A Time Capsule
The dress she wore felt like a time capsule, transporting her straight to the seventies. It fit her perfectly, and as she twirled on the dance floor, a smile stretched across her face, her hand resting comfortably on her date's arm. But halfway through the song, an unexpected sharp prick on her thigh caught her off guard.
At first, she brushed it off, assuming it was just a stray pin she could fix later. However, when it happened again, the pain was too much to ignore, and she screamed in surprise. Rushing to the restroom to check, she uncovered a shocking discovery—a fifty-year-old lie that left her stunned and speechless.
Entirely Different
The dress Lisa wore wasn't hers to begin with. What was meant to be an entirely different evening had shifted, leaving her to hope for the best.
It was her dear grandmother’s heartfelt wish to help, a gesture Lisa appreciated deeply. But as she gazed at the dress, a sense of unease gripped her. The unexpected details sewn into the fabric hinted that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn’t yet understand.
Eagerly Anticipated
Lisa Miller had been eagerly anticipating her prom night, the highlight of her senior year. It was her last opportunity to embrace everything high school had to offer, a moment many students in Buffalo cherish before graduation.
However, just when she thought she had everything planned, life took an unexpected turn. A dramatic family event shattered her world, and soon, everything she had carefully prepared began to unravel.
Always Been Simple
Lisa’s life had always been simple, shared with her mother, two younger siblings, and a house cat. While her family was close, her relationship with her grandparents, Magnolia and Erick, was distant, as they lived far away and seldom visited.
Growing up, Lisa viewed her grandmother as a mysterious figure, someone surrounded by unspoken secrets. It wasn’t until a particular event that Lisa truly understood the deep significance of her grandmother in her life, realizing just how much she meant to her.
High School Experience
Prom night was meant to be the highlight of Lisa’s high school experience. She had put in countless hours of effort to excel academically and build positive relationships with both her peers and teachers, all while maintaining a strong work ethic.
With all her dedication, Lisa saw prom as the reward she had worked so hard for. Nothing, she believed, could spoil the night except for the school itself. The dress she wore held no significance in comparison to the promise of an unforgettable evening.
Began Preparing
Lisa, like many teens, began preparing for her prom well in advance. As a member of the organizing committee, she was keenly aware of the importance of selecting the perfect dress for the big night. She was determined to find something that would fit the fairytale theme they had planned.
Together with her friends, Lisa scoured dress shops and boutiques, hoping to find the gown of her dreams. Their goal was to make prom an unforgettable experience. And while it certainly became a night to remember, it wasn’t for the reasons they had initially imagined.
Just Outside Town
Just outside town, in a quaint little corner shop, they discovered the most stunning dresses. Excited, they rushed in, barely squeezing through the door, eager to explore the treasures inside.
It didn’t take long for them to find their top picks, their faces lighting up with broad smiles. However, when one of them noticed the price tag on a gown, she came to an abrupt stop, her excitement fading into hesitation.
Decisions To Make
From evening gowns to cocktail and party dresses, Lisa and her friends could find everything they were looking for in the shop. The fairy-themed ones, however, caught their attention.
Their luxurious designs were made from the best materials, and each channeled a different Disney Princess. It was home time for the girls. It wasn't until they saw the prices that they changed their minds.
Exorbitant
The dresses were beyond their budgets, with the cheapest barely reaching what they had. As they left the store, dejected, knowing they could have had the best dresses, they walked out.
Since their tastes were beyond ruined, even other stores were out of the question. Lisa, however, was already working out plans to make sure she ended up with her dream dress, unbeknownst to her friends.
Her Wildest Dreams
It had a classy chiffon skirt and a sleeveless, sleeveless design. "Cinderella," read the tag beneath it.
Lisa was in love at first sight with the gown and couldn't wait to get it on. The dress made her picture herself walking into prom with the spotlight shining on her and everyone gawking at her. The thought of letting it go was too painful for her to bear.
Gleeful Feeling
Her fingers ran smoothly across the smooth fabric when she removed it from the stand. A grin spread across her face, happiness coursing through her veins.
However, Sandy's comment about the prices prompted Lisa to check the tags with the rest of the group. They each returned the gowns, where they found them one by one. Nevertheless, this wasn't over yet.
Consideration
The dress was on Lisa's mind as they traveled home. It was obvious that she wouldn't get it from her mom. She would be making a selfish request since the funds didn't come from her.
In order to take care of her and her siblings, her mother already worked two shifts. This kind of inconsideration was not acceptable to her. She could not do anything about it.
All She Had
The idea of checking her piggy bank came to Lisa's mind. For years, she had been throwing quarters in there and knew she had saved some money.
However, none of it would be enough to reach half of the price of the dresses. A scratch appeared on her forehead as she tried to come up with a plan. This was the gown of her dreams, and there was no way she was giving it up.
Hope
Other dresses Lisa had worn had been ruined by the blue chiffon gown. It was in her closet, waiting for the big night, that she spent the week daydreaming about.
Almost every evening, she passed the shop, staring at it through the window. Her grandma had sewn shut a wound decades earlier, but she wouldn't know that until she got it.
