Cinderella's Dress

by Shonna Slayton

  One time. She fell one time. Changing the subject, she asked, “Why are you at a GI dance?”

  “Got my notice this morning.”

  Her stomach dropped. Not another one. She pulled him in a little tighter, as if her arms could keep him from going away. Fighting to wipe the emotions off her face, she looked past his shoulder. She breathed deeply, afraid he could feel her tremble on the exhale.

  “Why are you here?” he asked through her silence.

  “I came with my brother. He leaves for Fort Sheppard tomorrow.”

  Johnny tilted her chin to examine her eyes. “Don’t worry—for either of us. Boot camp takes a while.”

  Oh, don’t turn tender on me, Johnny Day. She took another deep breath. “My dad’s in Italy.”

  “Your dad, too?”

  “He’s not fighting. His job is to look at the maps and tell them which buildings to avoid. After the troops have gone in, he assesses damage and tries to save what he can. They’re trying to ensure we leave the war with the world’s treasures still intact.”

  “Wow. I’d never thought of that. You’re right, we could end up destroying so much of history. Your dad’ll have some interesting stories when he gets home. I’d love to hear about it.”

  “Convince Mr. G to let me do windows, and maybe you will.”

  “Ha! Nice try. You’ll have to stick to dressing the manikins.”

  “I can do more than the manikins. My uncle Adalbert says I’ve got an eye for design.”

  “Mr. Oberlin is your uncle?” Johnny appeared to take new interest. “The guy has a real reputation. The society dames all fight over his work. How come he won’t become a full-out designer? That’s where the money is. Once he gets his name out there, he’d be set.”

  “I don’t know. He’s happy doing what he’s doing. He doesn’t want his name known.”

  “Why not? What is he—a mobster?”

  “No! He’s a Jew from Poland.”

  “Hey, guys,” called out Josie. “Hate to interrupt, but the music’s stopped. Kate, we gotta go.” Josie stood with her arms crossed and a bemused look on her face.

  Simultaneously, Kate and Johnny let go, stepping away. They stared at each other through the awkwardness.

  “Thanks for the dancing, Sparky.”

  Kate smiled her response, then linked arms with Josie as they threaded their way back to the meeting place.

  “I really hated to break that up,” Josie said. “But I was standing there for a while and neither of you noticed.” She giggled. “Sparky.”

  …

  The next day, Kate moped around the apartment. No Elsie to practice tatting with. Mom was shut away in her bedroom. Floyd was on his way across the country. She vaguely remembered Floyd kissing her cheek and tucking a blanket around her the way Dad used to do. Her last memory of a brother off to war. Would their family ever be all together again?

  A door knock broke the tedium.

  Josie! They needed to talk about the dance.

  Kate flung open the door. “I’m so glad you—” She froze. Standing in the hallway was an old rabbi. His face was kind, with a thick beard and dark eyes behind small spectacles.

  “Hello,” he said, his voice deep and slow. “I am looking for Adalbert Oberlin. Is he in?”

  Her stomach tightened. Was this a Burgosov? Or a Kolodenko? He was certainly not an angry stepsister nor a princess. He could simply be a rabbi. But Adalbert had been very clear that they were not to give out any information. Besides, this man was probably Adalbert’s rabbi friend. He had the same thick Polish accent. But if he were Adalbert’s friend, he would know they moved, wouldn’t he?

  “I’m sorry we do not often hear from our Polish relatives,” Kate said. “But if you leave me your name, I could forward your information.”

  The rabbi smiled wide. “I have urgent news for Adalbert. There is a ship coming from Italy with one thousand refugees. The people he seeks might be onboard. Is good news? The paper will have their names.”

  “I thought the government wasn’t accepting refugees.” Kate eyed him suspiciously, glad for her previous talk with her brother.

  “They are this one time. Sending them to a camp in Oswego, New York.”

  Kate thought back to her kitchen chats with Elsie. Who do you trust? You speak careful. Your neighbor brings eggs for you today, calls police tomorrow. Kate’s imagination led her to occupied Poland and suspecting the man at the door was a SS agent. Her hands turned cold and she shook her head. “Maybe you misunderstood me. We don’t often hear from our Polish relatives,” she said, repeating the line Elsie had given her. “What is your name?”

