Day 259

Writing Exercise

…

That was it, she realised, the dress was torn and there was nothing to be done.

It made no sense to her why Brenda Cartwright and her group of mean girls would want to wreck any chance of her appearing at the Prom because she had no date, and she wasn’t going to stay long. The dress, well, she had found it at a shop where there were a few old dresses, and she had used her dressmaking skills to improve it.

It hardly competed with Brenda or any of them. They had rich parents.

It was a slow walk from the front door to the bus stop outside the school. She had arrived late anyway and was the last to arrive. Oddly, Brenda had been waiting for her.

Again, why?

About ten minutes passed, while she debated with herself whether she would call her brother or her father. Her mother didn’t drive at night. Perhaps best if she didn’t. Her brother would go in and probably get arrested for assaulting Brenda. Her father would also make a ‘scene’ and be told to leave. No point in either of them coming.

Then a stretch limousine pulled up at the bus stop. The driver got out and opened the passenger’s door. She hadn’t seen the cart before, and she was intrigued.

“Milly? What aren’t you inside with the others?”

“Jason. The Mayor’s son. I used to attend the school but left mid-year to attend another one. Or perhaps it was because he was accused of beating up Roger Richardson, the school bully. And best friends with Brenda.

“Had a run-in with Brenda.” She showed him the rip in the dress and that it was irreparable.

“She hasn’t changed then?” He sat down beside her.

She ignored that and asked, “Why are you here. You left.”

“I did. But someone sent me a message to say it would be to my advantage if I turned up. How could I turn down such an offer? Perhaps it was you?”

“Me? No. Don’t care much. Last year and all, college awaits.”

“Still want to go?”

She looked him up and down. “In this?” The dress was ruined.

“I think we can do something about that. There’s a box in the car. You can change into it; no one will see you, and Jenkins will stay outside and ensure your privacy. I’ll wait here.”

“No tricks?”

“Definitely.”

It was a difficult choice. She didn’t really trust anyone, but it seemed too good to be true. Just a quick look then. How could he possibly know what side she was, anyway?

“Alright. No peeking.”

“You have my word.”

She gave Jenkins a long, hard stare, then peered through the windows but couldn’t see in. She shrugged and got in the back. She shut the door and looked over the other side at the box.

A dress box with red ribbon.

She took off the lid, and there was the most exquisite white dress she had ever seen. A very expensive dress.

Then, with a sigh and a shrug, she changed into it. If they were peeking, they would only see her in her underwear. which was rather old-fashioned.

10 minutes after getting in, she got out, stood and smoothed out the invisible wrinkles, and found that it fitted perfectly.

“How did you know my size?”

“Your fairy Godmother told me.”

“How long have you had it? You could not have got something like this in the last hour or so, so what is this all about?”

“It was simply an idea I had a while back. I was going to ask you to the prom, but I didn’t get around to it, and then my father dragged me out of school. I was always coming back, and was on my way to see you at home, but again it was too late. I saw what Brenda did, and then just waited, trying to work up the courage.”

“All you had to do was ask. No one did.”

“If only I had the courage.”

“Well, now you have to ask me.”

He took a deep breath and then said, “Millicent Thayer, would you go to the prom with me?”

She smiled. “Of course I would. if only to see Brenda’s face. She’s going to have a pink fit.”

It might be more than that. I had told her the last time I’d seen her that if I ever returned, her family and she, particularly, were going to be in a great deal of trouble. It had taken an army of private investigators, but I’d finally got proof she was responsible for what happened to my sister, and the reason why we left.

Two state police cars went past, on their way to the school.

That was my cue.

“Then let’s see what a pink fit looks like.”

…

©  Charles Heath  2025