Chapter 9
The upcoming fall dance was all anyone talked about at school. At lunch, Tavia and Amber insisted I go.
“Not many of us go as couples. We mainly go as a group. It’s more fun that way because you’re not tied to any one guy!” Tavia was exuberant and while she was talking she flipped through a fashion magazine. She pointed to a strapless number and said, “That’s the one. I’ll have my mom order it when I get home.”
“There aren’t many places to find dresses around here,” Amber pointed out.
“Where are you getting one?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I’ll just wear the one I wore last year.”
All of a sudden I heard someone shout, “Boo!” Startled, I jumped a little.
Reece laughed and wrapped his arms around me. “Didn’t mean to scare you!”
“Sure you didn’t,” I teased sarcastically.
“We’re discussing plans for the dance,” Amber explained.
Amused, Reece turned to me. “Are you going?”
“Of course she is!” Tavia stated.
I am?
Acquiescent, I confirmed. “I guess that settles it, count me in.”
“You’ll save a dance for me, right?” Reece winked at me but I didn’t react to him since I spotted Lacey across the room. She was looking this way but she was studying Amber and there was something about her expression that made me think she was lonely, or longing.
“Don’t even go there,” Tavia warned. “She keeps to herself.”
“She’s pleasant enough,” Amber interjected. “She talks to me whenever she gets the chance.”
“That’s because you’re the nicest person in school,” Tavia praised. “Everyone likes you.”
“I haven’t given her much thought,” Reece added. “She seems pretty severe.”
At that point I began paying too much attention to my food. I didn’t want her thinking that we were gossiping, which is exactly what we were doing. When I looked her way one more time, she was looking right at me but I couldn’t gauge her expression.
I ate in silence for the next few minutes and randomly listened to various conversations around me but I didn’t join in any of them. I noticed when Lacey got up to leave and as she came near our table I kept my head down but saw that she was wearing Grecian sandals. Her toenails were painted a startling silver and then she stopped. I looked up long enough to see that she was gazing down at Amber and asked if she could talk to her. Amber stood up and they left the cafeteria together.
Tavia took that opportunity to walk over to a boy who had, minutes before, very nearly tripped when another guy stuck his foot out in front of him. He lit up when he saw her and too quietly for anyone else to hear, began talking with her. I turned back to the table and noticed Reece watching me. The silence, which was usually so comfortable to me, was awkward so I excused myself and walked to class.
That evening I brought up the dance to Anne who was trying to make a decorative design on the pot pie she was making. Anne couldn’t cook but she tried. Discouraged, she slammed the fork down on the counter and exclaimed, “Dammit, why can’t I do this?” Anne wasn’t known for her patience.
I took a look at the mess, concealed my amusement, and offered to help. I demonstrated with two fingers how to crimp the edges of the crust so they looked nice. I also cracked an egg and added a little water, scrambling them together to make an egg wash. I fumbled around in Anne’s kitchen drawer until I found the right utensil and brushed the crust with the wash.
“It’s a simple design,” I said. “But it’s fast. I like using a wash since it gives sheen to the crust. Dad taught me.”
Anne’s face softened. “He was the better cook,” she recalled fondly.
I nodded in agreement and decided to change subjects. “A dance is coming up.”
She raised her eyebrows inquisitively. “The fall dance...I attend every year.”
“I would like to go but I don’t have anything to wear,” I said apologetically. I didn’t want Anne to spend too much money, or worse, feel obligated to.
“Oh,” she said; her tone dropping with curiosity. “Don’t worry about that! We can find something online.”
Fed-ex and UPS were always delivering packages to Anne; she loved to shop and had impeccable taste. Me on the other hand...I stuck to basic colors because I couldn’t figure out what looked good together. Changing course she exclaimed, “Wait, I have the perfect dress!”
She hurriedly put the pie in the oven, wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and took me by the hand and led me upstairs. She opened her closet and fumbled around until she found what she was looking for. She pulled out a long black and white dress.
“Oriental Cheongsam,” she proudly showed off. “Of course it doesn’t fit me anymore but I could never get rid of something so beautiful.” She held it out for me to take.
The dress wasn’t what I had in mind, it was better. Its elegance was timeless.
“What size is it?”
“Try it on, try it on,” Anne urged. “If it needs to be altered we can have that done.”
Minutes later I came out of the bathroom partially zipped up and barefoot. Anne looked very pleased, “My word, you look stunning. It’s as if the dress was made for you.”
“Really?” I asked. She nodded cheerfully and zipped me up.
I admired the dress as I ran my hands across the silken fabric. “I promise I’ll take good care of it.”
Anne looked thoughtful. “I know you will, but it’s yours now.”