Books of Anarchy

Donald Regon

"Darling, darling!" Alfonso yelled from the top of his lungs. "This dress will do wonderfully on you for tonight! Try it on, love!" Alfonso shoved the dress in Martha's direction forcefully, but gentle enough not to cause wrinkles.

Martha, surprised by Alfonso's excitment, quickly took the dress from his gloved hands. Alfonso is usually a quiet dweller with no passion for anything whatsoever, but if you mention plaid around him, he'll go berserk ranting, and ranting on and on about how plaid was never the desireable.

"Alfie, is this really that important to you?" Martha asked, eying the dress up and down.

"How could you accuse me of such a thing?!" Alfonso dramatically acted as if he were blown away.

"I don't recall accusing you of any--"

"Oh! The misery! Why would you kid about such a thing? This dress is the perfect shade of red. Almost as if it were a giant cranberry molded into a delicate piece of clothing. DIpped in glitter and brushed with whipped cream, just made to top you, darling." Alfonso said with a bashful expression on his face. His voice cracked more than it should have.

Martha turned around to face the mirror and held the sparkling white cranberry dress infront of her bare body.

"I don't know," Martha said, looking deeper into the mirror. "It doesn't seem like me. Do you get what I mean, Alfie?" Martha said with a dissapointed look on her face.

Alfonso's boney hands suddenly found their way to Martha's shoulders. His face appeared in the mirror, his smile was as pure as newborn snow.

"But Martha, darling. Please, try it on. I'm sure it'll look stunning." He pleaded desperately.

They stared at eachother through the mirror for two more seconds until Martha gave in.

"Wonderful!" Alfonso's face suddenly lightened up from hearing her surrender. "I'll be waiting in the common room with Octavia and Philip!" He twirled and clapped his hands in excitment. "Olay!" He exclaimed. He then quickley hopped out of the room for Martha to get into the red dress.

After the door slammed, Martha took a deep breath and pulled her corset tight. She couldn't bare dresses. Sometimes she thought of herself as a man inside a woman's body accompanied by a woman in a man's body... That being Alfonso. She never told anyone though. She couldn't risk being kicked out of her wealthy parent's manner.

Martha slipped on the dress easily and adjusted the ruffles of whipped cream. How she hated this dress. It was by far the worst dress she had ever been forced into wearing. Of course there weren't real fluffs of whipped cream on this dress, it just looked as if. And it made her sick.

Martha twirled around in front of the mirror, letting her hair fly behind her. She then sat down and stared at herself. Suddenly, there was a light but excited knock on the wooden door.

"Martha, darling!" Alfonso's voice rang. Martha, startled now, stood up and quickly tip toed to the door.

"Alfie, I don't think this is the one." She said through the door. She was too embarressed to expose herself in this cranberry dress.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let us see!" Alfonso said as if he were dying of bordom.

Martha slowly turned the door handle, allowing him, Philip, and Octavia to enter. When Octavia appeared, her face had a look of surprise on them. No smile, it looked as if she was in distress.

"Oh!!" She screams so loud the chandelier shakes. "Honey, it's amazing! Fine work, Alfie. Fine work, indeed." She claps to Alfonso.

Caught by surprise, Alfonso's cheeks turn bright pink and he bows with honor. Next, Philip just stood in awe as Martha spun around, giving them a better view of the twinkling dress.

"It's amazing, darling," Alfonso complimented himself and Martha at the same time.

"It shall indeed work for the dinner party," Philip points.

By now, Martha was feeling sick to her stomach. Something wasn't right here. Everyone seemed a little jumpy, and she didn't know why; and that made her silently angery. She soothed out her dress like nothing was on her mind. Oh how she hated this dress. The red reminded her of blood and the white of snow, which was falling outside their windows right this very moment. Bloody snow was never charming.

Just then the door cracked open a bit and a native American woman in a tethered apron stood. Her eyes wavered from the floor, to Martha's eyes, and back to the floor.

"Mistress Martha, would you like me to call a carriage for you?" She sounded small.

"Yes, Katya. That'd be very convenient." Martha said with her eyes on the dress.

Katya slowly let the door close as she turned around with her head toward the floor. Her long, black, braided hair just barely getting caught between the frame and the door.

Alfonso slipped out of the door and followed Katya down the hall, murmuring something in her ear. Katya nodded and went a seperate way than Alfonso once they reached the parting of the corridor.

Grinding her teeth later on that night, Martha got into the carriage. Her make up and hair were fully done to the best; and not a single speck of dirt could be found on her wonderfully kept skin. 

"Onward!" Alfonso yelled excitedly to the driver. 

Martha felt rather cramped between the two men on either side of her. Philip and Alfonso were sitting beside her in the tight carriage. Alfonso soothing her uneven dress ruffles, and Philip silent, watching out the window. Martha couldn't help but feel uneasy about the party. But silently, Martha brushed off the thought of there being something wrong at the party. These parties her father throws never go wrong. Alfonso always said they were like they were made by God; and God doesn't make mistakes. 

Finally, they arrived to the party that was already glowing with social butterflies and alchohol. Alfonso helped Martha out from the carriage, while Philip went to accompany the driver, and give him a tip. Philip's sparkling purple blazer matched his skintone all too well. Philip's skin was white and shimmery. It always looked as if he had sprinkled glitter on himself. His brown hair was always messy, but the good messy. It was down at his shoulders and as smooth looking as ever.

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