Page 33 - San Diego Woman Amy Haber Issue

F ANT ASTIC FLASH FIC TION

HOLIDAY CHEERS: NEW SWEATERS:

by Shelley Burbank by Shelley Burbank

Twinkle lights and red velvet bows. Ladies dressed in long gowns. Marissa sat outside the dressing room, a tower of sweat-
Men wearing tuxedoes, and shoes polished to a high gloss.The ers precariously piled in her lap, and waited for her
jazz quartet in the corner slid smoothly from one holiday song to daughter to emerge.
the next—chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sleigh bells ring-a- They’d been shopping at the adorable Cozy Closet Bou-
linging, and brown paper packages tied up with string.
tique, an upscale resale shop for teens, for over an hour.
Swaying elegantly through the crowd, Carolina admired the scene Andrea, true to form, decided to try on every sweater
and drew admiring glances in return. Her long gloves looked like in the shop. Just sweet sixteen, she wanted something
satin candy canes, a pop of color against her little black dress. perfect to wear on her first, real date—a hayride and
bonfire planned for the following day.
Someone handed her the signature cocktail of the evening—
something called a sugar cookie martini, a bit sweet, but clever, Sixteen. Marissa sighed feeling a wave of nostalgia
she mused. She lifted the glass. “Cheers,” she said to the cluster mixed with regret and pride. It hadn’t been easy raising
of partygoers nearby before turning to gaze out the tall win- a daughter alone. After Andrea’s father died, Marissa
dows overlooking the city. often wondered how she’d manage. But somehow she
did. She worked and scrimped and made their home a
She’d come so far—further probably than any girl like her safe haven of books, healthy meals, craft supplies, hugs,
from the boondocks had any right to dream. But she had and laughter. What she hasn’t made time for, though, was
dreamed. And planned. And pushed herself. She’d done
romance. For the first time in a long time, Marissa wondered
it honestly, too. Played by the rules. Sacrificed sleep and if she should give dating a try.
skipped a few meals now and again, and she never
stepped on anyone in order to get ahead. The thought made her queasy but also giddy.
Hard work and determination eventually paid Behind the stack of sweaters, she shook her head. She was almost
off. She’d made it. Now she could enjoy. “Merry fifty. She hadn’t been on a first date in twenty years. She wouldn’t
Christmas,” she whispered to her reflection in even know how!
the glass before sipping her cocktail, her lips Andrea burst from the dressing room. “What do you think, mom?”
smiling over the rim.
Her daughter’s flushed cheeks matched the pink of the angora/wool
blend cardigan. She looked sweet and grown up. Marissa put her hand
on her heart. “It’s perfect!”

Marissa’s life, too, was nearly perfect, she thought. She loved her work
as a web designer and being a mom to a precocious daughter. Soon,
though, Andrea would be off on her own—in college or working or
even married. Space would open up for something more in Marissa’s
life. Or for someone.

Marissa wrapped her arms around the stack of sweaters in her lap
and placed them on the bench. She plucked the top piece from the
stack and marched into the other dressing room.
“What are you doing, Mom?” Andrea’s voice sounded scandal-
ized. “This is a teen store.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Marissa replied. She pulled her old
top off her decidedly middle-aged body and held up the
soft, cashmere cloud of a sweater. “I think this piece
is timeless. Beautiful. Classic. But updated for to-
day.” She slid her arms into the sleeves. Twisting
herself back and forth in front of the mirror,
she thought, Timeless and Classic. Just as I
hope to be.

Ten minutes later, Marissa headed home
with a bounce in her step, a slight dent in
her wallet, and hope in her heart.

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