  “I am Rabbi Joseph Mintz. Can you not tell me the way? He needs to know.” He made a move like he was going to enter the apartment.

  “I can’t help you,” she said quickly and closed the door. She splayed her hand over her heart, then slid the chain lock into place for good measure.

  She forced a laugh. Elsie’s stories were getting to her. The poor rabbi. He must think her the rudest girl in New York.

  Kate went over to the window and peeked out the lace curtain. She scanned the street below the way she’d seen Adalbert keep surveillance. The rabbi was nowhere to be seen.

  “What are you doing?” asked Mom, emerging from her bedroom. “Adalbert’s strange ways must have rubbed off on you. I saw him standing there for hours watching the street.” She went into the kitchen to make her morning coffee. “You’d think they were still in Poland with that nervous way they’ve got.”

  “There was a rabbi here looking for Adalbert. He said there is a ship coming with refugees.”

  “Yes, I believe I heard something about that. Did you tell him where they moved?”

  “No!” Kate looked at her mother in disbelief. “Remember, they didn’t want us to give out any information about them to anyone.”

  Mom rolled her eyes. “They’re safe now. They need to get used to trusting people again.”

  “All the same, I’ll do what they asked.”

  Dear Kate,

  Basic training is going fine. They have us up at 4:30 a.m. and work us like dogs until lights out at nine p.m. You’d never survive. Especially the GI Haircut. Sure makes it easy to keep, though. Wait until you see me in uniform. Won’t be able to keep the girls off me now.

  How are my Rosies back home? You and Mom doing okay? Don’t work too hard, especially since you’re back in school. Take your schoolwork seriously. (Don’t I sound like Dad now?) Talk around here is that we may not even get to see any action. Our boys are pounding it out on all fronts. As long as I leave this thing as a pilot, I won’t mind too much.

  Have you heard from Dad lately?

  Love,

  Your soldier-brother, Floyd

  P.S. You are allowed to send packages to me, you know. Maybe you can scrape up enough rations for those brownies I like?

  Dear Floyd,

  Here are your brownies. You can thank Uncle Adalbert for getting the cocoa powder, and I had barely enough almond extract. Glad to hear you are so handsome. I’ll let your girlfriend here know how you’ve gone to war to fight off the ladies. She’ll be thrilled.

  She’s come to visit us, just so you know. Ha ha! We think she’s sweet enough for you.

  Love,

  Your smart sister

  P.S. The toothbrush and toothpaste are from Mom.

  Dear Kate:

  Yum, those brownies were the best. I wouldn’t share any of them with the other guys, and they were a little put out. Glad you came to the dance and met Mary before I left. She is a doll, isn’t she? She’s been writing me some awfully sweet letters. I read some parts out loud to make the other guys jealous.

  Two big pieces of news: I’m getting a pass this weekend, so me and some of the guys I’ve fallen in with are going out on the town. Next thing is, I’m going to another base soon. Probably after these classes are finished. You’d be proud of me. Studying hard and getting good grades in aircraft mechanics. Maybe I�
�m a natural.

  Love,

  Your handsome brother

  P.S. Tell Mom I’d rather have a few crisp dollar bills than toothpaste. I seem to run through money here like water.

  P.S. 2 Anything from Dad?

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I don’t believe it.” Johnny was sitting on the floor in the display closet, untangling mixed-up cords from some lights.

  Kate leaned against the doorframe and grinned. She had given up avoiding him ever since he showed his sweet side at the dance, and today she couldn’t help but seek him out to tell him the news. She wanted to see the look on his face when she told him she’d done it. “I told you I’d get your job when you went off to war.”

  “Well, I’m taking it back after we win this thing. I can’t believe Mr. G hired a girl.”

  “For starters, you’re right, it’s only dressing manikins. But he says he’s shorthanded with all you boys shipping out, so you never know.” Kate tried to sound upbeat, but there was a catch in her voice.

