Old Money Madness

9. Water Bound Princesses

"Miss what's on the docket today?"

"Dox has his brother's birthday party or something today, so we have the day free."

"What's the plan then Doll?"

"I want this summer to be a no bra, mango chapstick, windows down, wet hair, sun rises, and all around a cheesy 90s movie with a cool as fuck soundtrack type of summer."

"Makes me feel like I'm 17 again."

"Exactly, this summer we aren't in our 20s, we are fresh faced, numbed to this bastard child of a world, young teenagers."

"Doll, does this have anything to do with, trying to escape your grief?"

"No. This is how I am. I process things by moving on. I'll cry when I sleep, but when my eyes open, I want to be happy again."

"Alright, then what are we doing today?"

"I don't know. You want to walk around town for a bit. Make the whole thing spontaneous?"

"Sure. Let me grab my sweater and we can go."

Daisy stood like a soldier awaiting her battle orders. Her apron was iron pressed and her hair in a tight bun. I shot her a smile and she got nervous. Whenever my mother smiled at her it meant that an inhumane request was coming. I'm hoping to changed that habit, I want her to smile back.

"Daisy."

"Miss?"

"Get changed. Today's your off day and you're coming with us."

"Do you need something while you're out?"

"Nope. I want you to go up to your room. Change into the jean shorts I've left on your bed and take the tight bun out of your hair. You're going to have fun with us."

"Miss that's not appropriate-"

"It wasn't a request Daisy." I smiled.

After about 15 minutes of begging Daisy to just wear the jean shorts we climbed into my car and headed into town. I gave Mars a refreshed tour of the town and pointed at random things I thought she'd enjoy.

"So that's the store where I saw a man yelling at his reflection and screaming 'bring back the leg warmers you stuck up hoes' while he stripped."

"What'd you do?"

"Tipped him, what else?"

"You encouraged the bad behavior Miss." Daisy lectured.

I rolled my eyes and turned up the radio. I raised one hand above my head to let it get warmed by the sun. My hair was a wild mess, and everything about this moment seemed to be perfect. When the song came to an end I saw a store at the corner.

"Ball gown shopping."

"That's what you want to do? You never liked shopping."

"Because my mother made me look like a constipated Russian doll that ate all the other ones. Let's go."

"Why do you want to buy ball gowns?"

"Because as Kate Spade says, 'Playing dress up starts at age five and never truly ends.'" I smiled hopping out of the car.

Inside was wall to wall dresses of all colors and sizes. Large windows let in a surreal amount of sunlight. The place was a plain white with crystals all over the place, spilling onto every surface to cast millions of tiny rainbows.

I walked up to a rack and pulled off numerous dress not paying attention to anything other than the size. Once both arms were full I looked back to my two friends to see their mouths left opening still trying to process the understated beauty of the store.