The Life of Esther Jameson

Chapter Ten

June 16, 2015

So, the dance is today.

"Ow!" I jerked my head forward away from the clutches of my attacker.

"Lose the whining or I'll burn a hole in your head with this curling iron," Miriam waved the weapon threateningly.

I slumped back into the chair and crossed my arms. "Honestly, this is more painful than it looks in the movies."

"The movies aren't real," she assured me and curled another strand of hair. "Besides, you'll look more amazing than any of those actresses."

My eyes threatened to roll at the cheesy statement but I kept it under control. Miriam was doing this for me and I couldn't even sit still for a simple thing like curling hair.

"Can I come in?" Jackson knocked and opened the door a crack.

"Absolutely not," I declared as Miriam said, "Yes, of course."

Jackson opened the door and two other tiny heads bobbed into my view. The next thing I heard was two high pitched screams.

"JACKSON THERE'S A WEIRD LADY IN AUNTIE MIRIAM'S ROOM!" Jenny yelled five octaves higher than usual.

I almost fell out of the chair from laughter, but Miriam held me fast like I was on a leash with the curling iron of mischief.

"Stay still; I only have a couple of sections left," Miriam mumbled while concentrating on the rest of my thick brown and blue mane. After about 10 minutes, she set the iron down on the counter of her vanity and grabbed a bottle of hairspray. I shivered slightly at the feeling of the mist tickling my skin and nearly choked on the alcohol-like fumes of the product. She put the can down and took a few steps backwards to examine my appearance. "Ah, we can't forget this."
She fished around the counter for the silver chain with my mother's ring hanging on it. Miriam stepped behind me and hooked the chain around my neck. She squeezed my shoulder lovingly and smiled at me through the mirror.

"You're ready," she cooed and open the door for me to exit. I sat in the chair and stared at myself through the mirror as if I was seeing someone totally new.

"Esther, I think you look pretty." Luke touched my arm gently like he was afraid the spell would break.

"Thanks, Luke," I smiled and hugged him. "But I don't think Miriam's done."

"That's right, now shoo." She gestured more to Jackson than anyone else. He had stayed silent the entire time, for reasons I couldn't decipher.

Miriam eventually promised Jenny that she could come back in later and shut the door. "I wish your dad were here to see you looking this beautiful."

"We're not done yet," I reminded her and gestured to the mass of fabric that was my dress. She grabbed it from the bed. As she held up the dress, I felt the same breathlessness as when I first saw it.

She undid the zipper on the side and helped me slip inside the delicate fabric. I relished at the returning feeling of the dress enveloped around my body. By this time, I was beginning to tear up at the thought of my mom being able to see in this way; it was always a dream of hers to send me off to a school dance.

"I wish my mom was here to see this," I said quietly. Miriam hugged me from behind and rubbed my shoulders.

"So do I, honey."

"Thank you so much, Miriam." I turned around and hugged her more gratefully.

"Anything for my daughter." She smiled and gently caressed my hair.