Belly Literary Universe (part 1)

Myre's Enthusiasm Part 16: Taking stock

In front of her bathroom mirror, Myre switched between hanging a couple outfits in front of herself. A long knee length black dress with thin straps, or a frilly dress with fiery reds and oranges to compliment her red hair. They're both good. I guess a business outfit might be better for a photoshoot. But i don't really have anything like that. The black dress is more professional buuut... She looked down at her rounded stomach. Do I really want a form fitting dress showing it off? Well - the more important question is if i want it to be shown off in some corporate presentation? I don't know. Fluffy red dress it is!

***

Myre was glad Rachel offered to pay for her time because it was a two hour drive from Cliffrun to Everspring. Already she was dreading the trip back home. She consulted her GPS several times as she wove through the sleepy suburb to the address she was given. Finally, after following a road that meandered a long a swift river she found what she was looking for, an old sawmill with a huge banner identifying it as 'Camilla Boldt's Bolts and clothes'.

She stepped out, grabbed her pair of matching red heels from the passenger seat, and stepped into them. As she stretched and yawned from her drive, she wobbled a bit on her feet. The gravel driveway didn't cooperate with her choice of footwear at all. As if walking a tightrope she cautiously crossed the parking lot. There was a beat up truck and a well maintained SUV in the lot, but besides that there was no sign of people around. She looked at her phone again, but she had not been given instructions besides showing up. Apprehensive about having her photo taken, she entered the building through the open barn-like door.

Immediately Myre was struck with a fit of imagination. The smell of old and new cloth filled her nose reminding her a simpler time. Hanging banners of patterned fabrics and tables stacked with loose cloth filled her mind with possibilities. From the corner of her eyes she spotted a heavily pregnant mannequin wearing the most elegant corseted maternity dress. I need to come back to this place. The rest of her outfits were just as eye catching to her.

A voice called out to her with a slight German accent. "Ahh you must be Myre! So wonderful to meet you! I'm Rolf Hurtz. Please just call me Rolf."

With the camera hanging from a strap over his neck, the baggy sky blue shorts, and a Hawaiian button up shirt Myre was certain he was more fit to be a tourist than a photographer. But then again, she had no idea how many professional pictures she's seen that could have been taken by people with similarly strange outfits. "Hi. Myre. Myre Kamerina. Is - I hope this dress was okay. They didn't tell me what to wear."

He held up both his hands with an approving gesture. "It is a wonderful outfit. You clearly have a sense for your personal style. It will do fine for a set of pictures."

"A set?" Myre asked.

"Oh yes. Camilla has prepared a wide array of outfits for your to choose from."

"Oh. I'll be changing? I guess that's why they didn't tell me anything about what to wear. Should have considered that."

"I uhh - I see you are apprehensive. No need to worry. We'll use whatever outfits you choose. We want you to be natural and comfortable. Here we'll take a look. Camilla. Camilla!" Rolf shouted. No one replied. "Ahh. This place... All the fabrics scatter sound. She'll be around here somewhere. Shall we get started with your current outfit though? No need to waste your time."

"Camilla owns the place? Nevermind. Yes. Sure. Let's do it!" Myre psyched herself up.

"I have a temporary studio over this way. You know i worried that I wouldn't be able to have enough space, but she was very accommodating."