“I don't know, twenty-two dollars!” Jim Paradise wasn’t exactly sure . . . he
stood nervously awkwardly in the young misses department at G. Fox’s
department store. Three dresses later, he felt less like he was buying a pair
of work boots and more like he was playing with paper-dolls.
Janie put on a pout.
“Oh, Janie, I didn’t mean it like
that. I love it, the dress, I think you’re beautiful. What do you think Frau?”
“Ja, Herr Paradise, ze jung mädchen is very attrativ.”
“There still seems to be something missing, she needs . . . ah,
something more.” Jim gestured helplessly; Frau Detweiler came to the rescue.
She knew exactly what was missing; the one article of clothing every young girl
requires to aspire to feel feminine.
“Ach, und büstenhalter!”
The attentive clerk at G. Fox
whisked Janie off to the fitting room. When she emerged, she felt very shy but
very grown up. Janie did indeed look
pretty; her bright face beamed, never in her whole life had she had so many
adults give her such attention. She pirouetted, twirled and struck a pose like
Betty Grable. Jim didn’t know quite what to say, he managed a weak, “mein
fräulein.” Jim smiled nodded and added
under his breath . . . ach, that was what was missing.
* * *
HARTFORD 1944
Chapter Thirteen
The Dilly
Girl
Steven Mc
Allister © 2010 all rights reserved
