A Beautiful Night
It seemed as if she had been transported back to the seventies by the dress, an ageless time capsule. A smile spread across her face as she looped her hand around her date's elbow. It wasn't until halfway through the song that something prickled her thigh.
It was a stray pin she thought she had to fix later, so she ignored it the first time. However, it happened again, wrenching a scream from her. A few moments later, she excused herself and ran to the bathroom. Despite her best efforts, she unknowingly exposed a 50-year-old lie.
She Just Wanted To Help
This dress wasn't supposed to be worn by Lisa in the first place. While she had other plans for the evening, now all she could do was hope for a successful one.
It was her sweet grandma's only desire to help Lisa, and she is more than grateful for her assistance. Suddenly, she was trembling with what she had discovered stitched within the dress. Their lives would never be the same again.
The Big Night
There was nothing Lisa Miller had looked forward to more than her prom night. Her last chance to experience high school fully was looming, as it was for many Buffalo high school seniors.
In her mind, she had made all the necessary arrangements for a good night. However, things started to fall apart one by one, culminating in a grand finale that would separate the family.
She Loved Her Family
It had always been a simple life for Lisa. With two younger siblings and a cat as her house pet, she lived with her mom. Her grandparents, Magnolia and Erick, lived nearly two states away, and she rarely visited them, so although she loved them, she wasn't very close to them.
In her mind, her grandma was a woman whose secrets she kept to herself. Her grandma proved to her that she was all of these things and more through this incident.
A Hard Worker
As Lisa's high school career drew to an end, prom night was supposed to be her highlight. In order to maintain good grades and a good relationship with the faculty and students, she worked hard.
This was supposed to be her reward for hard work and good behavior. In her opinion, the school itself is the only thing that can ruin it. There was no way she could have known the problem would arise from the stitching of her dress.
Preparations
She began planning for prom months in advance, like many other teenagers. As a member of the organizing committee, she knew exactly what kind of dress would be appropriate.
While exploring dress shops and boutiques in town, she and her friends looked for fairytale-themed gowns. They wanted prom to be an unforgettable night. In a way, it would be, but for a very different reason.
The Perfect Shop
A small corner shop just outside town sold the most beautiful dresses they had ever seen, and they soon found what they were looking for.
They barely fit through the door as they ran in. A wide smile spread across their faces as they quickly selected their favorites. Then, as soon as one of them saw the gown's price tag, she stopped.
So Many Choices
She and her friends found all types of gowns in the shop, including evening gowns, cocktail, and party dresses. Nevertheless, they were captivated by the ones themed around fairies.
In addition to being lavish and made from quality materials, each of them was based on an existing Disney Princess. They were at home. The prices, however, changed their minds.
Very Expensive
In fact, the cheapest dress barely met what they could afford. Their disappointment was evident as they left the store, knowing they could have had the most beautiful dresses.
Even other stores were off limits to them now, knowing their tastes were ruined. Lisa, however, had already been planning how to make sure she would go home with the dress of her choice, unbeknownst to her friends.
Exactly What She Wanted
A classy chiffon and a balloon skirt made up the dress in question, which was sleeveless and sleek. There was a tag beneath it that read, 'Cinderella.'
For Lisa, it was love at first sight when she saw the gown. She imagined herself wearing the dress to prom, the spotlight shining on her, everyone gawking. There was no way she could let it go.
Check The Price Tag
She took it off the stand, running her fingers against the smooth fabric. She couldn't help but grin, happiness flowing through her.
But then her friend Sandy exclaimed about the prices, prompting Lisa and the rest of the group to check the tags. One by one, they each returned the gowns where they'd found them. But this was far from over.
Can Her Mom Buy It?
As they journeyed home, Lisa thought of ways she could acquire the dress. She knew her mom wouldn't buy it for her. It would be a selfish request on her part, given that they didn't come from money.
Her mom was already working two shifts just to take care of her and her siblings. She couldn't be this inconsiderate with her. But what could she do?
Her Savings
Lisa thought about checking her piggy bank. She'd been throwing quarters in there for years and knew she had saved up a bit.
But none of it would be enough to reach half the price the dresses were going for. She scratched her head, trying to figure out the best way forward. There was no way she was letting go of her dream gown.
Wishful Thinking
The blue chiffon gown had ruined other dresses for Lisa. She spent the week daydreaming about it, wishing it was in her closet, waiting for the big night.
She'd pass by the shop every evening after school, staring at it through the window like a secret admirer. If only she knew that getting it would lead her to open a wound her grandma had sewn shut decades earlier.
Double Shifts
Lisa talked to her mom about her dress, asking for advice. Her mom worked as a nurse in the local hospital. She was sleep-deprived and could barely give coherent answers as Lisa shared her problem.
Luckily, she showed up a few hours later with ideas on how Lisa could get the dress. Even though she led a busy life, she'd never been too busy for her kids.
