A Beautiful Night
It seemed as if she had been transported back to the seventies by the dress, an ageless time capsule. A smile spread across her face as she looped her hand around her date’s elbow. It wasn’t until halfway through the song that something prickled her thigh.
It was a stray pin she thought she had to fix later, so she ignored it the first time. However, it happened again, wrenching a scream from her. A few moments later, she excused herself and ran to the bathroom. Despite her best efforts, she unknowingly exposed a 50-year-old lie.
She Just Wanted To Help
This dress wasn’t supposed to be worn by Lisa in the first place. While she had other plans for the evening, now all she could do was hope for a successful one.
It was her sweet grandma’s only desire to help Lisa, and she is more than grateful for her assistance. Suddenly, she was trembling with what she had discovered stitched within the dress. Their lives would never be the same again.
The Big Night
There was nothing Lisa Miller had looked forward to more than her prom night. Her last chance to experience high school fully was looming, as it was for many Buffalo high school seniors.
In her mind, she had made all the necessary arrangements for a good night. However, things started to fall apart one by one, culminating in a grand finale that would separate the family.
She Loved Her Family
It had always been a simple life for Lisa. With two younger siblings and a cat as her house pet, she lived with her mom. Her grandparents, Magnolia and Erick, lived nearly two states away, and she rarely visited them, so although she loved them, she wasn’t very close to them.
In her mind, her grandma was a woman whose secrets she kept to herself. Her grandma proved to her that she was all of these things and more through this incident.
A Hard Worker
As Lisa’s high school career drew to an end, prom night was supposed to be her highlight. In order to maintain good grades and a good relationship with the faculty and students, she worked hard.
This was supposed to be her reward for hard work and good behavior. In her opinion, the school itself is the only thing that can ruin it. There was no way she could have known the problem would arise from the stitching of her dress.
Preparations
She began planning for prom months in advance, like many other teenagers. As a member of the organizing committee, she knew exactly what kind of dress would be appropriate.
While exploring dress shops and boutiques in town, she and her friends looked for fairytale-themed gowns. They wanted prom to be an unforgettable night. In a way, it would be, but for a very different reason.
The Perfect Shop
A small corner shop just outside town sold the most beautiful dresses they had ever seen, and they soon found what they were looking for.
They barely fit through the door as they ran in. A wide smile spread across their faces as they quickly selected their favorites. Then, as soon as one of them saw the gown’s price tag, she stopped.
So Many Choices
She and her friends found all types of gowns in the shop, including evening gowns, cocktail, and party dresses. Nevertheless, they were captivated by the ones themed around fairies.
In addition to being lavish and made from quality materials, each of them was based on an existing Disney Princess. They were at home. The prices, however, changed their minds.
Very Expensive
In fact, the cheapest dress barely met what they could afford. Their disappointment was evident as they left the store, knowing they could have had the most beautiful dresses.
Even other stores were off limits to them now, knowing their tastes were ruined. Lisa, however, had already been planning how to make sure she would go home with the dress of her choice, unbeknownst to her friends.
Exactly What She Wanted
A classy chiffon and a balloon skirt made up the dress in question, which was sleeveless and sleek. There was a tag beneath it that read, ‘Cinderella.’
For Lisa, it was love at first sight when she saw the gown. She imagined herself wearing the dress to prom, the spotlight shining on her, everyone gawking. There was no way she could let it go.
Check The Price Tag
She took it off the stand, running her fingers against the smooth fabric. She couldn’t help but grin, happiness flowing through her.
But then her friend Sandy exclaimed about the prices, prompting Lisa and the rest of the group to check the tags. One by one, they each returned the gowns where they’d found them. But this was far from over.
Can Her Mom Buy It?
As they journeyed home, Lisa thought of ways she could acquire the dress. She knew her mom wouldn’t buy it for her. It would be a selfish request on her part, given that they didn’t come from money.
Her mom was already working two shifts just to take care of her and her siblings. She couldn’t be this inconsiderate with her. But what could she do?
Her Savings
Lisa thought about checking her piggy bank. She’d been throwing quarters in there for years and knew she had saved up a bit.
But none of it would be enough to reach half the price the dresses were going for. She scratched her head, trying to figure out the best way forward. There was no way she was letting go of her dream gown.
Wishful Thinking
The blue chiffon gown had ruined other dresses for Lisa. She spent the week daydreaming about it, wishing it was in her closet, waiting for the big night.
She’d pass by the shop every evening after school, staring at it through the window like a secret admirer. If only she knew that getting it would lead her to open a wound her grandma had sewn shut decades earlier.
Double Shifts
Lisa talked to her mom about her dress, asking for advice. Her mom worked as a nurse in the local hospital. She was sleep-deprived and could barely give coherent answers as Lisa shared her problem.
Luckily, she showed up a few hours later with ideas on how Lisa could get the dress. Even though she led a busy life, she’d never been too busy for her kids.
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