Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [68]
Lil stepped into the closet. “What are you doing in here so long?”
“Barring a miracle, I’m still taking Addison to the ballet, and I don’t know what to wear. Do you have any ideas?”
“Yes! I do.” Lil dove into her side of the closet and came out holding a black outfit. “Here it is. You can wear this.” She held it against her own form, doing the garbanzo dance.
Katy touched the slinky black skirt and its matching top. “It’s gorgeous. Where did you get it?”
Lil colored slightly and shrugged. “I had to attend a formal affair at school. Try it on.”
“Oh I couldn’t. It’s way too glamorous. You know I’ve never worn anything like it. No,” Katy protested.
“Is that what you’re going to say on your wedding day? There are certain occasions when you need to raise the…ah, notch a bit. You don’t want them turning you away at the door, saying, ‘Sorry, ma’am, the performance hasn’t started yet. Cleanup starts at 11:30. Come back then and don’t forget your bucket.’”
Katy burst into laughter. “I was thinking the exact same thing.” She held the skirt in one hand and the hanger with the top in the other. It is modest, except for …” She hung the skirt up and examined the top closer. “I’ve never worn this type of neckline before.”
“It’s not a low neckline. Try it on.”
Katy faltered, wondering what it would feel like to wear the slinky expensive fabric against her skin. She was thankful the color was basic black. With her dark hair, she’d probably just fade into a shadowy corner somewhere. Yes, every eye would be on Addison, and this might help her maintain a respectability, the invisible air she sought when operating in the outsider’s realm. “All right.”
Lil helped her slip into the dress. “We need a full-length mirror in here.” Impulsively, she said, “I’m splurging on one this week. Then you’ll have it in time for the ballet. I’ll get Jake to install it. I’ve got an idea.” She left and then toted a kitchen chair to the bathroom. “Climb up on this so you can see yourself in the mirror.”
Katy’s pulse slammed in her throat when she saw herself. Her figure had transformed into a pleasing hourglass. But the formal attire also maintained a sophisticated modesty. Lil urged, “Hold your hair up.” With a nervous giggle, Katy piled her hair atop her head. It flopped to the side, smashing her covering, but she’d fix that later. “Some red lipstick and my black nylons and nobody will ever notice you,” her friend teased, reading her mind. “It really makes your eyes smolder.”
Ignoring the eye comment, for folks had always raved about her eyes, Katy whispered with awe, “It’ll be perfect.”
“Not quite.” Lil grabbed a fistful of material at the waist. “It needs just a little tailoring. And we definitely need to go shoe shopping.”
“Oh I don’t know. That looks too tight, doesn’t it? I don’t want to ruin it for you.”
“We can baste it, and we’ll remove it afterward.”
“Surely I have some shoes that will go?” But Katy’s voice trailed off for she knew she didn’t have anything worthy of the occasion.
“We’ll find you some shoes you can wear to church, too. And afterward, we’ll drive downtown and locate the theater and check out the parking situation. Forewarned, and all that.”
Feeling a catch in her throat, Katy climbed down and hugged Lil. “Thanks. You’re the best. This has just been eating at me, terrifying me. Maybe now I’ll be able to endure the whole experience.”
“And you won’t have to join the cleanup committee,” Lil added with a glint in her eyes.
Katy held Addison’s hand and stared at the scrolled billboard. Cinderella. “This is it,” she announced to Addison, feeling as if she’d swallowed a glass slipper. A street policeman standing on the corner raised his hand to stay the traffic, and Addison plunged them into a jostling, crowded crosswalk that whisked them directly in front of the Ohio