So Valerie, office unknown, little girl everybody ignored, had been invited to the boss's big party. The boss, Marcus Burke, had been her idol ever since he'd paid a little attention to her when she worked at data processing. He'd taken her on a couple casual lunch dates, nothing great, even bought her a coffee once or twice, but it had affected her. She had the biggest crush on him any woman ever had for any man. He was her hero, her knight in shining armor. She'd gone all out for the party, new dress, new hair do, new everything. The party, this was supposed to be her big chance, her moment to shine. She'd get him to notice how sophisticated, how cosmopolitan, how really beautiful and smart she was. Then came the terrible disappointment. When she reached the party she was side tracked into becoming a serving girl, a maid. It sounded like an important way to help her boss, maybe even get noticed, but once she stepped out where the party was going on, she knew the truth. She was just the little nobody again. Dressed in a cute little maids outfit, patent leather shoes, white stockings, puffy white lace trimmed short sleeves, silly white peter-pan collar, fluffy little panties, tidy little white lace trimmed apron with a big bow in the back. She even had a white bow in her hair, she knew she was, just like at work, poor little Valerie, the girl everybody overlooked.
To her surprise, she didn't stay poor little unnoticed Valerie for very long. The man whom she had originally perceived as the butler descended on her. "Where have you been? Here take this tray and note pad. Pass among the guests and ascertain what they would like to drink. Identifying, obtaining and serving drinks shall be your primary duty until dinner is served. Mr. Burke is standing over there. The man pointed to a far corner. You're to keep an eye on him at all times. He's relying on you."
Valerie took the pad, pencil, and small tray, and she set about finding Mr. Burke. It didn't take long. She found him amid a large group of very well dressed men and women. The men were guffawing and the women were hanging on his every word. He was poised, handsome, and debonair. He was the center of the universe. Every comment, every observation, she could tell, revolved around him.
Keeping a safe distance between from Mr. Burke she walked among the guests. She was being vigilant for conversation, and for requests for drinks. She passed by Mr. Burke several times. She hoped he'd notice her. Perhaps, she thought, he'd acknowledge her in some secret way. Maybe he would give her a surreptitious wink? Perhaps he would condescend with a slight nod? Two or three times she passed by quite close, but he never, not once, gave the slightest indication she was even alive. She'd hoped for so much more. After more than an hour a simple nod or a wink would have made her evening. Her wonderful fantasy, her dream evening, had turned to ashes. Once she passed so close her elbow brushed his sleeve. He didn't even see her. He looked right through her. She really was the invisible girl. Tears welled up in her eyes.
One person did see her, a woman, and she made a point of signaling for her. Valerie saw the woman, a little short of stature and slightly heavier than the norm, waving a finger in her direction. As quickly as she could Valerie moved to where the woman was seated. She recognized the woman as someone who like bourbon and who liked to talk to the men. She was pretty. She had on a pale blue blouse and black skirt that came just to her knees. Her modest obesity was no impediment to her good looks. In fact, Valerie noticed she was one of the women the men seemed to gravitate to. She was either a very important person or a very personable one. Valerie thought, if she ever met this woman out someplace she'd probably like her. Once she got to where she was sitting the woman asked her to lean over.
The woman took a kerchief from her pocket, spit on it, and wiped Valerie's left cheek. Showing Valerie the red stain on the kerchief she said. "I see you've met Hannah and Hilda."
Valerie didn't know who those people were, and she didn't know what to say to this woman. So she said the only thing that seemed appropriate. "Ma'am?"
The seated woman gave Valerie a generous smile. "Hannah and Hilda are sisters. They're employees here. One of them must have kissed you on the cheek before sending you out."
Valerie realized who the woman was talking about. "Yes. They dressed me, and one did kiss me on the cheek."
The woman held out her hand. "She got you good. My name's Rosalind." She leaned and gently tugged on Valerie's collar forcing her to lean lower. "I'll bet you're Marcus's secret agent."
Valerie played dumb. "I don't know what you mean."
Rosalind asked. "What's your name."
Valerie answered. "I'm sorry. I'm Valerie Carlyle."
The woman named Rosalind asked. "Tell me Valerie Carlyle. What do you do when you're not serving drinks at private parties?"
Valerie had to make something up. "I work for a catering company headquartered in town."
"That's good. Very good." Then she dismissed Valerie with a smile and wave of the hand. "You can run a long now."
Valerie was glad to get away. Rosalind, or whoever she was, was the first, and thus far, the only person who'd actually noticed her. Up to then she'd been disappointed in her anonymity. Now she preferred it.
After Rosalind it was a long time before she was noticed again. The next time it wasn't nearly as pleasant.
Occasionally someone stopped her. They would ask if she could obtain a certain kind of mixed drink. She'd write down the request, go to the bar, secure the requested beverage and return it to the appropriate person. As the early evening wore on she started to receive more requests than she could easily keep up with. She wasn't having trouble getting the drinks, but the people would order from one location and then migrate to another part of the room. To overcome this Valerie started making little notes on her pad about what they might be wearing or some unique aspect of their appearance. This all went along fine for nearly an hour. It was helpful in getting the job done, and it helped assuage her disappointment. Then one of the guests glanced down at her harmless little note pad.
The woman who espied the pad asked. "What are you doing?"
The woman didn't sound very nice. "Are you taking notes on what everyone has on?"
The tone of her voice made Valerie uncomfortable. "Are you planning on buying some of these expensive gowns after you leave work tonight?"
The woman seemed to want to embarrass her. "You don't think you can afford any of these nice things do you?"
Valerie had been very careful all evening to be discreet in her notations. Excepting for Rosalind no one had noticed her all night. She was surprised anyone noticed this. She stopped and spoke to the woman. "No. I mean yes. I am taking notes on people's attire and appearance, but that's because people keep roaming around the room. This way I can more readily match the drink with the person who ordered it."
The woman took the pad and looked more closely. "Let me see. Who is this? It says sallow cheeks and squinted eyes. That isn't me is it?"
