One day in Brooklyn

Chapter 21

Adrian’s POV

Tomorrow is the big day, the concert! Vito told me that I have to stay home today and tomorrow so that he doesn't have to worry about me. After all he is really busy and needs some space to get ready. I spring out of bed and hurry down the stairs. Jo is sitting in the kitchen eating some sugary cereal and humming to a song that is playing on the radio. We use it more that the new television set because the radio is more popular.

"Pip squeak!" She yells my nick name with a mouth fool of milk and food that dribbles down her chin.

"Gross," I comment walking past her and grabbing a banana from the counter, it is slightly browning but I like it best that way.

"OOPS!" She yells smiling because she knows I hate when she talks with her mouth full "We are going shopping!" She says in a singsong voice as she twirls her perfect brown ringlets with her index finger.

"Really," I ask surprised. Our family may be one of the richer families but we don't go shopping for clothes often, especially Jo and I.

"Yes, silly! Now go get decent, I want to find cute clothes, NOW!" she yells again prancing around the conjoined living room and kitchen.

I skip back up the stairs and run to my room. I peek into Frank’s room and see that he isn't there; Mother must have taken him to work with her. I get into my room and put on some dark capris pants and a baby blue button up shirt. It fills the look that shop owners look for in people who have enough money. When my Mom told Vito we didn't have enough money she meant enough money to support more radiation, we are still rich, just don't have enough in the funds to give him radiation treatment. Most of the money we were providing was raised by charity. I find my brown hat with the bow on the side and put it over my curls. I adjust it in the mirror and make sure it looks right.

Once I am done I bounce downstairs and Jo hooks her arm through mine and pulls me out of the door. We walk down 51st street to our favorite boutique called Dresses for All Ages. The displays in the windows are long dresses that reach the floor and dresses that brush the knee. Jo pushes open the door and we walk inside the brightly lit store.

We browse for a while and Jo throws dresses at me that she thinks would look good. She grabs some of her own taste for herself and we go to the fitting room. The first dress I pull on is long and comes past my feet so that you can't see them. It has a long dark bodice with ruffles at the top and along the bottom. It does nothing for me so I take it off. I go through many others of different colors and shapes.

I have no more left so I decide to peek out. I see Jo wearing a gorgeous deep blue gown that drops past her waist and lands on the floor perfectly. It has waterfall beading up top and a pencil line skirt. The sleeves are small little poofs. She looks so beautiful I wish I could have found a dress that made me look that pretty.

"Wow that looks beautiful on you!" I comment giving her a once over.

"Thanks!" She exclaims smiling

"You're welcome, I didn't find anything." I say sadly

"Okay, we will look somewhere else." She says going back into the fitting room and taking off the dress. We go to the counter and purchase the dress. Behind the counter is a woman who seems a little older, maybe thirty or forty.

"Only one dress, there are two pretty girls here." She says beginning to price the dress.

"My sister here couldn't find a dress to fit what she was looking for." Jo explains adding an innocent look to the end for more leverage; I know what she is doing.

"Oh darling, Let me see, just hold on and I will look for the perfect dress." The clerk says smiling.

She goes through the dresses and directs me to sit in the dressing room. I am sitting in silence for fifteen minutes when I hear some mumbling outside. I only catch parts of the conversation.

Joanne's voice "Perfect."

The clerks voice "Grey. Plain. Will she like it?"

Then the door bursts open and Jo comes in followed by the clerk. She is holding a dress bag that doesn't let me see what the dress looks like. She slowly slips it out of the bag and I gasp at the sight before me. The dress is a peachy pink color. The satin dress is pinched up on the bodice so that it gives a ruffled feel. The skirt is sewn with netting underneath and layers of satin above that giving it the perfect poof. My favorite part is the high neck line with chiffon that sweeps over the shoulders, criss crossing in the back and flowing into the satiny folds of the skirt.

I put it on and it hugs my figure in all of the right places. It feels soft as the silky material rubs against my tanned skin. I smile at Joanne as I spin around. The skirt puffs up around me and it looks perfect. Jo smiles at me and I smile back.

"We'll take it." She says smiling at the clerk as she gives her the bag with the dress in it.

We walk out of the store with our shopping bags in hand. Now we are heading to the shoe store, what’s a new outfit without a new pair of shoes with it? We walk in and I immediately spot the perfect shoes. They are Baby Jane high heels the black and white leather matches the dress and makes the outfit perfect. Joanne picked out some heels that are black with a small strap that ties over the center of her foot.

When we are done we go home, excited to lay out our new clothes. When we get there I go up the stairs and hear humming from Mother and Father's room. I peek in and see that Mother is looking at a green dress that matches her eyes. It is long and silky, kind of like Joanne's.

"That would look great on you." I say smiling at her before going down to my room. I put the fine garment on a hanger and push it into the safe place at the back of my closet. I place my shoes in their box at the top of my closet where no creeping hands can take them. Then I go back downstairs. I pour myself a glass of water and eat some supper. When I am done I hear the front door slam making me shrink back into the shadows of the kitchen.

"I'm home!" My father's loud voice booms from the foyer. "Anyone home?" He asks angrily. I peek around the corner and see him standing flustered there. "Adrian I see you, get over here." He says menacingly.

I slowly walk out careful of what I do I say "Hello, Papa."

"Tell me why there are muddy shoe prints on the rug!" He demands

"I- I must have tr-tracked them i-in." I stutter nervously glancing at him.

"Clean them NOW." He booms so I go and grab a wet rag from the kitchen as my Mother stomps down the steps.

"Jeff, tell me why you are yelling at Adrian, what has she done to deserve the wrath of your after work anger?" Mother says concerned

"She tracked the mud all over our rug." He says his eyes like stone

"Okay, but I think she deserves an apology. She didn't deserve that, being that you tracked in the mud." Mother states from the living room.

"How dare you blame me!"

"Check your shoes."

"Oh." Father says ashamed.

I walk out of the kitchen and stare at them frozen.

"Sorry, Adrian, I miss accused you of bringing in mud, I shall clean it." Father says getting down on his knees and reaching for the rag which I hand him.

"You are forgiven." I say hopping up the stairs and running to my room. My Dad has taken the death of my older brother, Ben hardest. He has become another man which I guess is understandable but the man I used to know would have never pulled that scene right there, not in a life time.

The sun has gone down and the moon is out. I start to feel the signs of fatigue and change into a long silky baby pink night gown. I untuck the covers and snuggle up beneath them. I rest my head on the fluffy feather pillow and drift off to sleep.

I wake up to someone’s endless screaming. I jump up and run to Frank's room. My parent's door is shut as if they haven't heard him. I roll my eyes and dash into his room.

Little Frank is sitting on his toddler size mattress with tears running down his cheeks. I look at him with sympathy and wrap him in my arms. I carry him to my room and lay him in bed with me. I comfort him and help him to sleep. When he drifts off I do too and we sleep in peace side by side.