The Pink Tie

by Jeanne Nalder McInelly

Don’t laugh. Pink ties were really popular then. And if Justin needed one before he would come to the dance, well, then Brother Gunnel would just get one for him.

Justin knew he’d seen that guy across the room before this party. But where? He thought about it most of the evening but couldn’t remember. Then it came back. He was passing the sacrament that time I went to church. Could it have been almost two years ago?

“Hey, you’re a Mormon, aren’t you?” The voice interrupted Jared’s thoughts.

“Yeah,” said Jared. “Are you?”

“Well, I was baptized by the missionaries four years ago, but I haven’t gone to church in a long time.”

“Well, it’s good to know there’s another member in our school. I’m Jared McInelly.”

“I’m Justin McKinley. Hey, with a last name like McInelly, I bet our lockers are close.”

And so it went. The two found they had a lot in common. Their lockers, arranged alphabetically, were in the same hall, they both played football, and they ended up living in the same ward boundaries.

Jared thought a lot of Justin and wondered how he could interest him in attending church again. He decided the youth activities would be the way to go. So one day after practice, he gave it his best shot.

“Hey, Justin, our stake is planning a youth conference next Saturday. There will be workshops in the morning and afternoon, a great lunch, and a dance that night. Why don’t you come and check it out? I could pick you up.”

“Well, I guess I could try it. I probably won’t stay for the dance, though.”

“All right,” Jared said. “We’ll come by about 9:30.”

Jared thought about Justin and the youth conference all week. Would the classes appeal to him? Would he feel accepted? Would the kids be friendly to him, and would he feel the Spirit?

Jared had talked to his teachers quorum adviser, Brother Gunnel, about how they could help reactivate Justin. He knew his leader would be coming to the conference, so he called him about Justin.

“That’s great news, Jared. How about if I pick you both up, and then we can visit on the way?”

Right on schedule they picked up Justin. He seemed to really enjoy the classes. Over lunch he said, “This reminds me of how I used to feel when the missionaries taught us. Those guys were the greatest. I’ve always wanted to be like them.”

After lunch, Brother Gunnel approached the two.

“So, Justin, are you planning on coming back to the dance tonight?”

“Well, I’d like to, but I don’t have a tie, and they said ties were required.”

“A tie?” Brother Gunnel asked. “I have a ton of ties. What color do you want?”

“Pink.”

“Pink? No problem.”

It was true. Brother Gunnel did have a lot of ties in a lot of colors—just not pink. And although pink may seem an odd choice, it was very popular at the time. But a great leader wasn’t going to let that barrier keep Justin from the dance. And if a pink tie could make Justin feel like all the rest of the kids, then he would get a pink tie. A quick consultation with the Young Women president gave Brother Gunnel directions to the nearest mall and a store that was bound to carry a pink tie.

Before the end of afternoon classes, Brother Gunnel was back at the stake center clutching his prize.

“Here you go, Justin. Will this do?”

“Hey, thanks, Brother Gunnel. It’s the perfect color.”

“Great. Have fun tonight.”

It just so happened that Jared was planning on wearing his pink necktie that night too. The girls did a good job of fellowshipping Justin at the dance, and he had a great time. From then on, he came to youth activities and then to Sunday meetings. His parents came, too, sporadically at first, then every week.

Jared and Justin became best friends.

And the pink tie? It went to all the stake dances—just in case someone needed it.

Illustrated by Bryan Lee Shaw