white.”
“I know that,” she said with impatience. “But that particular shade of turquoise appears to be too subdued to wear with something black, and definitely too loud to wear with anything white. And—”
“That’s enough!”
Brenda held out her hands, sending a worried glance to Marci’s stomach. “Don’t excite yourself.”
“I’m not going to go into labor, although it’s possible, because you’re driving me crazy. I have been doing this for years and never in my life have I met someone like you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The notes, the questions. They’re just clothes. So what if one day you don’t match?”
“I’m a professional. How I conduct myself is very important. I don’t want to come across as some, some…” Brenda tried hard but couldn’t find the word.
Marci didn’t give her time to find it. “Top business people have been known to wear two types of shoes to work, or have gone to the office with their trouser leg stuck in their sock. It’s not the end of the world. Lighten up. You’re too hard on yourself.”
“But—”
“New rule. No more questions. You have to trust me.”
Marci walked to one of the clothing racks near by and pulled out an outfit. “This is what you will wear on your first date.”
“My what?” Brenda asked, barely able to register what Marci had said and what she was holding up.
“Date. You’re going on one shortly. For dinner. You’ll wear your first pair of stockings, the seamed black stockings with a sequined rose embossed on the ankle and this.” Brenda looked at the red two-piece tailored suit.
“You have to be kidding. I’d never—”
Marci narrowed her gaze. “Trust me.”
Brenda bit her lip. She never wore the color red. Her mother constantly reminded her that red was too loud a color for a woman her age. And whenever she wore a suit, it was always a pantsuit. With her height, her mother had repeatedly pointed out when she was growing up that her long skinny legs looked like corn stalks.
“It’s you,” Marci said, not giving her a moment to respond. “We’ll ship everything to you. Good luck.” Marci opened her arms for a hug.
Brenda hesitated, wondering how she was supposed to maneuver herself around Marci’s stomach, and she didn’t feel comfortable giving her a hug straight on.
Marci tilted her head to the side and let her arms fall. “I make you uncomfortable, don’t I?”
Brenda felt her face grow hot. “No, it’s not—”
“This Society isn’t about wives and mothers if that’s what’s worrying you. We’re not giving you clothes and accessories just so you can get a man. The time we’ve spent selecting these items was done with a great deal of thought. For a real change to happen in your life you need to get in touch with you and what you want. You joined the Society because you want a man in your life, right?”
Brenda started to respond, offended by Marci’s description of her as some desperate single, but Marci continued. “There’s nothing wrong with expressing that desire. It doesn’t make you weak.” Marci walked Brenda to the door. “It took me a while to learn that lesson. You’ve spent your life fighting so much for everything that you’ve denied yourself many of life’s pleasures. It’s time you stopped fighting and started making love. It’s a lot more fun.” She winked.
Brenda laughed, feeling more relaxed than before. She hugged Marci, glad she understood. “Thanks.”
“Don’t leave yet. We’re not done with you.” She handed Brenda a card, and told her she had an appointment at the hair salon behind another door.
With the help of a petite, energetic stylist and beauty consultant, Brenda learned about taking care of her skin, how to apply makeup for a natural look and had her hair done. She emerged wearing her hair in a smooth style that went past her shoulders.
“Wow, is that me?” Her hair felt soft to the touch and for the first time, in a long
“I know that,” she said with impatience. “But that particular shade of turquoise appears to be too subdued to wear with something black, and definitely too loud to wear with anything white. And—”
“That’s enough!”
Brenda held out her hands, sending a worried glance to Marci’s stomach. “Don’t excite yourself.”
“I’m not going to go into labor, although it’s possible, because you’re driving me crazy. I have been doing this for years and never in my life have I met someone like you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The notes, the questions. They’re just clothes. So what if one day you don’t match?”
“I’m a professional. How I conduct myself is very important. I don’t want to come across as some, some…” Brenda tried hard but couldn’t find the word.
Marci didn’t give her time to find it. “Top business people have been known to wear two types of shoes to work, or have gone to the office with their trouser leg stuck in their sock. It’s not the end of the world. Lighten up. You’re too hard on yourself.”
“But—”
“New rule. No more questions. You have to trust me.”
Marci walked to one of the clothing racks near by and pulled out an outfit. “This is what you will wear on your first date.”
“My what?” Brenda asked, barely able to register what Marci had said and what she was holding up.
“Date. You’re going on one shortly. For dinner. You’ll wear your first pair of stockings, the seamed black stockings with a sequined rose embossed on the ankle and this.” Brenda looked at the red two-piece tailored suit.
“You have to be kidding. I’d never—”
Marci narrowed her gaze. “Trust me.”
Brenda bit her lip. She never wore the color red. Her mother constantly reminded her that red was too loud a color for a woman her age. And whenever she wore a suit, it was always a pantsuit. With her height, her mother had repeatedly pointed out when she was growing up that her long skinny legs looked like corn stalks.
“It’s you,” Marci said, not giving her a moment to respond. “We’ll ship everything to you. Good luck.” Marci opened her arms for a hug.
Brenda hesitated, wondering how she was supposed to maneuver herself around Marci’s stomach, and she didn’t feel comfortable giving her a hug straight on.
Marci tilted her head to the side and let her arms fall. “I make you uncomfortable, don’t I?”
Brenda felt her face grow hot. “No, it’s not—”
“This Society isn’t about wives and mothers if that’s what’s worrying you. We’re not giving you clothes and accessories just so you can get a man. The time we’ve spent selecting these items was done with a great deal of thought. For a real change to happen in your life you need to get in touch with you and what you want. You joined the Society because you want a man in your life, right?”
Brenda started to respond, offended by Marci’s description of her as some desperate single, but Marci continued. “There’s nothing wrong with expressing that desire. It doesn’t make you weak.” Marci walked Brenda to the door. “It took me a while to learn that lesson. You’ve spent your life fighting so much for everything that you’ve denied yourself many of life’s pleasures. It’s time you stopped fighting and started making love. It’s a lot more fun.” She winked.
Brenda laughed, feeling more relaxed than before. She hugged Marci, glad she understood. “Thanks.”
“Don’t leave yet. We’re not done with you.” She handed Brenda a card, and told her she had an appointment at the hair salon behind another door.
With the help of a petite, energetic stylist and beauty consultant, Brenda learned about taking care of her skin, how to apply makeup for a natural look and had her hair done. She emerged wearing her hair in a smooth style that went past her shoulders.
“Wow, is that me?” Her hair felt soft to the touch and for the first time, in a long
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