Lessons In Being A Flapper (27 page)

“Wait a minute. Who made you feel that way? No one should ever make you feel that way! You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Your quirks are what make you special and you should never feel any less than perfect as you are!” He was really incensed now, I could tell. I suppose we had never really talked about this when we were together. I was just so caught up in being with him and how he made me feel.

“It’s fine, Bayani. It was a long time ago and I’m over it. I think I’m still looking for that Fairytale ending but I’m not so sure that it’s in the cards for me anymore.”

“Well, I beg to differ. But, listen, I really have to go. It’s late here and I need to get some sleep. I’ll talk to you after the dance. Please promise me that you’ll take care of yourself tomorrow, too. It’s not about everyone else all the time. You need to do something for yourself sometimes, you know.”

“Yes,
MOM
!” I said, laughing at the fact that he was so protective of me and wanted the best for me. It was pretty ironic that he wanted all that but we weren’t together any more.

After I hung up I leaned back against the counter and continued mixing my cupcakes. I looked out my window and then down at the sleeping puppy by my feet.

“What should I do tomorrow, Clara? Dress up and join in the fun or stay by the side and watch everyone else find their happy ending?” A loud grunt made me laugh as I bent down to ruffle the soft fur on her head. “You got it right, sister. Sleep it all off and wake up when things are better.”

T
he day of the Valentine’s Day Ball had finally arrived and after weeks of effort I felt like everything was coming together perfectly. The package I was waiting for had finally arrived so I went down to the hall early to finish setting up. Everyone would be arriving around 4 o’clock for dinner followed by dancing and desert at 6 o’clock. Thanks to Marisol’s involvement, the dance had gotten a lot of publicity and there were over one hundred people attending. Though the media had slowly trickled off after our viral video, there were still some publications that were interested in what the 99-year-old dancing granny was up to. I was sure she would get even more work – if she wanted it – after the dance was over. I didn’t know if taking anything else on would be good for her though, seeing as she was still very weak and got tired easily. I’d have to talk to her about it at some point.

After bringing Clara to Marisol’
s I made my way over to the senior center. Luckily, Bernard had also taken a liking to Clara and often watched her for me. It made me happy to know that she could still spend time with Marisol – since they obviously adored each other – but that Marisol didn’t have to worry about chasing a rambunctious dog around her cavernous home.

As I headed to the hall,
I was a little nervous to see what the three gossiping divas had done with the place last night but I needn’t worry, it looked really beautiful. With just a few more touches here and there, it would be fully transformed into a place where couples could dance and singles could find love once again.

As I set to work, I thought of a conversation Marisol and I had when I returned from Australia sans Bayani. I was obviously deeply saddened that things hadn’t gone to plan but I knew that going there was a risk. Of course, Marisol put it all into perspective for me and told me that sometimes you just had to let things go. If they were meant to be, they’d be, and if not, well, it was time to move on and lay the past to rest. I put those words to work in all aspects of my life. I put all my past mistakes and trials and tribulations behind me and just kept on going. I had been trying to put Bayani behind me as well…until yesterday. Why did he have to call and upset the peace that I had finally found? I had accepted the fact that he wasn’t coming back and that we weren’t going to grow old together. I had accepted that he wouldn’t be the man I saw across from me in fifty years as we watched our grandchildren play on the grass in our yard. I had accepted it all…and then he called and my entire reserve came crashing down. I missed him more than ever today, on Valentine’s Day. It should have been a special occasion but instead it was one that made it pointedly clear how alone I really was.

When the decorations were all in place and the tables set, I closed the door to the hall and made an oath to myself. Today I wouldn’t be in mourning for what I had, I’d be happy that I even got to experience it in the first place. I would go home and get dressed and then come back here later on ready to enjoy the night like everyone else. Why shouldn’t I? I was young, single and free. I shouldn’t be shackled to feelings from the past. I should be glad that I had what I had and then move on to something new and better. I relied on my inner Flapper and all the lessons Marisol had given me over the past six months or so. I knew I could do this if I really put my mind to it.

I
got home around 1 o’clock and was just figuring out where I had stashed my best shoes when there was a knock at my door. I opened it, fully expecting it to be one of the ladies from the senior center telling me that my decorations had been horribly off-putting or some other disastrous news. Instead I found a middle-aged man in a uniform standing on my doorstep holding what appeared to be a garment bag.

“Miss Autumn Hayes
?” he said, squinting at a piece of paper on his clipboard.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Sign here please.” He handed me the clipboard without even telling me what I was signing for or who it was from. I asked as much but he said he had no information; he was only the delivery man. Some delivery man he was!

I took the bag inside and hung it up on my bedroom door before unzipping it to find a dres
s that literally took my breath away. It was a light pink color, with a sweetheart neckline and lots and lots of tulle on the bottom. It was strapless, which was a little worrisome but otherwise it was the most perfect dress I had ever seen in my entire 28 years on earth.

Attached to the package was a note that read:

Wear this tonight with your Dior shoes and your brooch. You’ll be the belle of the ball. Xx

No name or any sign of the store this immaculate piece of clothing came from, just those few words. I was really stumped as to who sent me this dress because it was so obviously not a piece you’d find in any store
locally. I could tell just by the detailing that this had to have been special ordered with me in mind. I couldn’t stop staring at it in disbelief.

Eventually I pulled myself away and began the process of getting ready. A dress like that couldn’t be worn with messy hair or no makeup. I had to pull out all the stops to make myself look as good as that dress looked han
ging on my door. I did my hair in a Flapper-esque style and added a dainty little diamond studded headband. I wore light makeup as to not take away from the beauty of the dress and slipped on my Dior heels. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized the person staring back at me. Whoever she was, she was gorgeous.