  Johnny changed the subject. “I bet Mr. G will let you help keep track of all the details, too.” He grinned. “Like displaying winter flowers in the winter instead of the summer.”

  Kate knelt beside Johnny and took hold of another knot of cords. “How long do you have to do all the little things before you get to design your own window?”

  “Your own window?” He laughed and slapped his leg. “You’re a real kidder. No, that’s up to the guys. You are more like a consultant. These guys are artists. They care more about what looks good and less about which shoes and purses the ladies wear with which skirt.”

  “But I will get to help build the windows, right?”

  He shook his head. “Out of the question. You can’t go in there at night with all those guys. And besides, you don’t have the muscles for the job. It’s hard work. You’ll stay in Women’s Wear helping Miss Lassiter pick out the dresses and dressing Daphne; I’m sure that’s all he meant when he talked with you.”

  “Daphne?”

  “She’s the manikin with the blond hair. She’s got a trick arm. Keeps falling off if you don’t get it in the right way.”

  Kate frowned. There was no way she was going to get stuck on manikins forever. Somehow, she’d prove her worth.

  “Hey, I like ya, so I’m going to give you my best advice. Talk your mom into transferring you to New York’s School of Industrial Art. It’s a high school, but they’ve got classes there for display artists. I’ve got a buddy there right now. But if that doesn’t work out for ya, and you got the motivation, go study the other stores. Get someone to go out late with you on window night so you can watch how they do it. Try Bonwit’s and Bergdorf’s.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, and Delman’s, too. You’d be surprised at what they can do with shoes. There’s almost always twenty-eight of them in each window. Fourteen pairs. Count, and you’ll see.”

  “Thanks.” She purposely bumped her knee against his. “It’s not going to be the same here without you.”

  “Aw, ain’t that the sweetest thing anyone’s said to me all day.” He bumped her knee back before scrambling up. “How about I take you out to lunch before I skip town?”

  “I’m meeting my aunt Elsie at the lunch counter. She’s never experienced one before.”

  “Then I’ll take you both out.” He held out his hand to lift her up.

  The lunch counter was cram-packed. The waitresses were in full swing, calling out orders to the cooks. “I need a bride and groom on a raft with some Murphy’s on the side.” Another chimed in with, “Three sinkers, hold the fly specks, and a cup o’ mud.”

  Kate was torn between scanning for open seats and watching Elsie’s expression as the orders were called out. Eventually, three men stood to leave.

  “There,” she said, pointing midway down and yelling above the noise. Johnny rushed the seats while she provided an arm to guide Elsie.

  They ordered roasted hot dogs, Johnny’s with everything on it, and chocolate malts.

  “Sorry, no chocolate or ice cream today,” said the waitress. “Why don’t you try our Victory punch? Loganberry phosphate with lime.”

  They agreed, though Kate’s taste buds were set on chocolate. The waitress called in the order. “Three bun pups, paint two red and drag another through the garden. Three V-punch.”

  “These are strange words to order,” said Elsie. “I like it. Is funny.”

  “What do you think of America?” asked Johnny.

  “Oh, is fine country,” said Elsie. “We happy to be here. Reunited with family.” She smiled. “Kate tells me you are leaving for war, like her brother.”

  “How bad is it over there, really?” Johnny’s voice was serious for once.

  “Is very bad. I never see such suffering. Adalbert and I are old, so sometimes the people pay us no attention. We deliver little packages, this is what we called the children, to safe places away from cities.”

  “Did you have to leave?” asked Kate. “Couldn’t you stay where you hid the children?”

  “Is hard being Jew in Europe. Not safe. Adalbert for who he is, me for marrying him. We had to leave. For that and other reasons.”

  While Elsie talked, Johnny doodled. Elsie watched him draw for a bit, then said, “You make good pictures. If I describe, can you draw?”

  Johnny shrugged. “I could try.”

  Elsie began to describe a stone cottage. As it took shape, Kate watched Johnny’s set jaw, his strong arm, and his hand’s short, quick movements. If only she could pause time. As soon as they got up and walked out the door, who knew what turn their lives would take?

