AGENCIES OFFER TEENS FAIRY-TALE AFTERNOON.Byline: Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
She walked sheepishly sheep·ish adj. 1. Embarrassed, as by consciousness of a fault: a sheepish grin. 2. Meek or stupid. sheep out of the back room, turning every head in the place. It was as if Cinderella had just walked into the ball. Mouths fell open and heads shook. This couldn't be the same shy teen-age girl who had walked into the La Canada Flintridge church gymnasium gymnasium In Germany, a state-maintained secondary school that prepares pupils for higher academic education. This type of nine-year school originated in Strasbourg in 1537. only a few hours earlier dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt, could it? Look at her now. A beauty. Wearing a prom dress, high heels high heels high npl → talons hauts, hauts talons high heels high npl → hochhackige Schuhe pl , earrings and a beautiful necklace necklace: see jewelry. . What a knockout. Sally smiled and put her head down. She was embarrassed by all this sudden attention and applause. But she wasn't fooling anyone. She loved every minute of it. They all did - all these 60 beautiful girls, who never get attention or applause like this. I wish I could tell you their real names and show you their faces, but I can't. We're not supposed to know who they are. That's what the law says. Through no fault of their own, they are wards of the court in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County, and, as juveniles, their identities are supposed to be kept secret. Their parents messed up bad, and these girls were taken away from them. Now, they're paying for their parents' sins - living in foster care homes and residential care facilities where they all share one thing in common. None of them have much more than the clothes on their back. Proms, grad night and all the extracurricular activities that girls their age typically enjoy are not part of their lives. But for one afternoon in a church gymnasium this week, that all changed. Cinderella was invited to the ball, and she stole more than a few hearts. The women stood in a small group off to the side of the room, watching the girls go through racks of dresses, rows of shoes and tables filled with jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. and makeup makeup In the performing arts, material used by actors for cosmetic purposes and to help create the characters they play. Not needed in Greek and Roman theatre because of the use of masks, makeup was used in the religious plays of medieval Europe, in which the angels' faces - all of it donated for them to keep by local retailers and manufacturers. ``Look at them,'' said Susan Jakubowski, regional resource coordinator for the Department of Children and Family Services. ``They're absolutely radiant. None of them are used to this kind of treatment and attention.'' Julie Brumana from Valley Interfaith in·ter·faith adj. Of, relating to, or involving persons of different religious faiths: an interfaith marriage; an interfaith forum. Council and a handful of church volunteers nodded in agreement. They all knew what this meant to the girls, being treated like they were somebody special instead of being shunted off to the side of society like they were extra baggage. ``Because of the expense, our kids don't get to go to the proms and grad nights or take part in the after-school activities like other kids,'' said Laura Sager, who with Jackie Solomon coordinated this Princess for a Day event for the North Hollywood office of the Department of Children and Family Services. ``Foster care parents usually have three or four kids in their homes and don't have the time to be transporting each of them to dance lessons, karate karate: see martial arts. karate Martial art in which an attacker is disabled by crippling kicks and punches. Emphasis is on concentration of as much of the body's power as possible at the point and instant of impact. or whatever they want to do,'' Sager said. ``There's no money for cap and gown, school rings, yearbooks or prom dresses.'' But all that is slowly changing with the assistance of Allegiance for the Care of Abused Children, a Valley Interfaith Council program, and local church congregations and civic groups. Cinderella is finally being invited to the ball. As two of her friends from the Hathaway Children's Services community site in Lake View Terrace try to find prom dresses that fit them, Sally stares hard at the Polaroid picture in her hand. She hardly recognizes herself, all dressed up like this, she says. ``I've never worn a dress like this,'' Sally says. ``Never. It's wonderful.'' There's a school dance coming up soon at Hathaway, and the 16-year-old was planning to wear the same dress she wore for the Thanksgiving Thanksgiving annual U.S. holiday celebrating harvest and yearly blessings; originated with Pilgrims (1621). [Am. Culture: EB, IX: 922] See : America Thanksgiving national holiday with luxurious dinner as chief ritual. [Am. Pop. and Christmas parties last year at the residential care facility. The only dress hanging in her closet. The one she bought last summer at Ross for $10, she says. ``It's nice, but it isn't a prom dress,'' Sally says, smiling as another girl in a prom dress walks sheepishly from the back room to the stage - turning every head in the place. Another Cinderella - living life as a ward of the court until she's 18 - finally being invited to the ball. CAPTION(S): photo PHOTO Girls try cosmetics during the Princess for a Day event in La Canada Flintridge. David Sprague/Daily News |
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