The Able Sisters

Chapter 28

Winter was soon upon the city. It was cold again, and a light snow covered the top of rooftops and lamp poles. Label had managed to get through another holiday season without her family, and she was thrilled to be able to start the new year on a more positive note.

Something was up the moment she stepped in to Shampoodle. Harriet had been acting distant lately, but today, she just seemed in a poor mood altogether.

"Oh, you're here," Harriet said, barely glancing up from her work. "Well, go ahead and get started."

The day went by very awkwardly. Neither of them really spoke to each other, and Label wondered if she had done something wrong to make the poodle angry.

When the day came to a close, there was still an awkward tension between them, and Label couldn't stand it any longer. She glanced up at Harriet and locked eyes with her.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Harriet asked.

"You're clearly upset. Did I do something wrong?" Label asked, more stern this time.

"Oh, Label, it's not that..." She could tell the pink poodle was on the verge of tears.

"Harriet, what happened? Did something happen to you?" Label gasped.

"Label...I have to let you go," Harriet said sadly.

Label took a step back. Her need to comfort the poodle suddenly vanished. She glanced at Harriet in disbelief.

"What-what do you mean?" Label asked.

"I've been considering this for a while."

"I can do better. I promise!" Label begged.

Harriet shook her head. "You were a great help when this place first opened, but city crowds have been lower than normal. A new shop hasn't opened in years. I've had less business, and...I can't afford your help anymore."

"But how will you run this place?" Label asked.

"I'll manage," Harriet promised. "I'm so sorry. I really don't want to do this, but...I have to, Label."

"Where am I going to get bells?!" Label exclaimed, suddenly becoming frustrated.

"I'm sure there are other animals willing to hire you," Harriet promised.

"What about Katrina? Does she need help?" Label wondered.

"You would really want to work full-time for her?"

"Well, no..."

"Katrina is cheap, Label. I really just paid you extra because I didn't want to deal with her. It's not like she was going to pay me to help," Harriet explained. "No, I'm sorry, Label. I have no other job to offer you."

"But..." Label was at a loss for words. She thought she was moving up in the city. She had a steady job, a nice looking apartment. Now she was jobless, and her bells would run out fast.

She could always go back to Shrunk, but it had been so long since she'd last seen him. It would just be weird. They probably thought she was high and mighty in fashion by now.

"Label, I can't express how sorry I am," Harriet said, reaching forward to comfort her.

"Get away!" Label cried out. She grabbed her things and marched out the shop, slamming the door behind her. She heard Harriet call for her, but Label wanted nothing to do with her anymore.

A steady snowfall was coming down as Label marched into the city's plaza. She pulled her coat close to her and leaned up against a brick building, tears streaming down her face.

Perhaps she'd never get the city life of her dreams and would have to return home after two years looking like an idiot to her sisters. She did her best to keep herself from full-on crying, not wanting her mascara to smear.

I'll never be a city girl, she thought to herself. It was a shame. She loved being in the city. She loved the atmosphere. But it seemed like all of that would come to an end.

Label stood against the building for a bit, sniffling to herself. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her, and she felt a hoof touch her shoulder.

"Pardon me, dearie, but where did you get that outfit?!"

Label wiped a tear away and glanced up, taken aback. A tall giraffe stood in front of her. She was dressed in a stylish tank and dark pants with beautiful brown boots and a scarf wrapped around her neck. This was no doubt the fashion designer Label had heard about so long ago.

Label tried to regain her composure and glanced at the fashion star in front of her.

"I-I made it," she stammered. 

Wow, that came off so sophisticated, she thought immediately after.

The giraffe eyed her. "You...made this?" she said, lifting one of Label's sleeves. "My, I'm surprised. I'm Gracie, top fashion designer, although I'm sure you knew that. I admire your fashion choices, darling. I assumed you bought this from a nice store, but to think you made it yourself..."

"Thank you," Label said.

"You have quite a fashionista in you!" Gracie exclaimed. "Is this the only thing you've made?"

"No. I made a couple other outfits as well, but I love to sketch designs too," Label explained.

"My! I like your style! What's your name?"

"Label," she replied.

Gracie wrinkled her nose in disgust. "My, what a gross smalltown nickname that is. You're not city folk, are you?"

"I left home a couple years ago," Label told her. "I've always wanted to come to the city."

"Well, a proper city girl needs a proper city name. Lay-la-that's it! Labelle!"

"Pardon?"

"Labelle could be your new fabulous name," Gracie explained. "It's sophisticated, yet innocent."

"Labelle?"

"Yes, that's it!" Gracie exclaimed. "You see this old building over here?" She pointed to a large, empty shop that hadn't been occupied in years. "I'm planning to open up my own store, and I'll be on the lookout for employees. It's hard for someone to take to my liking, but you have, honey! Stop by when it's open, and we can talk more."

"Seriously?" Label asked, shocked.

"Of course! I don't joke about fashion, darling. I'll keep an eye out for you," Gracie said, before strutting off.

Label backed against the wall again in complete shock. What had just happened? She'd been upset over the loss of her job, but it seemed like she had just climbed in ranks. Of course, Gracie wouldn't be hiring for a while.

I'll just have to save my bells, and then I can join her in her shop, Label told her self.

Label...what a gross smalltown nickname that is. Gracie's words rang in her ears. Label began to think her name wouldn't match up to city life either.

She had been here two years, she had grown in her fashion career. It was time for a change.

"Today, I become Labelle!" she announced.