"Oh my God! Look at the prices on some of these prom dresses. I can't afford these?"
"Quit pouting already. Carwash cash to the rescue." Britney pelted her bestie Cryssa on the forehead playfully.
"I thought we were saving that money for our Daytona trip."
"We have enough. Besides we can always throw another carwash."
Tara Zellers bulges her eyes, "Another one? Say what?"
"Just a thought. If we get too low on our funds we might have to."
"How can we possibly top the last one? I don't think the Firehouse will let us pull a stunt like that on their property again." Sophia Pope frowns while looking over a blue dress with rhinestone pearls.
Britney Foxx ponders the matter as she too rifles through dress after dress in the store. None seemed to attract her. She had something specific in mind and would shop until she found it."
"See anything you like Nancy?" Dawn Lawrence the resident redhead asks while merely browsing without actually touching. Nancy Barker grimaces in Dawn's direction with a hint of hopelessness.
"Nothing here will fit my big ass."
"Now! Now!" Dawn scolded her knowing that Nancy was hard on herself being the extra big girl of the group, "They tailor to fit so stop already."
"They're going to need three dresses to make one for me."
Cryssa hearing her remark snorts then looks away with bulging eyes. She didn't want to offend Nancy but her comments just came across as hilarious. The other girls smirked but kept their thoughts to themselves. As the group divides an Employee enters the scene offering help.
"Good morning Ladies. My name is Vivian let me know if I can be of assist. Looking for Prom dresses I bet."
Britney peps up, "Do you have anything almost Amish but not?"
"First time I've heard that one." Vivian was taken by surprise, " So, very conservative? No low front cleavage? Front or back?"
"Forget I asked that. My date is Mennonite. I know his family will want to take pictures and I don't want to come across as slutty."
"But, you are slutty." Cryssa chokes and runs.
"You're one to talk Harlot." Brit calls out then instantly calms herself, "Sorry Vivian. She is right about one thing I like showing more skin than most. But, for Jonah I'm going to try and keep it together if you know what I mean."
"Do we have a color in mind?" Vivian works with Britney.
"Neutral. Too flashy might upset his parents."
"I see. White?"
"As long as it doesn't look like a wedding dress. So never getting hitched."
"We all say that Dear." Vivian wags a diamond ring in front of the girls, "I said yes exactly one year ago. Our anniversary is tomorrow."
"Not too late to throw him back." Cryssa had to be sarcastic again. This time Tara slaps the Filipino beauties back of the head, "HEY! You guys are gonna give me whiplash. Or, mess up my awesome hair."
"Be nice Cryssa." Dawn points threateningly, "We can slap you from all sides."
"Only on the ass Red."
"That's for kicking." Sophia chuckles.
"I'll hide behind Nancy. You'll never find me."
"Stop being a bitch already." Brit throws her arms to her sides, palms up with a glare of "What the fuck!"
"Apologize to Nancy. Now!" Brit stares with a bitter look. Nancy was half of their ride. Brit's mother Rita was outside smoking before coming in to be of assist.
Vivian York smirks at their banter knowing they were merely being mischievous. As if ignoring them the Employee in her late 20's glances about for possibilities to suggest to Britney. Before she could point out an option Cryssa bulges her eyes and drops her jaw.
"OH MY GAWD! That dress is so mwah." She races to grab a stunning red number from a clothes rod. It was a shoulder less number that had short bicep sleeves to hold the dress up. It's train was fairly long. Too long for her short legs, "I would look like a salsa dancer in this. I love it." She looks at the price and perks up, "Hey! This is only $175.00. How awesome is that?"
Vivian smiles, "With your deep complexion that dress would look stunning on you. You're welcome to try it on. The changing room is right over there." Of course over there meant the back of the store that had an opening into an adjoining store for Men that dealt with Tuxedos. Eying the sign above the entry Cryssa busted up laughing, "Look! The Tuxedo Store is called Tux to be You."
Everyone chose to laugh. Even Vivian.
"The owners of our stores here have a very smart sense of humor." She was speaking of herself. Vivian and her Man owned both stores side by side. "It draws people in."
"So that's why this place is called Gown South?" Tara brightens up, "I thought it was just because we're in Florida. As far South as we can get."
As Cryssa shuffles toward the dressing room she stops cold as she notices three men her age in the Tuxedo store. It was obvious they were looking for their own Prom Tux's. All three were drop dead studs. With a loud whistle her friends look on their own. Jaws dropped at the sight. Her shrill whistle so loud that the guys heard her as well.
Immediate flirting began. Cryssa was all winks and blown kisses. Two of the three guys returned the favor.
Britney still searching for the perfect dress rolled her eyes at Vivian, "Ignore her. She's just being Filly."
"Don't you mean silly?"
"Nope. Filipino. Filly."
"Ohhh! That's cute. I was going to suggest the black version of her dress. With the exception of the spaghetti straps that accent the shoulders. If you're worried about your dates family you could wear a shawl. When you're around them just pull it together over your cleavage."
"Black shawl?"
"Of course." Vivian procures the dress in question and removes the plastic covering, "Here! Try it on."
"Me likey." After fives seconds of examination Brit follows Cryssa toward the changing rooms. Which were merely separate stalls with curtains to pull when changing. Before long Tara and Sophia occupied the final two of four stalls. Dawn indecisive chose to be supportive toward Nancy.
Outside in the parking lot Rita Foxx took her final drag on her cigarette and stepped on it to put it out. On her cellphone she had been talking to her employer a known Escort service about potential clients. She needed a few more days to spend with her kids and figure out her new life now that husband Keith was essential claiming another man's wife as his. Sharing was not what she necessarily wanted but at the same time she did love her husband. For now this was for the kids. Hanging up she starts to stroll toward Gown South when her cell rings again. Speak of the Devil.
"Break away from the cast of Witness?" She mocks Keith over the similarities of the Amish community Harrison Ford hid out with in the movie.
"Can it Rita. I just dropped Mary and Grace off at the fabric store. Why Mary insists on making Grace's prom dress I'll never know. Soon as I get them home I told Jonah and Zeke I'd help them find Tuxedos. I'm shocked their families are being so open to the mixed communities."
"What about Lance?"
"Left him at the farm. You won't believe what he's wearing. Our son got all dressed up in a shirt and tie. He's really intent on getting that girl he and the boys met. Permission appears to be a priority to prove himself. Same for Styles and Evan. Both are looking like catalog models. Our brats are growing up."
"With the way our entire family has turned into whores? I wouldn't go that far. Impressions are only to get them laid. You know that."
"Ah well. As long as they have fun. They graduate here soon so we might as well spoil them."
"With my money Mister Unemployed."
"Yeah, yeah Miss leave me to raise our kids while you..."
"Alright already, point made. I'm a lousy mother. Mister Dad with a wife and a mistress."