  When the drawing was finished, Johnny handed it to Elsie. “There you go.”

  She studied the small stone cottage set on a mountain. Without commenting on what it was, she folded it and put in her purse.

  Meanwhile, Johnny had shoved a paper and pen in Kate’s direction. “Why don’t you give me your address so I can help you with Mr. G? You can ask me anything you want about window design. He’ll wonder how you can know so much when he hasn’t taught you.”

  As Kate wrote down her address in her best handwriting, she thought back to Josie and all her pen pals she’d collected at the dance. Wait until she heard about Kate’s new pen pal.

  …

  “Why are we looking at windows only?” asked Aunt Elsie.

  “Because it is Saturday, and the stores are closed because of the war. I’m trying to learn from the window displays. Are your legs okay?” Kate held to Elsie’s arm, walking slowly like Adalbert warned her to.

  Elsie waved her hands. “I tripped. Adalbert is making too much trouble. I am fit as fiddle.” She changed the subject. “How is your job being? You are making these windows?”

  “Not yet. I’m not allowed in after hours. But if I were helping with this window here, I would have dressed the manikins and added the jewelry. Maybe pick up some stray pins or something the next day. The men don’t catch everything in the cleanup. I hope they give me more responsibility soon. I think I’d be good at designing.”

  “Of course you would be. Talent runs in family.”

  “Speaking of talent, Johnny thinks Uncle Adalbert should open his own design house.” Kate watched for Elsie’s reaction, expecting her to be pleased at the compliment.

  “Oh, no.” She waved her hands in protest. “Adalbert’s heart is in Poland. He is needing time to talk with other Polish men.”

  “That reminds me. A rabbi came to the door. Joseph Mintz. Did he find Adalbert? I did what you told me.” Kate lowered her voice. “You know, pretend you hadn’t been living there.”

  Elsie patted Kate’s hand. “A rabbi? I am not being worried about a rabbi. I cannot remember each person Adalbert is friends with. He was probably someone who forgot we moved. You did correct. I am only being careful because of the sake of the dress.”

  Despite what Elsie said about not being worried, a troubled expression passed over her features. She walked on to the next window. “
There was a man who came to our door with news about Warsaw Uprising,” Elsie continued. “Maybe that was same man? Our home army, the Armia Krajowia, rise up. We thought Soviet army coming to help this time. Then something happened, and they are not coming. Leaving Poles to fight alone.” She shook her head. “Adalbert has much to do. He helps as best he can from here.”

  “No, he said there was a ship coming with refugees. He thought Adalbert might be interested in the passenger list.”

  “We always pay attention to refugee list. We look for family and we look for enemy.”

  “Do you think the war will be over soon?”

  “I hope so.”

  “And then will you go home?” Kate asked, her eyes averted. “Take your trunk with you?” She pretended to be extremely interested in a display of fine cookware. She didn’t want to push Elsie, but she needed to know. And she missed dreaming about the dress. It had been weeks since she’d imagined the ball gown. It was like Adalbert and Elsie took the dream with them when they moved out. She missed talking with Elsie about Kopciuszek like she missed seeing Babcia working the dough in the kitchen. Life felt off somehow. Adalbert must have convinced Elsie to stop talking about the dress. Kate needed to get her started again.

  Elsie stood beside Kate on the sidewalk in front of the display window. Their reflections revealed a small, still-too-thin woman with white hair pulled back into a chignon standing arm-in-arm with a tall teenager, whose unruly hair was stuffed into a straw hat and who was biting her lip. Behind them walked the busy people of the city in a hurry to get somewhere and not paying any attention to the two. Except one woman, standing near the road. She wore a kerchief like Elsie sometimes did and was staring at them. Kate tried to think how long she had been watching them. Could she be a stepsister? Was she following them?

  “Aunt Elsie, turn slowly and look at the woman behind us with the kerchief. Does she look familiar?”

  With no subtlety, Elsie turned around. The woman glanced away and began crossing the street. “Which woman?” she asked loudly, and several passing by glanced their way.