 year olds was that there were only about seventy people in each grade, and her brother John Wayne was only two years ahead of her in school.
After breakfast Dad announced,

“We’d better be on our way,”

She choked down the last bite of toast and headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Looking into the mirror the nightmare of having redeemed a free haircut coupon at the beauty school confronted her. What had been long, brown braids with bangs was now short tuffs of hair poking out in every direction. Crying had done nothing to restore the length, and now there was nothing to be done but survive, and try not to look in the mirror.

“Your hair looks very modern,” said Mother bravely as she kissed her goodbye.

John and Father were in the car. Wendy grabbed her lunchbox and violin and flew out the back door, down the porch and past the raspberry patch. Father had an underground parking space on campus. They walked from there, through a tunnel to emerge on a lovely knoll not far from his office and across the street from U-High.

Wendy’s heart was pounding as John directed her to the hall where the seventh-grade lockers were. She was grateful to see Harriet Schwartz had arrived, and they exchanged nervous smiles.

“What happened to your hair?” Harriet asked.

Wendy thought, “I wish it wasn’t against school policy to wear a scarf or hat,”

Ellen Jean Lovetang who had just closed her locker came over to examine Wendy’s shaved head more closely.

“Wow that is an interesting haircut.”

“Ohhhh, please don’t remind me,” groaned Wendy trying to keep the tears from starting. She deposited her lunchbox and violin and closed her locker just as the five minute bell rang.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Luckily, hair grows and Wendy’s did. She learned to find her way from class to class and around the school. She played the violin in the school orchestra, and especially enjoyed her home economics classes. By the end of eighth-grade she was invited to her first boy-girl party at the home of Judy Levitt. This was a BIG DEAL. Judy was one of the most popular girls in her grade. Mother made her a new dress and helped her curl the ends of her now shoulder-length hair.

Douglas was in medical school with Judy’s big brother and he drove her to the Levitt’s huge home in one of St. Paul’s swankiest neighborhoods.

“Have fun. I’ll pick you up at 10:00,” he said as she closed the car door.

The Levitt’s live-in housekeeper answered Wendy’s knock and welcomed her in. The phonograph was playing and boys and girls were sitting in a circle. Jim and Marty and Judy and Dave were paired off, but the rest of the kids sat in uncomfortable silence. Wendy felt even more awkward than at the after school “sock-hops” where she would stand by the gym wall in agony hoping someone – anyone – even pudgy, Oliver Longbottom -- would ask her to dance. The hands on the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to stand still. What a relief it was when the door bell rang and Doug was there to collect her.

FIRST DATE*

In 1957, between eighth and ninth grades Wendy’s family went west. While they were in Heber, Wendy stayed with her cousin, Annette Young. Annette was popular and good friends with a boy who lived across the street from her house. His friend had two horses and the four of them set out on a sunny afternoon for a ride partly up Sunday Canyon. They rode double which meant Annette and Wendy had to hold on to the boys to keep from bouncing off the trotting ponies. This was so bold that Wendy almost fell off from the sheer daring of it all. That night the boys invited Annette and Wendy to watch “Friday Night Thriller Theater” on the television. The girls walked across the dark street at 9:55 p.m. to be there on time for the 10:00 show. The only light in the living-room came from the television set that was already announcing “The Death of Dracula.” All four huddled together on the sofa, and Wendy covered her eyes through most of the dreadful movie. When it was finished the boys walked Wendy and Annette back across the street, and that was that.

The next morning after breakfast, Fern** sat Annette and Wendy down.

“Girls, did you know that his parents were not at home last night?” she asked

“No.” they both responded

“Well, they weren’t, and the house was completely dark. What do you think the neighbors would assume if they had watched you going into that situation? “

“But, we just watched the movie and came home. Nothing happened.”

“I know. But, remember always avoid even the appearance of evil.”

That lesson cut deeply into Wendy’s conscious.

*Wendy was 13 years old. The Church made no official statements about not dating until 16 years of age until years later when Spencer W. Kimball was the prophet.

** Fern Wright Young was Aunt Nellie’s daughter and Wendy’s first cousin. Wendy was the youngest of all the Whiting grandchildren, and so it was Fern’s daughter, Annette, who was after