May 3rd 1962

"Woke up today, feeling the way I always do."

That was the story of her life. Every morning was the same thing. She stepped out of her bed with a song in her heart and a skip in her beat. Today was the day she was going to make all her dreams come true.

"Good Morning Baltimore." The TV called out when she turned it on. The familiar two faces greeted her the same way they did every day. Both cheerful and happy. It set her tone for the day.

Singing as she came down the street she was lost in her own lyrics that were running in her head that she didn't notice that the bus had passed her by. She knew that she couldn't be late for school one more time. That would surely mean detention. Her options were very limited but that didn't stop the song. It was always playing in her head. She would have to improvise. She saw a familiar green truck and waved to the driver. Climbing up the side and positioning herself she sang as the garbage truck drove her to school. It wasn't the conventional way but it served the purpose. Once she hit the school she climbed down, waved up and watched him go on his merry way.

"Someday the world is going to wake up and see. Baltimore and Me."

She took a happy deep breath as she ran into Patterson Park High School. It was a beautiful morning and nothing could bring her down. In just under eight hours she would be happily watching her favorite program, with her best friend Penny, the Corny Collins show, dancing along to the music. She would be picking up on all the latest dance moves her eyes never leaving the TV. She wouldn't want to miss one moment of seeing him. His beautiful smile, his gorgeous eyes. The way he just glided across the dance floor. For three year she had been watching him twist and shout his way to lead dancer on the show. "Link." She sighed contently and very quietly as she sat at her desk. He was absolutely beautiful but that wasn't what drew her to him. There was something in his eyes. Something that she didn't think he ever shared with anyone. Even as she silently passed him in the hall at school or sat in front of him in history class, oblivious to the fact that she existed, she just knew that Link Larkin was more than just a pretty face. And maybe one day he would be able to look at her from the inside out.


Pulling into the parking lot of Patterson Park High School, Link Larkin, sat in the bus taping his fingers to the music that was running in his head. Normally he woukd be the one driving into his parking spot but today he opted to take the bus. Stepping out of it he met up with Brad, his best friend, and one of the council members.

"No car today Larkin?" Brad asked as they walked over to him. Out of the corner of his eye he could have sworn he saw someone climbing off of a garbage truck. No, he was probably just seeing things. Who would be crazy enough to do something like that? He shrugged it off and headed into the school.

"Nah my dad needed it for the day. Being the good son that I am i took the bus. "He answered back quickly. "I'll see you in history." He nodded and walked over to his locker where Amber Von Tussle was waiting. "Hey there." He smiled at her and leaned over to kiss her lightly on the lips.

Amber smiled at the boy next to her. They had been dating for a while and while he hadn't done it yet she was hoping that maybe soon he would finally make it official and give her his class ring. "Hi baby." She smiled and leaned in to give him a sweet peek on the cheek.

Settling into their morning ritual he reached in to grab his books and smiled at her as she went on with all the important things going on in her day. "Link, my mom said that talent scouts are going to be there. This is such a big deal. And winning Miss Teenage Hairspray, for the fourth time, is going to be amazing. Everything is going to work out for us Link. " She went on excitedly about it. Taking her hand he made his way to there first class together and walked throughout the day.


Miss Whimsy started her lesson for the day. "Mount Everest is the most famous, but not the highest geographical point on this earth. Now, who can tell me what that is?"

"Um, excuse me, Miss Whimsy? A boy behind Tracy spoke up. "I can't see the board again."

It took Miss Whimsy no one than a second to look at exactly who was the cause of this problem. "Tracy Turnblad. If I have to write you up for inappropriate hair height one more time you will be removed to detention."

"Miss Wimsey, what am I supposed to do? Hair can't just hang there like a dead thing on your cheeks. I mean, well... Uh-you know what I mean. I... Ahh." Maybe she should not have said anything but it was the first thing that came to her head. She took a lot of pride in her hair and if someone didn't like it that was their problem not hers. And Miss Wimsey just didn't understand and she don't think she would have ever understand. Hair basked in glorious hairspray was hair to be fawned over. It was just another reason that Tracy could not wait for the end of the day. It couldn't get there soon enough.

"As I said, it is not Mount Everest. Now, next week we will be talking about earthquakes and volcanoes. And as exciting as that might sound we have to look back approximately 60 million years. Now, if you turn your pages. We are going to start with the Ring of Fire. I want you to contemplate what causes the separation of the two components."

Tracy tuned her out and was more than happy when the bell rang. One more class to go. Chemistry. Another class that she would perfer not to be at. It was way too close to the show. Definitely not being thst big of a fan of school being this close to the end of the day made it so much worse. She tapped her pencil against the desk almost meeting the tick of the clock. It was getting closer, every second and before she knew it she was running out of school to get home. "Push! We're late." She yelled at a few kids that were in the way of her and the show. She looked at the TV displaying that the Corny Collins show we be up next. She made a quick hello to her dad at the store and run up the steps. "Hurry up, Penny, we're missing it!" She yelled at her friend probably a little more stern than she wanted to. But she couldn't miss it.

"My mom says I'm not allowed to perspire!" Penny called out.

Tracy looked at her and she ran inside. "What your mom doesn't know won't her hurt."

Putting the TV Tracy sighed happily as they made it right in time.

Hey there, teenage Baltimore!