Jumping Jack Pad

I can't believe I’m sharing this story! Ok...so, I remember one day at school I got my period, and I didn't have any pads. I can't quite remember why I didn't get a pad from my nurse, but I do remember I tried to get a pad from three people; one being my best friend and at some point, I had began to bleed through my pants. With blood-soaked jeans and underwear clasping to my butt; for the first time in my school years, I was looking forward to PE. Why? Well because that meant I could trash these saturated items and slip into some clean gym shorts

So here I am standing in the stall panty-less with a pair of oversized dark blue and green cheap satin school gym. I tore off large pieces of toilette tissue and strategically laid it across the thick seem in the crotch area. "Stay, stay, stay," I whispered as I tugged on each side of the tissue, like a Newton Cradle. Anyway, it was time for PE and I didn't want to participate because I was starting to bleed even heavier and my stomach was cramping and lets not forget, I was wearing baggy gym shorts that held no support for my make-shift pad, but if I didn't take part in today's activity; I'd get another "Incomplete" grade due to the previous break I'd taken last week and Lord knows my report card couldn't take another low grade. I did what I had to do.

I walked over to take place in line; my pad shifted from side to side and I immediately knew the flat rectangular shape it once was, had now transformed into a tissue taco (folded like a taco) with extra salsa in between. Yuck!

I stood in line preparing for the first set of jumping jacks we are required to do. Each time I jumped, I could feel the blood leaking onto my make-shift pad. I tried to lock my legs with each jump to no avail and before I knew it, the folded-up piece of tissue had slid down my inner left thigh and onto the shiny gymnasium floor. "ILLLLL" my fellow classmate (who shall forever remain nameless) shrieked. It's like the whole class paused. Pure. Dead. Silence. My jaw dropped as I stood motionless in utter disbelief; wanting to disappear into thin air. My memorable classmate extended her leg out and quickly kicked the hard, folded piece of tissue across the slippery floor. Everyone shouted in disgust and joined in; turning the gymnasium into a full-on soccer game.

I was mortified!

-Georgina S.