My First Dress

My First Dress

I had never bought a dress, and

I went full bore, damn the torpedoes!

At Nieman Marcus, the gowns were

severe, angular.  Hey! Where was

the lace, the chiffon, the taffeta?

Where was the pink, the turquoise? 

And the prices!  So high and no trim?

Chastened, I found a smaller store.

and got serious because I liked the

shopgirl.  What a sweet giggle.  What

a sweet little . . . well . . . you know.

Suddenly, forget the dress, I was

glad I’d worn my tighter jeans.  But

she was all laughing business, and

I was her star customer.  She fitted

me up with all the rhinestones, swishing sounds, 

and tutu-like adornments a man could want.

Back in my jeans and T, with a huge,

glittering box, she rang me up and

kissed me on the cheek.  A week

later, we went out on the town.

I had the gown of my dreams and she —

she had a really great tuxedo.

                  July 2019