The Blue Dress

 

Sarah crouched behind the Queen Anne chair in her grandmother’s parlor.

Eyes closed tightly; she held her breath. Tears left dirty tracks as they slid down her face.

Don’t cry, she whispered to herself. It will only make it worse.

Maybe I can just hide here until everyone leaves. She repeated in her mind over and over.

Her dress was both tattered and dirty, hanging limply from her body like an old rag.

Mama was reluctant to purchase the dress, with Sarah being a tomboy. She also knew mama could never say “no” to those big blue eyes.

I shouldn’t have begged mama to buy the periwinkle blue cotton dress. She thought. But it was so pretty, and I look so pretty wearing it…I also love the word periwinkle... It is fun to say it.

As she was adjusting the grey sash that was tied into a bow around her waist, she gasped

Look at this...it was once white and lovely. Now look at it!

Should have listened to mama? Mama said to change clothes before playing by the riverbank with Katie and Ben?

Her entire body trembled while she patiently listened for the footsteps coming down the hallway.

Oh, no…oh no… someone is coming

Footsteps. Louder and louder …stop sobbing… be quiet…you will be found. She thought holding her breath.

The footsteps. Closer and closer. The door creaked as the handle turned slowly.

If only I could hide until everyone leave, she kept repeating to herself.

Mama’s silhouette appeared in the door frame. It wasn’t until she entered the room that mama’s angered face was visible.

Sarah slowly came out from behind the chair. Once mama spotted her fearful daughter in the raggedy torn dress, her grimace slowly turned into a snicker, followed by uncontrollable laughter. Sarah laughed too, because she did not know what else to do.