Zombie Town

December 24th, 1872

"Mother, I think I have enough," I said, merely coughing on face powder as I pushed the puff in her hand away from my face. I turned in the chair to see myself staring me in the mirror. In it's reflection, I saw my mother smile. 

"You look stunning," she said, clamping her hands together, pleased with her and Judith's work. 

I admired the curls framing my face, and gently touched it with my fingers. They sprang about, and I was secretly pleased by how beautiful they came out. Dressing up and looking my best wasn't my favorite thing to do, but tonight was an exception. 

Our house maid, Judith came scurrying over and placed something in my hair.

"What is this?"

"It's your mother's," she replied in her soft, smooth voice which reminded me of bells singing out into the air. 

I turned to my mother. "It was a a gift given to me by your grandma and now it's yours. I hope that you will pass it down to the next generation, and then the one after that, and the one after that," she explained, drifting off into her thoughts. 

I took it out of my hair and examined it. It was a hair clip, in was in the shape of a rose, finely detailed with soft petals spiraling outward. Red rubies dotted the outline of the flower, simply adding pure magnificence. 

Judith grabbed it from me and put it back into my curled updo. 

"What about the dress?" 

"Oh! It's in the closet. Judith, be a dear and fetch it for me." When she returned, she gave it to my mother, and she presented it to me. 

It was the most elegant thing I had ever seen. The dress was red, dark red, lined with pearls around the collar. The waist was accentuated by a ribbon, making a bow in the back of it which then led to lace on top of the silk fabric on the lower part of the dress. Pearls lined the back and the dress showed little shoulder. 

"It's... beautiful," I whispered, not able to take my eyes off of it. 

"I knew you would love it. Now let's get you ready, we have to leave soon," mother replied, and shooed Judith off to help Margret get ready. 

She tied the corset so tight that it was hard to breathe for a while, but then I adapted to it. She slid the fabric over my body, placed shoes on my feet, jewels around my neck and ears. 

I looked in the mirror once more, taking it all in. I felt beautiful. 

"Justine, let's go!" father called. He had probably been waiting for a long time for us to be ready. 

I scurried down the stairs and put my coat on. 

"Once last thing," mother said as she puffed powder in my face for the one hundredth time. 

We hopped into the carriage and went on our way.

Every year, the mayor threw a Christmas banquet, which was held in his lovely home. Everyone from in Holdenburg was invited, the blacksmith, bakers, the locals. 

My mother believed that since I was sixteen, a full grown woman, she should dress me up like a doll. I wasn't interested by fashion or beauty, but somehow my mother opened me up to a new door. 

Besides, I shouldn't have felt self conscious, it was party, it would be fun! There would be dancing, music, and big feast full of ham, turkey, potatoes, salads, everything! 

Our carriage came to a stop in front of the mayor's house. It was huge, with long, chunky white columns and a pointed roof. 

"Welcome McCauls! You all look quite stunning this evening. Thank you very much for coming. Go on inside and grab yourself a glass of wine," the mayor said as we exited from our carriage.