Chris: Homecoming is the one time of year when schools organize activities that would lead outsiders to confuse it for a cult. Bonfires, face-painting, flashlight pep rallies, pilfered mascots, hex rallies, mums and sacrificial chicken blood are ingredients in a typical homecoming week and possibly an Addams Family soup recipe.
Joe: High school homecomings were all the rage when I went to school, only my school didn’t have one since we didn’t have a home field. So instead of one homecoming, we went to the other seven school’s homecomings.
Brad: Our entire town’s main street puts up balloons and ribbons with our school colors. We have our homecoming game on Friday, when the King and Queen and their court are announced. Fireworks. Our town is a small town, and everyone is at the game.
Ralphie: I’m in elementary school, so we don’t have homecoming. I know the high school in my city plays a homecoming football game, but I don’t think they do anything else.
Joe: There was usually a dance on Friday and the game on Saturday and the after parties on Saturday night.
Brad: On Saturday we have our formal dance.
Joe: I became a dancer in college, but in high school I liked best the games.
Brad: I think my favorite part of homecoming is how the whole town feels the spirit right along with the team.
Chris: Flower shops specialize in homecoming merchandise, marking the only time of year both girls and ladies attend a football game wearing artificial flowers adorned with ribbons, flowers, bells and other accoutrements so large that they appear to be holding a wrapped ventriloquist’s dummy.
Ralphie: I don’t do anything, but when I’m in high school, I’m sure I’ll go to the football game.
Joe: Homecoming was special because it was a prelude to the holiday season.
Chris: Fortunately, the flower shops are able to subsidize their income during homecoming week, since mums cost approximately two day’s wages and can only be worn once, ergo making them either siblings or first cousins with prom dresses. I just said “ergo.”
Ralphie: I asked my mom, and she said it’s special for people because they go back and visit their old schools sometimes.
Chris: The homecoming halftime ceremony is always amusing, finding out which contest wins homecoming queen and which unfortunate losing contestants are tied to stakes and used as sacrificial bonfire kindling.
Brad: It’s just a whole weekend of fun with friends and family and football!