Hello, everyone, it’s Kate Betts here! This week starts something new with the Features section for The Connector that we’re all pretty psyched about. We have decided to showcase some samples of student writing every week in a new column called The Writer’s Corner. Our inaugural piece is by Emme Raus.
Dress for the occasion
By Emme Raus
Dani watched her best friend Lucy hold the ruffled, robin’s egg blue taffeta dress up to her squashy frame and sway from side to side in a dreamy waltz. It was one of the pricier playthings in the little French boutique next to the dirty movies store off of highway 75 that the girls had always wanted to go in to but never had the nerve. That is until Lucy’s mom caught them eyeing the place while driving the pair to the mall and had suddenly pulled over and volunteered to take them on a shopping spree.
“That looks beautiful sweetheart, why don’t you go try it on?” urged Lucy’s Mom.
“You mean it?” Lucy’s pock-marked, piggy face gleamed.
“Yeah, go on Luc, it will look great on you,” Dani agreed even though Lucy didn’t really need any more encouragement and was already toddling off to the dressing rooms.
There was an uncomfortable beat where Dani found it hard to keep still. Then Lucy’s mom said, “It’s a one of a kind dress isn’t it?”
“No kidding,” Dani replied, not quite sure what to say.
“I can get you a dress like that if you want, Dani.”
“Oh no, really I can’t afford it.”
“It’s a gift, Dani, for your birthday.”
Dani always disliked how Lucy’s mom stretched out the “e” sound at the end of her name like they were friends or something, but this last remark really just made no sense. Her birthday had been three months ago and Lucy and her mom had both came to her “Glee” themed party.
“I already have my sister’s homecoming polka-dot dress, Mrs. Esposito.”
Lucy’s mom migrated over to the clearance rack and selected a cheap, glittery spandex number.
“Sometimes a girl needs some options, Dani darling,” she purred.
Dani stared at the flimsy club outfit in disgust. Lucy’s mom noticed and re-shelved it in one fluid motion.
“No? Well, perhaps you’re right, these are a dime a dozen. What about over here?”
She swooped her arm over to a section cluttered with cocktail dresses meant for a woman twice Dani’s age and with a lot more to fill out. Dani cupped a palm over her elbow. She really didn’t know why Lucy’s Mom was trying so hard to buy her something.
“You see,” Lucy’s mom continued, running her fingers over a pool of creamy, green apple satin, “there’s really no reason why you can’t have both Dani. Sometimes we think we’re happy with one dress but then another one catches our eye, and honestly trying something else on isn’t going to change anything dear.”
“Yeah, except my bank account,” Dani thought.
There was the sound of wind on chimes but in a fake, metallic way and Lucy’s mom answered her phone. Dani turned around and amused herself by imagining herself cloaked in a tasteful shroud of misty pink singing a duet with the teacher from “Glee.”
“No, honey, I won’t be home for dinner tonight. I’m dropping Lucy off in few hours but then I have a meeting with my book club, didn’t I tell you before?”
Dani was twirling and twirling and belting at the top of her swanlike soprano lungs.
“Yes ‘The Scarlet Letter.’ No that’s Gale Hawthorne, entirely wrong book Dave. Anyways, we’re meeting again on Thursday so I won’t be home then either. There’s hamburger helper in the pantry though.”
She wasn’t quite sure what pulled the curtain on her rose-tinted reverie, but Dani was now watching Lucy’s mom, looking past her own surfboard body through the reflection of a full-size mirror in the store. A sly smile was tugging at the corners of her lips that made
Dani’s stomach uneasy. Then Lucy’s mom said her goodbyes and snapped her cell phone shut before looking up and finding Dani, head cocked and staring back at her. Suddenly, Lucy was back, her cheeks puffed up and pink and the zipper on her dress caught in the folds of her back fat.
“Momma it won’t fit,” she whined and her mom went over to fiddle with it.
“Did you ask for a bigger size?”
“Yes Momma but the lady said this was the only one in stock.”
“Well, we’ll see about that after I’m done talking with her.” Lucy’s mom flounced away after the unfortunate boutique manager but stopped and looked back at Dani. “Did you say that wanted to try something on, Dani?”
For the first time since stepping into the posh place, Dani took in the carousel of colorful dresses and felt a dizzying power course through her.
“Sure Mrs. Esposito, if you insist.”