I recently started my second year of study at Winterville University, a small college located on the outskirts of its namesake town in northern New York. The town has a population of around
5,000 and features a single screen theatre, a dollar store, a Shop-Mart, a Pizza Palace, a couple of small bars, a pair of motels and a fast food place. When my friends and I can't find anything to do on campus or in town, we drive 30 miles to Buffalo.
"Hey Cori," I hear behind me. I turn to greet my friend Wendy with a smile. Like me and our other 2 friends, she is plus-sized. The October sun reflects off her shoulder-length, curled
brunette hair the same way it is off my short, scarlet locks. She's wearing a black hoodie with a large royal blue image of a knight's profile centered on it. The image has white trim and the words Winterville Knights are written bellow in blue letters with white trim. Under the sweatshirt, she's wearing a tight pair of denim shorts, black tights, and ankle-high, light brown, heeled knit boots.
As she approaches I say, "Nice outfit."
Wendy shrugs, "it's comfortable. "Speaking of outfits," she continues while pointing to mine. "How did the interview go?"
I glance down at my floral patterned, thin-strapped blouse, rose-colored, forearm length, opened, sweater, forest green, knee-length accordion skirt, suntan hose and flats that match the skirt. "I think it went well. Mrs. Dawson said she had some other candidates to interview and will call me with her decision on Monday."
"I hope you get in," Wendy replies as we walk towards our dorm building. "That internship will give you such an advantage in the job market.
"Thanks, I say as we start walking towards the sophomore dorm. "How was your day?"
"It was alright," Wendy answers, "Professor Jones assigned a paper in psyc about Haloween. He wants us to explain our thoughts on the holiday and the psychological impact it has on society. I am tempted to write people like candy and turn that in. But, I think he's looking for a more in-depth analysis than that."
We share a laugh about the candy remark while entering the dorm lobby. "If I am not mistaken," I say while getting a soda from the vending machine, "Dawn is in that class as well."
"She is."
I crack open my drink and continue, "well, there is a Haloween Festival in Buffalo this weekend. We should go to give you and Dawn some hands-on research. Plus, it will be fun."
"That's a good idea, Cori. Run it by Ashley when you get upstairs and I'll talk to Dawn when she gets back to our room."
I nod and we go our separate ways. As I near my room, I hear Ashley's music. She listens to a lot of Symphonic Metal. Though it is not my favorite, I have come to enjoy it. As I enter the dorm, she turns the music down and greets me. "Hi Cori, how was your day?"
"It was good. What are you listening to?"
"It's a duet featuring the frontwomen of my two favorite bands."
As my roommate talks about the song and how great the artists sound together, I quietly admire what she's wearing. Ashley identifies as a goth and her outfit reflects that. The sleeveless black dress goes to mid thigh and has a lace frill at the bottom. It blends well with the slightly visible lace tops of her black, fishnet stockings. She has taken them off, but, I see a pair of black, knee-high, heeled leather boots next to her bed. I also notice that she has cut her jet black hair a half-inch above shoulder length and has styled it into a jawline bob.
"That sounds amazing," I reply, "Maybe you can play that for the group on our way to Buffalo tomorrow night."
Ashley parts her painted black lips and asks, "What are we going to Buffalo for?"
"Wendy was telling me about an assignment she and Dawn have for their psyc class. Something about how Haloween impacts society. Anyway, I suggested we all go to the festival in Buffalo for paper ideas and a bit of fun."
"That sounds great," Ashley replies, "but..."
"But what?"
"Well," she explains, " since the festival is tomorrow. It will be a pain in the ass to get plus size costumes on short notice. There are plenty of costumes online, but, anything short of expensive overnight shipping will not get the costumes delivered in time."
"Oh, I reply in a disappointed tone."
"I'm sorry," Ashley apologizes, "I didn't mean we are not going. We will just have to go to Shop-Mart and see what we can throw together."
An hour later, we met up with our friends, pile into Dawn's grey minivan and go to the store. After parking, we all head inside. Wendy, Ashley and I are in our outfits from before. Dawn, who does work-study in the financial aid office is dressed professionally in a dark brown, short-sleeved blouse and white, knee-length pencil skirt. Her legs and feet are clad in nude hose and black flats. Her long, sandy blonde hair is a bit messy after being confined in a ponytail all day. As expected, the Haloween section was picked clean. As we search through the remaining items, a woman appearing to be in her late 30's approaches us. She has her raven hair pulled into a bun and is wearing a dark grey blouse under a black business jacket. Beneath that she has on black business slacks and matching Mary Jane heels. In the small gap between the slacks and heels, I can see black nylon.
Unlike us, this woman has a perfect, fit body with mesmerizing D-Cup breasts.
"Limited options I see," she says to us.
"Yeah," I reply, "but, it is what it is. We will figure something out."
A sly smile forms across the woman's dark red lips as she adjusts her black, plastic-framed glasses. "I can help you ladies out with that."
"Oh?" Wendy inquires, "How?"
