Husky Jeans

Remember the excitement of receiving the Fall issue of the Sears catalog just before time for school to start? Getting that huge catalog in the mail meant it was time to start ordering everything needed for the upcoming school year.

“Look through the catalog and circle the pictures of clothes you like,” mom said to me. “I’ll place the order and we can go pick everything up at the mail order store. It usually doesn’t take long to get here.”

I was so excited to look through and pick out what I wanted. But what I actually got to choose from was a different story.

My choices were a little limited.

It was called the “Husky” section.

No, I couldn’t shop in the regular section of the catalog. The section with all the skinny kid’s clothes. I had to flip to the one and one-half page selection of “Husky” clothes.

The girl’s equivalent collection was called “Pretty Plus.” Pages and pages of “Pretty Plus.” But the boys had the “Husky” collection.

All one and one-half pages.

“Oh look! They have two styles of Husky jeans in light or dark blue! What a great selection! And this year’s style says “Husky” even larger on the back pocket!”

But I was excited about my new clothes.

Sears “Husky” was brazened across my wide behind, not that everyone couldn’t already see I was a little husky. I had it stamped on my clothes.

And of course, we always had to buy them a size or two larger than I actually wore. Because I had “to grow into them.”

They had to last this growing boy the rest of the school year. Whether I grew up or I grew out, I was prepared.

In my Huskies.

From the Sears mail order catalog.

From the mind of me.