love takes time | "only you & you alone"

ꜰᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ - 3

July Of 2022
07:30pm PST
:MADELAINE'S POV:
𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 2

"It was 1955, I was in college and had been asked to a party by a boy named Peter Martin. He was older than me, but I said yes anyways." Mamie seems to go into a trance as she recollects the memory of being in college.

' He was so sweet! All the girls in school were infatuated with him because he was a handsome football player. Y'know your classic jock. He had brown slicked back hair and the most mesmerizing blue eyes. When he asked me to the party, I was ecstatic. My girl friends were jealous but they were also excited. As soon as classes were over, we all went to a local boutique and they helped me get a dress. We tried on multiple dresses until I finally found the one; that beauty in the closet. It fit beautifully and made me feel unstoppable.

When it got closer and closer to the day of the party, I couldn't contain my excitement, I was telling just about everyone! The family, friends, even those I didn't know, knew just how excited I was. The night before I had put in my heatless rollers, set up my clothes and put my makeup I was going to use on my vanity then I got a call from Peter, he said he had rethought his asking of me to the party and was going with a girl named Mary Elizabeth, a popular blondie in his year, instead. To say I was upset was an understatement. I called my girl friends and told them what happened and they told me that we'd all go together instead. "No need for dogs, we've got each other." That's what my friend Beth told me.

So I took their advice and I went with my gals instead. We had a blast getting ready with each other and once we got to the party, we decided we were the prettiest girls there. We danced, chatted and what not. The band began to sing a slow song, I hadn't known it yet but turns out it was Only You And You Alone by The Platters. I didn't know who to dance with as the girls had been asked by some boys, so I sat down on a bench somewhere and watched the couples dancing together. That was until a handsome boy came up to me and asked me kindly if I'd like to dance. It was your Papy. '

My grandma stops her story as she tries to hold back her tears. My mom begins to rub her back, offering her condolences as Mamie shakes her head slightly.
"I'm alright, sweetie." She looks back at me and smiles.

' Anyway, I said of course because he was the only guy who looked at me as if he had seen the most beautiful person in the entire world. Even if it was the first time I had met him, he made me feel like we knew each other forever, like we were meant for each other. He held me all throughout the song and told me how it was crazy we never met before because he felt like I was perfect for him. Your Papy made it known after that day that he liked me, he sat besides me in classes I had with him, invited me places, and took me on a date. From then on, we were inseparable. That dress reminds me of just how much he loved me. '

Tears brim my eyes as Mamie finishes her story. My mom had leaned her head on Mamie's shoulder as she let the memory sink in. Papy made Mamie feel like the best version of herself and holding onto something that reminded her of him, made her feel lively and young. I look over at the closet, the beautiful green dress peeks out, the light from above it illuminates it like an angel. Mamie notices my gaze and places a hand on my arm. I look over at her, her face that was once full of sadness, now holds a look of excitement.
"Go on, Lanie, put it on."
I stare at her with shock, "Mamie no... I can't do that, it's too fragile, it's too important to you. What if I break-"
"Madelaine, it's okay, you're about the same size I was then and I can tell you're dying to see it on." She reaches over to the record, lifting the needle which stops the record from spinning. I look between her and my mother and they both give me approving looks. My mom seems more excited than me and that alone gets me to go over to the closet and close it behind me. I carefully turn the mannequin to the back, showcasing an invisible zipper that runs down the back of the torso part of the dress. I undress, then nicely place my clothes on a suitcase like container besides the mannequin.

After giving the dress one more look on the mannequin, I carefully unzip the dress and slide it up and off the mannequin. With the same careful treatment, I slip the dress on with no problem then zip the back of it. There is no mirror in here so I have to just go along with my head telling me it looks great. I open the door to the closet and I hear the song playing again. I walk out and stand in front of my mom and Mamie, they look at me with jaws on the floor.
"What? Does it look bad?" They both shook their heads at me before my grandma stands up, my mom follows her and they both guide me to the mirror by the front door. I stare back at my reflection and understand completely why Mamie fell in love with this dress. It fit like a glove and looks like it was molded for my body. I am not the one to have curves or an hourglass waist but this dress makes me look like a 1950s Barbie doll. From the neckline to the way it hits just below the knee like I imagined, it was beautiful. Even that was an understatement.

"Madelaine, you look absolutely beautiful." My mom spoke up after standing there in awe. I nod and while I don't want to seem conceded, I really do agree. I haven't felt like this in a while and putting the dress on makes me feel so confident and comfortable with myself. I know, it's just a dress but clothing really does have an impact on your confidence. This dress is exhibit A. I look back at Mamie with a smile.
"Thank you for letting me put it on. This was the exact confidence boost I needed." She smiles back before wiping the tears that had fallen from her eyes.

❀

09:00pm

After a while of the three of us admiring the dress, I change and Mamie and Mom prepared dinner. We ate and watched a rerun of I Love Lucy, the episode where Lucy gets trapped in a man's house after trying to steal a grapefruit from his backyard, before we all went to our separate rooms. Mamie has 2 spare rooms in her home so whenever we came over, mom would usually sleep in her own room and I in another. Mamie decorated my room beautifully, it was like living in a castle. The bed has a canopy, lace curtains frame the windows, the wallpaper was similar to the one in her living room but with pink and white flowers instead of the blue ones. Mamie also put an old white vanity in my room that is still in great condition.

I'm laying in bed as I began to think of the dress and Mamie's life in the 50s, she seemed to have so much fun and was so carefree. Music was full of love and happiness, people dressed nicely all the time, people described others in song and movies like they were the most precious thing in the world. It just seemed like a time that encouraged falling in love.

At this point I was starting to get tired, the thought of being in another time period stays at the front of my mind. The beautiful dress and Mamie's love story  also seem to surface my mind. Was I going to fall in love like Mamie and Papy did? Will I ever find my other half? Or was I just destined to be alone forever?

A small amount of fear comes to my head but I ignore it. I know my mind is just messing with me but I can't help but think if it's true. But as soon as I can even start to worry, my eyes feel heavy. I find myself drifting asleep quickly. Hoping that tomorrow, I don't feel so scared.

❀