Whispers of Regret

One

Beverly:

I remember the summer of 1935 like the back of my hand. We moved to Philidephia for daddy's business. I was so excited when I saw the beautiful scenery. I knew leaving my old town would be hard and I'd miss my friends but I knew they were one letter away. I remember momma and daddy being so excited for me to start my first job. It was the first week of us moving in at supper.

"Honey, I am so excited for you to start this job!" Momma chimed in.
"Yes, me as well." My dad said before whipping his mouth with a cloth napkin.
"I think it'll be good." I tell them smiling.
"You love reading and I think it will be a very fit job." Momma says smiling.
"I'm so proud." Daddy says smiling.
I smile before taking a sip of my water.
"May I be excused?" I ask.
"Yes, you have a big day tomorrow." Momma says.
I get up and push my chair in before walking up to daddy.
"Goodnight." I say kissing him on the cheek.
"Goodnight, princess." He says to me.
"Goodnight." I tell momma hugging her.
She hugs me and I walk up the staircase to my room.

I was so excited to work. Not for the money but for the experience. I remember going to bed, smiling so wide that my cheeks hurt.
The next day I woke up earlier than needed, taking my hair rollers out and spraying vavoom on my hair, I pulled on a brown and white button down dress that momma bought me. It was very flattering with my skin tone and eyes. I put on a light pink lipstick and white heels and walked down the stairs. I see momma writing in her notebook, her eyes meet mine and she smiles darlinginly.
"Oh, honey." She smiles wider.
"Does the dress look ok?" I ask looking down.
"It looks so darling on you." She tells me rising out of her chair.
She hugs me tight and pulls away, her hands still on my arms.
"Youre going to do great things." She tells me.
"Thank you, momma. Where's daddy?" I ask her.
"At a meeting on the other side of town, he'll be home right before you." She tells me.
I nod.
"Get going. The driver is outside." She tells me.
"Alright, love you." I say kissing her cheek.
"Love you." She says as I walk past her.
The driver opens the car door as I walk up.
"Looking lovely today, miss Beverly." Oscar, the driver says.
"Thank you, Oscar." I tell him before he shuts the door.
The drive is about a 15 minute drive from our home. I look outside the window at the scenery.
The car comes to a stop on town infront of a little store, surrounded by more stores. Oscar opens the door for me.
"Have a good day." Oscar smiles at me.
"You as well." I tell him.
I walk into the bookstore and see a taller brown headed woman.
"How can I help you?" She asks me.
"Im Beverly, Beverly Vanderbuilt." I smile.
"Oh, how lovely to meet you!" She smiles at me opening a small, hip height door for me to walk through.
"You as well." I tell her.
"Im Elizabeth Cushe. Owner of the store." She tells me, reaching out her hand to shake mine. I shake her hand in return.
"Now, I'll only be here today for training. After today you'll run the store by yourself." She tells me.
"Yes ma'am." I nod,
"We're not going to be really busy, we hardly ever are." She says shaking her head.
"How come?" I ask.
"Down the road there's a larger bookstore, they carry more than we do but people still visit." She tells me.
"I doubt their store is as cozy as this one." I smile.
"It's definitely not." She giggles.
Throughout the day we had multiple people come in and Elizabeth taught me how to do everything. A boy my age walked in, he seemed very nervous to talk to me and hung around a lot longer than needed.
"Today was busier than normal." Elizabeth tells me from behind the desk as I flip our open sign to closed.
"Really?" I ask.
"Yes, I guess a young beautiful face does the job." She winks at me.
"Thank you, but you're beautiful as well." I tell her,
"You're very sweet." She tells me.
"Who was that boy?" I ask.
"Alan Smith, very funny boy." She smiles at me.
I giggle and look out of the window.
"Is that your ride?" She asks me.
"Yes, but he doesn't mind waiting." I tell her.
"No, go ahead. Heres your key." She says setting it on the desk.
"Goodbye, Mrs. Cushe. Have a good evening." I tell her.
She smiles as I walk out of the door. To my left down the street I see the boy. He smiles at me and nods his head, I smile and get into the car.
I get home and have supper with momma and daddy, we talk about my first day and head up to bed.