Long Day
She asked her mom for advice on her dress. During her childhood, her mother worked in a local hospital as a nurse. As Lisa shared her problem, she was sleep-deprived and barely able to give coherent answers.
Lisa was lucky to have the woman show up with ideas on how to get the dress a few hours later. She wasn't too busy for her children, despite living a busy life.
Assistance
There was one condition Lisa's mom would agree to when she offered to pay half the dress price. In order to cover the remaining amount, Lisa was supposed to get a job.
Lisa already had cash in her piggy bank, so she told her she could add that to her total. Someone she knew in town who ran a bakery was looking for someone to work at the counter. Is Lisa interested in the job?
Back To The Grind
A loud "Yes!" was echoed by Lisa. The bakery was a favorite of her mother's, and she often accompanied her mom there. Having worked as a cashier before, she was familiar with the position's responsibilities.
Immediately after making the phone call, she and her mother were hired. Buying the dress of her dreams was now as simple as working for a few months, saving the money, and buying it.
In A Hurry
After school, Lisa would rush to the bakery and work the counter until late at night for the first three months.
Her mom would pick her up on her way home from work before returning to the hospital for her second shift. As Lisa's savings grew, everything was perfect. Within a few hours, she would have the dress at her fingertips.
At Long Last
She had enough money to cover half the dress by the end of the fifth month. Her mom was shocked and drove straight to the shop to buy the dress the next day.
The right choice had been made by, Lisa, even according to her mother. The mother smiled proudly as her daughter tried on the gown, glad her daughter had learned a valuable lesson. Disaster struck without either of them knowing it.
Chores
Several days after they purchased the dress, it happened. The house was being cleaned by Lisa and her siblings while their mom was at work. As part of the cleaning process, Lisa was supposed to do laundry as well.
It was time for her to get to work, so she put on her favorite playlist. Having only had the dress a few days, she decided washing it wouldn't harm anyone. This decision would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Round And Around
As soon as she cleared the week's load, she threw the gown in the washer and hurried home to take care of the other chores.
A few minutes later, she took it out, hoping to stuff it into the dryer. However, one glance at it broke her heart. Why did she do that?
Creased
As a result of the wash, parts of the expensive chiffon fabric had been destroyed, and the dress was a wrinkled mess.
When Lisa discovered the gown could only be hand washed, she slumped down in disappointment. A surge of breath filled her lungs, and tears poured from her eyes. She was doomed to fail.
Making The Call
A sister of Lisa's called her mom, who rushed home right away. Lisa was still in shock after doing what she did when they found her lying on the floor.
While she held the destroyed dress in her hand, her fingers trembled as her heart beat in her ears. "Let's have a look," her mom said soothingly while taking the dress, but even she gasped at the horror she saw.
7 Short Days
Lisa burst into tears when she was asked what had happened. A week before prom, she had destroyed the dress she'd worked so hard for.
In response to a curse, Lisa's mother ate it back. Her dress would cost a fortune to fix, and she didn't have the money. The good news is that there was someone she knew who could assist them.
Mother’s Mother
Lisa's grandmother was a seamstress at one time. In an attempt to find some insight as to how to fix Lisa's dress, her mother called.
During their video call, Lisa held up the dress to show her grandma, who was tearful. When she asked the woman for help, she expected that she would receive a few tips, but she got far more than she expected.
Brand Spanking new
She went off camera for a few minutes, returning with a sealed package covered in dust and cobwebs. As she unwrapped the package, she said, "You won't believe what I have here.".
She pulled a dress similar to that one from it, smiling with glossy eyes as she did so. There was a smirk on Lisa's face. As if it were better, the dress was the same as hers. The grandma had just saved the day, hadn't she?
Half A Century
Taking a deep breath, she said, "I wore this to my prom in 1973.". It had never crossed my mind to wear it again.
It was a long journey for her to bring the dress to her granddaughter, even though she lived two states away. It held a secret she'd long forgotten, but she was unaware of it.
The Arrival
It was Lisa's mother's turn to take the next day off, so she, Lisa's grandma, and Lisa prepared the dress for prom together. As Lisa held it in her arms, the exotic fabric of the dress looked even better.
Her date was by her side as she walked down the school hall two days later. She was guided to the dance by a blaze of blue and pink lights. It was going to be one of the most memorable nights of your life.
Center Of Attention
Just as she had daydreamed months ago, Lisa was the center of attention when she entered the dance. After leading her to the floor, her boyfriend started slow-dancing with her.
Her thigh was pricked by something. After the first scratch, her leg hurt sharply the second time. Limping to the bathroom, she excused herself.
Hidden Within
As Lisa stepped on the sink, the dress' fluffy skirt gathered up. The sight of it made her eyes furrow. The seam had been taped with a piece of paper. It was heavy, which surprised Lisa as she took it out painstakingly. Shaking the envelope around, she whispered, "An old envelope.".
In the sink, she found a ring that had rolled out of the envelope. Her eyes returned to the envelope as she picked it up. The inside of the book had been scribbled with words. The letter began with the words "Magnolia Miller.". "Will you marry me?" Lisa exclaimed. She didn't know Henry Pritchett as her grandpa's name.