I felt a little silly stealing the spotlight since the dance really wasn’t about me but about the seniors in the community. However, I couldn’t help but smile at my reflection. I don’t think I
ever looked this amazing in my life!

Deciding that walking would be a dangerous task tonight in these heels and this dress – I’d look like I escaped from a Cinderella themed party – I decided to call for a cab but was shocked to find Bernard waiting outside my door at quarter to four.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. It was a stupid question in hindsight, because obviously he was here to pick me up. I got into the car as gracefully as possible, trying not to lose a shoe, or my confidence, in the process. Once I was fully in and my dress was situated, Bernard shut the door and got into the driver’s seat.

“You look stunning tonight, Miss Autumn. Radiant, like a flower that has finally bloomed.”

For some reason his words hit me and I started to tear up a little because in this dress that is exactly how I felt. I felt like I was the most beautiful girl in the world, heading off to meet her Prince Charming. I instantly let all the negative comments people had thrown at me over the years slide off my shoulders and felt lighter for doing so. It felt like everything had finally come full circle after so much pain and heartache. How one simple dress could make me feel so many emotions, was beyond me.

When we arrived at the senior center, I saw dozens of people milling around in evening wear. Everyone looked so glamorous and I was so happy to see them all out and about tonight. No one should be sitting home alone on a day that is all about love. Whether you’re
in a relationship or not, it doesn’t mean you can’t find love with your friends, family or complete strangers as we were all about to experience tonight.

When I stepped out of the car, I instantly felt all eyes turn to me. It was a weird feeling but I let myself relish in it for the moment. Fame was fleeting after all, so I better make the most of my fifteen minutes (if I even had that much time!) in the limelight.

“My God, don’t you just look amazing! Doesn’t she look amazing girls?” Kora asked. Nora and Dora instantly agreed and offered up compliments of their own like “Wonderful”, “Romantic” and “Sensational”.

“Thank you so much! You all look great yourselves. Are you hoping to find Mr. Right tonight?” I asked. It was obvious that the three women had put a great deal of effort into looking their best and all in all, they looked twenty years younger than they did when I met them at bingo so many weeks ago.

“Dear girl, we’re not looking for Mr. Right, we’re looking for Mr. Right now!” Nora said, as they all collapsed into a series of giggles like three young schoolgirls. I smiled at the fact that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves already and the dance hadn’t even started. Maybe a job in event planning would end up being my destiny…

We all piled into the hall and I could hear the echoes of “oohs” and “ahhs” as everyone took in the scene before them. I have to say that it was quite a scene.  I was able to recreate the roaring twenties to
precision and was thrilled with the result. My favorite era had finally come to life and it couldn’t have been at a better place or time.

I scanned the room for Marisol, but saw no sign of her. I figured that Bernard must be going back to pick her up now after he dropped me off. That was very kind of him, but he could have picked up Marisol at the same time as me. I think both our egos could have fit in the town car!

Since I was the only one here who had any authority, so to speak, I ascended the podium which was decorated with red and pink roses, and welcomed everyone to the first annual Valentine’s Day Dance. Cheers of applause and woots of excitement permeated the air and before I knew it, dinner was served.

I wasn’t sure what everyone would like so I took a poll one night at bingo and found that the elderly community had a liking for pot roast, tender vegetables and a buttered roll
or two. They were an easy group to please, it seemed.

After dinner, everyone chatted amicably as they waited for the tables to be cleared and the lights
to be turned down low. I watched from the sidelines as everyone shyly looked for a dance partner. Those who had come as a couple were already on the dance floor, cutting a rug, but those who came as a single person were waiting for someone to ask them for a dance. It was so sweet to watch the tender exchanges between an elderly man and woman who probably hadn’t dated in thirty or more years. I watched as Kora, Nora and Dora were paired off with equally glamorous men and then was slightly shocked to find a glamorous man of my own standing in front of me.

“You look remarkable, Autumn. Can I be the lucky man who has the first dance of the evening with you?” Fred, the 86-year-old retired salesman
from Northbeach asked. I took his hand and stifled a laugh as he curtsied in front of me before pulling me on to the dance floor with more force than I expected. I’d have to watch out for these older ones, they still had a lot of life left in them it appeared!

“Well, Fred. You certainly are surprising, aren’t you?” I inquired. “Quiet as a mouse at bingo but a real charmer on the dance floor!”

“What can I say? I’m a ladies man at heart!” he replied, continuing to twirl me in time to the music of Rosemary Clooney. Luckily, I had taken some more dance lessons over the course of the last few months and was able to dance slightly better than a newborn deer now. Just slightly though.

Once our dance concluded, I went back to the sidelines to see if I could spot Marisol. When I finally found her, I was shocked to see that she was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by Bernard. I ran over to her
, trying not to break down in tears as I did.

“Marisol! What happened?” I inquired.

“Chickadee, don’t you worry. I’m fit as a fiddle. My nurse thought that walking around would be too much for me and Bernard here agreed and then offered to be my minder for the evening,” she said, jerking a finger in the direction of her helpful staff. At this point, I saw Bernard as more than just staff. I think Marisol did too.

“Can I just say you look amazing, my dear? Your grandfather is so proud.”

“Thanks, Marisol. I don’t know where this dress came from but it’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it suits you perfectly.”

Our conversation was interrupted by a screen at the front of the room that had been showing people doing various twenties style dances. Suddenly it was filling up with hearts that looked like they were floating in thin air, it was really pretty to see. However, it wasn’t something that I had rigged to go up on the screen. Being myself, I worried that there was some sort of malfunction and people would be forced to watch Valentine’s Day smut in a minute.