𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐘- 𝐏𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫¹

one | now is not the end

-ONE-

Magnolia Carter searched around the small apartment impatiently, while her mother stood at the window, seemingly lost in thought. Not noticing this, the 15-year-old girl sighed in annoyance, "Mum, have you seen my black Mary-Janes anywhere? They seemed to have disappeared." Upon noticing the faraway look on her mother's face, Magnolia froze and backed away, saying, "Okay, I'll just check if they've gotten mixed with Colleen's then..."

After a solid minute, Peggy snapped out of her thoughts and asked, "Did you say something, Nola?" The statement alerted the teen of her mother's attention and she replied, "I can't seem to find my black shoes. I can't come to the office without them, it'll be so improper."

Peggy chuckled at her daughter's antics, "Sweetheart, they're right next to your feet."

The teenager looked down, baffled to see her once-missing shoes sitting right next to her bare feet, "But they weren't there a second ago--" She replied, her jaw slack in astonishment. "Are you absolutely sure  that you haven't any powers? Because those shoes were not there a second ago."

"Maybe if you didn't get so worked up over something as small as shoes, you'd be more attentive about the things around you." Smirked Peggy, going to the bathroom to change her clothes.

Magnolia sat at the small table in front of the window, her brown eyes flicking towards the buildings which stood just outside, tarnishing the view ever so slightly with their spit-stained and chipped-brick walls. 

Peggy came out of the bathroom, all dressed and ready when the door opened. Magnolia yelped in surprise and fell off her chair. Peggy was just folding the bed up when Colleen sighed, "Don't bother." Startled at her response, the older woman exhaled, "Colleen-" 

"I can't feel my feet," Complained the blonde, "They let 10 girls go yesterday." She sneezed and Magnolia asked, "Did they say why?" 

"Because 10 more GIs got discharged. I had to show a guy from Canarsie how to use a rivet gun." She sniffed painfully and groaned, "Oh. I think I have tuberculosis." Peggy pulled out the blonde's dress and said, "Thanks, by the way. You loaned this to me last night while you were at work." Colleen scoffed, "It looks better on you." She put her feet up and took the fresh handkerchief offered by Magnolia before adding sneakily, "Kind of thing might really catch a man's eye...Say, on a date?" 

"Oh good lord, I am standing right bloody here!" The standing teen exclaimed in disgust. "Lia, tone." Warned her mother before adding, "Well, don't hold your breath, especially with tuberculosis."

"You know, there's a difference between being an independent woman and a spinster." Replied Colleen in a matter-of-fact tone. Peggy chuckled and peeked out from the closet as she grinned, "Is it the shoes?" 

"Clock out, pull the curtains, and sleep. Peggy's orders." Said the agent in a motherly tone. "Oh," Smirked Magnolia, "She pulled the 'Peggy's orders' card, Colleen. She means business." 

"Shut up, you." Peggy scoffed, jokingly. She pulled out a box of bullets from the drawer in the cupboard as Colleen reminded her, "If I don't see you, remember, we're going to the movies on Saturday. I have the night off." 

"I'll try," Sighed Peggy, beckoning Magnolia over so she could fix her hair. "You know how busy the office keeps me." 

"Peg, you work at the phone company," Grinned the blonde, "It ain't life and death."