A new beginning

The Dance is finally here

Megan and I woke up this morning excited, there was so much to do. I hurried into the wash basin, I looked at my appearance in the mirror. I turned cheek to cheek, nope no difference considering what had happened last night. I was praying each step that Grandma wouldn't notice what happened last night. As I took the last step down, she called my name" Elizabeth Marie Walters! come here this instance!"

I stopped in my tracks" Oh no she knows, Coming Grandmother!"

I walked into the kitchen" you called?" I looked at my grandmother and she was red as a tomato, I cringed" who told you?"

Annie looked at her granddaughter" told me what?"

I was stunned " well you are red as a tomato so you look mad about something."

Annie laughed" that is from the hot stove that I have been boiling your bath water in."

Relief flooded through me, she didn't know there is a God. Megan climbed up from the cellar and handed my grandma a scented bar of soap. I smiled " smells like roses on a hot summer day,"

Megan winked at me " Well we can't be smelling like dust and farm life can we?"

I laughed" no we can't, especially when it is the night we have been waiting for."

My grandma smiled" come now, here is the soap wash your hair down to your tip toes."

I smiled" yes Mame I will can't wait for this evening." Megan and Grandma left the kitchen to give me some privacy, I removed my wrapper and began to bathe.

After everyone had bathed, we sat in front of the fireplace in the livingroom. We dried our hair as we brushed it in front of the flames. Believe me or not but this much hair was hard to dry especially if it was thick like mine. We listened as my grandma would regale some stories about my mom. How every gentlemen vied for her attention, because she was so beautiful. I smiled as I pictured each tale my grandma would tell of my now gone mother. As the afternoon began to run along quickly it was time to start to dress.

I was in my chemise holding on to the bed post as Megan laced up my corset. The pain of beauty, I didn't dare breathe or sit down as the laces were pulled tighter. My breast that were already full to begin with looked as they were going to pop out the top of my chemise. Megan waited for her turn, I pulled the laces until she was snug and tight just like I was in her corset. We attached the bustles on our backsides, and tied them in place.

We then started the long process of putting ringlets in our hair. We piled it up on top and laced a ribbon through it and added some babies breath for effect. Then we put on our slippers and then our dresses. We smoothed out any wrinkles and pulled the material in to place. We powdered our faces and added some rouge to our lips and pinched our cheeks for added affect. We looked at each other and in the mirror at ourselves.

We were done and liked what we saw , My grandma walked in with her matrons dress on and whistled. I smiled" thanks grams, we think that you look fabulous also."

Annie smiled at her granddaughter" you are such a tease Lizzie, but you both look gorgeous."

We giggled " we know and hope those men hurry up, we are itching to dance."

Annie laughed " well it sounds as if they are coming down the drive right now, now stay here I want to see their faces as you come down to them." We giggled and nodded, it was going to be so much fun.

The guys were so excited to see us that we could hear them chatter to my grandma" Mrs. Anne Butler we are here to escort you, your lovely granddaughter and her friend to the dance at City Hall."