Becoming Human

Third Scene

Exactly an hour later Phyllis knocked on Sophie's door as Amelia promised. Her sister ran a tight household, so even if her maid was more than a minute late Amelia would know about it. Even though she was young she was better at running her household than a woman who had been married for twenty or more years, and even when hosting small parties, it was an event.

She opened the door dressed in her robe which was made of silk. She wasn't used to all of this luxury and pampering, but Amelia insisted. Any time any of the family came to stay they received the royal treatment, and somehow, she was always talked about in society circles what a terrific host the young bride was and the Bordons were mentioned when high society families came to visit.

"Come on in," Sophie said as she opened the door for Phyllis.

The middle-aged woman marched into the room barking orders. "Miss Sophie, this will not do," she said and took the young girl's hand. "We cannot attend a party dressed in a leisure robe."

"I wasn't intending..." but before she could finish her sentence the woman was removing the robe. And beginning the ritual every woman went through to get ready for a party. Sophie was reminded why she hated fancy parties. She could barely breathe and the dress wasn't even on her yet.

Phyllis treated her like some life-size doll that wasn't even alive, ignoring when she spoke about how uncomfortable she was.

"Phyllis, please, I can barely breathe," she said as she put the dress over her head.

"Don't worry, a young lady can breathe after she's married."

Sophie had a feeling that it was going to be a long night. Phyllis gave her a once over. "That hair will not do," she said, moving her head back and forth while her fingers were tapping her chin. "Young men don't like young ladies with messy hair."

She had her hair in two ponytails, one on either side of her head. Phyllis climbed up on the stool and forcefully released her hair from the two pink ribbons that held them in place.

Sophie had a brush in her hand and attempted to brush out her wild hair. She tried to curl her hair like her sister did hers but it didn't turn out just right. She looked in the mirror to see what Phyllis was doing to her. She was accomplishing things with her hair Sophie had never been able to do. She used some strange gel that stiffened her hair to the point it barely moved and put the back into an up-sweep with a few curls hanging free and jammed a metal comb into her head to keep the hair in place.

Sophie made a high-pitched squeal because of the pain Phyllis was causing her, but she ignored her cry and continued working. She turned her around and styled the front and looked back to observe her work.

"All we need now is a ribbon," she said.

"I have one," Sophie announced and took a few steps to her vanity table and picked up the blue ribbon with a white lace trim.

It looked like just an ordinary piece of ribbon but it was special to Sophie. It had belonged to a girl named Jenny that she had met years before. She always meant to give it back, but she never had the chance.

She handed it to Phyllis. "This will do," she said and intertwined into her hair twisted it in making it look like a braid. Sophie had never worn it that way before, but she had to admit that it did look nice.

Next, she put some powder on her face along with some rouge which made her look more sophisticated, much like her sister and her high society friends.

"Let's look at you now," Phyllis said and studied Sophie from head to toe. "It is an improvement."

That was a best compliment she was going to get out of Phyllis. Sophie looked over at the clock and saw that it was five minutes before the hour, and as uncomfortable as she was she would endure it so she wouldn't disappoint her sister.

She walked out of her room ready to face the evening, no matter what was going to happen.