Caught in the Act

Julie J.

The sound of shouting woke me. I recognized the voices but I couldn’t make out what was being said. Mother and Sister were at it again. They were in my sister’s room. I opened my bedroom door. Mother wanted Sister to wear a new dress mother had bought for her. To appease Mother, Sister tried on the dress but didn’t think it was suitable for her. Mother insisted she wear it. Sister vehemently insisted she would not wear it. I had to pass the open door of my sister’s room as I headed to the bathroom mother and sister must have heard me come because they stopped arguing as I passed the open door. While I was closing the bathroom door mother passed by me headed downstairs. When returning to my room I passed my sister on her way downstairs. She was wearing a halter top and shorts. I know she was not in a good mood as she spoke loudly at me, “What are you looking at?” I knew better than to say anything.

I could hear mother and sister going at it again even though they were downstairs. I wondered what all the fuss was about. Clad only in my boxer shorts I cautiously made my way to my sister’s room. I wanted to see what the argument was all about. Lying on the floor where my sister had been standing was a pile of blue fabric. Curiosity got the better of me. I went over to the fabric pile and picked up what was obviously the top part of a strapless sundress. Once I lifted it up I could see the whole dress. The top of the dress was a deep blue elastic tube. The top five centimeters was turned down. The white skirt with printed flowers on it was bell shaped. I thought what a pretty dress.

I didn’t hear any more shouting from downstairs. I thought I heard the back screen door slam. They have gone out somewhere I thought. I wondered what the dress would look like on me. My sister was not willing to wear the dress. I was more than willing to wear it; well, at least try it on. Since I wasn’t wearing an undershirt I could just slip it on over my head. I pulled it down. The elastic top fit snuggly around my chest. The skirt flared out when the dress settled into place. I walked over to stand in front of the mirror. I twirled. The skirt flared out fully. I twisted side to side. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn’t hear footsteps coming up the stairs. As I turned I saw my sister standing in the doorway. She smirked at me. “Mom come quick, you got to see this.” I froze. Turning to mom she said, “See, I told you only a brain-dead idiot without any fashion sense would wear that!”