THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240078
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIM WADSWORTH, SPECIAL TO TEENOLOGY
LENGTH: 74 lines
PROM IS a rite of passage. Reaching this milestone is unimportant for some, but it's a long-awaited ritual for others like 18-year-old Tiffany Yankus, a Kempsville High School senior.
Tiffany has been planning for May 17 for the past few months. Months ago, Tiffany, her mom and her sister, Ashlee, went shopping for a gown. She scouted several stores, finding five dresses in three stores.
``All were nice,'' her mom Debbie McKenna remembers. ``But I was waiting for the `Yes, that's it' dress.''
At one store, 9-year-old Ashlee flipped through the racks and found a slinky, navy-blue jersey gown. She begged Tiffany to try it on.
When Tiffany came out of the dressing room, her mom said, ``That's it - that's the dress.''
Tiffany wasn't totally convinced. Her heart was set on a teal chiffon gown she had spotted, so she tried on each gown again. After the navy dress was altered for a better fit, Tiffany decided it was the gown for her.
She found a pair of strappy silver high-heeled sandals and was ready for the prom.
Finding a date was easier than the search for the dress. Tiffany simply approached her friend, Oren Cohen, another Kempsville senior.
``I asked Oren if he had a date, he asked me if I had one. Neither of us had one yet so we decided to go together,'' Tiffany said. ``When you go with a friend, there's no stress. You don't have to stay with one group of people. I like to rotate.''
Oren began his preparation for the prom. His big thing was the car.
Wanting to go for something less conventional than a limo, Oren convinced his dad to let him borrow a bright red Acura NSX from the family dealership.
``They were only going to loan it to me if the weather was good,'' Oren said.
``I'd rather drive a nice car than be stuck in a limo.''
Finally, May 17 arrives.
The weather forecast is perfect so Oren can get the car.
McKenna begins the big day by playing a prank on Tiffany to ``bring her back to earth'' because her daughter is so excited.
McKenna convinced Cohen to call Tiffany and tell her he was too sick to take her to the prom. But when McKenna sees Tiffany's reaction, she owns up to the joke.
``But you never get used to her pranks,'' Tiffany said with a grin.
Mom admits she likes her daughter's enthusiasm about the prom.
``I discouraged her from going to a junior/senior prom because once
you go to a prom, that's it,'' McKenna said.
``Besides getting married, I think it's one of the most important events in your life. Two days ago she thanked me for making her wait.''
By 4:30 p.m., Tiffany's hair is swept up in a French twist, secured with a rhinestone comb. Her makeup has been professionally done. She is satisfied with her sleek silhouette in the jersey gown.
There's was just one Achilles' heel - literally. The strap on her right heel is rubbing and she has had the shoes on for only 10 minutes. But when Oren arrive with her corsage and a souvenir glass that says, ``Endless Moments, Kempsville High School 1996,'' she forgets the heel.
At 5, a pre-prom party begins at the home of her friend, Kelly. Kelly, who plans to be a professional chef one day, serves homemade cookies, eclairs and other finger-foods to celebrate the occasion.
Tiffany and Oren split up, each gravitating to their friends to discuss things like life in a tux, snug-fitting gowns and shoes that hurt. A bouquet of sunflowers arrives for Kelly. Tiffany glances at them and then looks down at the corsage on her wrist.
She smiles, feeling good about the way things have turned out.
The guys gathered together for a group shot. Tuxedo adjustments and comments about how uncomfortable the vest is cause more rumblings.
``Smile, guys,'' shouts one of the parents. ``You're supposed to be having fun.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color Photos by Charlie Meads
[Prom pictures...]
by CNB