I’ll Help
Lisa's mom offered to pay half the amount of the dress but on one condition. Lisa was to get a job and cover the remaining amount.
She already knew about the cash in Lisa's piggy bank and told her she could add that to the amount. She had a friend in town who ran a bakery and was looking for someone to run the counter. Was Lisa interested in the position?
Going To Work
"Yes!" Lisa exclaimed. She loved the bakery and had accompanied her mom there on numerous occasions. She'd also worked as a cashier before and knew the ins and outs of the position.
She and her mom made the phone call without wasting time and secured the job. Now all she had to do was work for a few months, save the cash, and buy the dress of her dreams.
Working
Lisa's plan worked, and for the first three months, she'd rush to the bakery after school and run the counter until late evening.
Her mom would pick her up on her way home before returning to her second shift at the hospital. Everything was perfect, and Lisa's savings were slowly growing. It would only be a matter of time until she had the dress in her hands.
Finally!
By the end of the fifth month, Lisa had enough to cover half of the dress. She broke the news to her mom, and they drove straight to the shop the next day to buy the dress.
Even her mom agreed that Lisa had made the right choice. She smiled proudly as her daughter tried on the gown, glad it had been a reward for a lesson well learned. Neither of them knew disaster was about to strike.
Cleaning Day
It happened a few days after the two ladies had bought the dress. Lisa's mom was off to work, and Lisa and her siblings were cleaning the house. As part of the cleaning process, Lisa was also meant to do the laundry.
She put on her favorite playlist and got to work. Since she'd only had the dress for a few days, she decided it wouldn't harm anyone if she washed it. She'd live to regret this decision.
Into The Washer It Goes
After clearing the week's load, she stuffed the gown into the washer and hurried to take care of the other chores waiting for her in the house.
She returned minutes later and took it out, hoping to stuff it into the drier. But one look at it and her heart broke. What had she done?
A Wrinkled Mess
The wash had reduced the dress to a wrinkled mess, with strings coming out of the seams and parts of the expensive chiffon destroyed.
Lisa hurriedly checked the tag on the dress, slumping down when she discovered the gown was hand wash only. Her lungs surged, her eyes pooling with tears. There was no way she could come back from this.
Calling Her Mom
One of Lisa's siblings called her mom, who rushed home immediately. They found Lisa curled on the floor, still in shock from what she'd done.
Her heart thrummed in her ears, her fingers trembling where she lay with the destroyed dress in her grasp. "Let's have a look," her mom said soothingly while taking the dress, but even she gasped at the horror that stared back at her.
Prom Is A Week Away
She asked what had happened, and Lisa burst into fresh tears. Prom was only a week away, and she'd destroyed the dream dress she'd worked so hard to get.
Lisa's mom ate back a curse. She knew the shop would charge them a fortune to fix the dress – money she didn't have. But as luck would have it, there was one person she knew that could help fix their problem.
Grandma To The Rescue
Lisa's grandma had been a seamstress back in the day. Lisa's mom called her, hoping to get some insight on how to fix the dress.
They hoped on a video call, with a teary Lisa holding the dress up for her grandma to see. She expected the woman to offer a few tricks to fix the dress, but she got something even better.
A New Dress!
She went off camera for a few minutes, returning with a sealed package covered in cobwebs and dust. "You won't believe what I have here," she said, unwrapping the package.
She pulled a similar dress from it, smiling with glossy eyes as she did. Lisa’s lips parted. The dress was identical to hers, if not better. Had her grandma just saved the day?
50 Years Apart
"I wore this in 1973 on my prom night," she said, nostalgia caked into her voice. "I never thought I'd take it out of its packaging again."
Despite living two states away, she took the first flight out the next day, bringing the dress to her granddaughter. But unknown to her, it carried a secret she'd long forgotten.
It’s Here!
Lisa's mom took the next day off, and she, Lisa's grandma, and Lisa spent the day preparing the dress for prom. It looked even better in Lisa's arms, with its material more exotic than her original dress.
Two days later, she walked down the school hall with her date by her side. The hall was alight with blue and pink lights, leading her to the dance. Tonight would be one for the ages.
At The Dance
Lisa hurried into the dance, and just as she'd daydreamed months ago, all the eyes were on her. Her boyfriend led her to the floor, and they started slow dancing.
But something pricked her thigh. The first time was just a mere scratch, but the second sent a sharp pain through her leg. She excused herself, limping to the bathroom.
Inside The Stitching
Lisa stepped on the sink, bunching up the dress's fluffy skirt. Her eyes furrowed as she saw it. Someone had affixed a piece of paper to the seam. Painstakingly, Lisa took it out, surprised to find it heavy. "An old envelope," she whispered, shaking it around—something jingled inside.
She tore it open, and a ring rolled into the sink. She picked it up, her eyes switching back to the envelope. Someone had scribbled words inside. "Magnolia Miller," the letter began. "Will you marry me? Henry Pritchett." Lisa gasped. Her grandpa's name wasn't Henry Pritchett.