#Chapter 31: A Change in the Program
So, I go to look for a dress. Quite a number of them are very pretty.
When I hold them up in front of me, it still feels weird to look at myself and imagine me in them. But…I do want to try them on.
However, the price tag is simply too much. Even the seemingly simple ones are $138 to rent, which leaves me overbudget and unable to get literally anything else for this party. Since I’ve no intent to buy, I feel like it’d be a bad idea to try them on.
Meanwhile, Hailey finds her dream dress. It’s still royal blue, but instead of airy sleeves, they’re lace and skin–tight. It’s Queen Anne neckline looks great against her skin, and somehow, this dress seems to completely ignore her tennis shoes.
“Yes,” she proclaims. “This is definitely the one.”
Seeing her in the dress, my heart burns with jealousy. But, that just motivates me, making me want to look just as nice if I can.
But, of course, nothing is in my budget still, I even finally admit it to Hailey, and she helps me look around for something, apologizing all the while. Though, I really don’t want her to feel guilty.
As we keep looking, my gaze slides over to a rack tucked in the back of the store. It appears to have some of the only dresses you can buy instead of rent. The other buy options are at the front and entirely out of my budget.
But these back here are on clearance. Moreover, checking one of them shows a very, very acceptable $39 price tag.
It’s not suitable for a black–tie optional event, no. But maybe with some tweaking…
I keep searching through the deeply discounted dresses, ideas slowly forming in my head. When I stop sliding the hangers across the round rack, I stop on The Dress.
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#Chapter 31: A Change in the Program
Rather, it’s not The Dress yet. But I know what to do to make it.
I check the price tag. $40.
Perfect.
+25 Bonus
Hailey takes me to a local sewing and hobby shop. There, I find cloth that’s almost the exact same as The Dress, some red lace, elastic, and net fabric. I buy as much as I estimate
I’ll need.
$46. Plus $40, that’s $86. Then, there’s the shoes.
I can’t do too much to style up shoes myself since I don’t have much experience with them. So, I decide to use the rest of my budget on them to make sure I get nice ones.
We stop by a shoe store, and while Hailey tries a few on, I sketch the dress idea I have on a
piece of paper. Letting it sit in my head for too long might cause it to disappear.
Once done, I look for shoes that will match them. Thankfully, it doesn’t take very long. It helps that I’m not super picky about them either.
$32 for the shoes. $118 in total.
If I can make this work, then my entire outfit altogether will be within budget.
Though Hailey had planned for us to hang out after shopping, I have to get home and get started. She understands and leaves me to it as I rush inside my house and head to the
living room.
Mom used to make my outfits for my plays. I started learning how to do it with her. So, all I need to do is pull my skills together and make this dress the thing I want by Saturday.
I start working on it obsessively, measuring myself, then sinching in the waistline with elastic to make it an A–line dress. Then I start sewing the 3–D flowers, pricking my fingers a few times until I get the hang of it again.
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+25 Bonus
It’s a bit like waking up an old machine or moving an old muscle. After a bit, something seems to clear and freshen up, making each action easier to complete. Pretty soon, I’ve finished the first flower, and I quickly start on the rest.
Much like theatre and acting, I’m a big fan of sewing and knitwork, though more of a sewing person. I’ve made stuffed animals, repaired torn clothes, and even made my own skirts. I don’t really think they’re the best, but other people seem to think they’re at least decent since they don’t notice I didn’t buy them.
My mom is, of course, better at it than I am. Still, she’s somewhat passed some of her skills to me, which I’ve never been more grateful for before now.
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I get into the zone after a while, hyperfocused on sewing and making the flowers. I don’t
even notice when Mom gets home and goes to her bedroom to take a nap before making dinner. Even after she gets up later and heats the food, I’m still so intent on my work that I
don’t realize it.
My mind only snaps back to the present after Mom claps once, startling me.
“I’m sorry… I really did try calling your name. Several times. But, baby, it’s been five hours. C’mon and eat.”
“Eh?”
“Five hours. Please come eat.”
I look down at the flower in my hand, almost finished, then I gaze back up at her.
“But…”
“Your puppy eyes won’t work on me this time, Cynthia.” She crosses her arms, an exasperated smile on her face. “We’ll eat… And then, if you’ve already finished your homework, would you like me to take a look at the dress?”
I would love that.
“…Aren’t you tirrr–tired, though?”
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She sighs, getting a faraway look on her face that says she’s going to say something
sardonic, a rarity from her.
“When you get to be my age, honey, you’re always tired.”
“So rrr–reassuring,” I grumble, standing up.
+25 Bonus
I do it a little too fast and wobble, my blood sugar too low. She raises her eyebrows at me as if saying “I told you so.” I try not to look at her, embarrassed.
Still, I can’t really stay embarrassed when I see she’s made meatloaf and spinach. I really must’ve been zoned in on the dress if I didn’t notice her making something like this.
As we eat, I tell her what’s going on and why I’m working on a dress.
“Why didn’t you ask me for any money?”
“I mean…” I trail off, not really having an answer. Eventually, I shrug.,
“Well, it’s alright. But are you sure you didn’t want to rent a dress?”
“Forrr $130? I don’t want to pay that much for sssomething I can’t even keep.”
She snorts, covering her nose and mouth. I can’t help but smile a little, looking back at her.
Mom and I don’t really look a whole lot alike. Her hair’s auburn while mine is an earthy brown. While I have amber eyes, hers are a soft blue.
Our jawlines are different, too, and it’s not something I can say I got from Dad. After all, Mom was honest with me a while back. I know I’m adopted.
Even so, I can’t imagine a mom that’s different from her. I grew up with her from the time I was a baby, before I could even remember things properly. She’s always been here with me, and despite not being genetically related to her, she’s definitely my mom.
Two days later, with the dress nearly done, I send Alex a text.
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“wear red plz?”
I wait anxiously. Then, he replies.
“yeh cool 🙂”
“thnq”
“no worries bb”
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My cheeks heat up a bit at the endearment, though I know he’s just saying it to make us seem more serious than we actually are. Since I like him, though…I guess I can enjoy it at
least a bit.
Sighing, I look up at the hanger that has The Dress on it. It took a lot of effort from Mom and me, with me doing most of it since I wanted to learn. But now, for all intent and purposes, it’s done.
I really, really hope it’ll work out nicely.
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