Cinderella's Dress

by Shonna Slayton

  Kate thought of her mother’s confession about the letter she threw out. Even though she wanted to continue the family legacy herself, Kate was beginning to see that her branch in the family had made a habit of failing the legacy. She either needed to change that, or give the dresses up.

  …

  The next day, Kate went directly to the Oberlins’ after school. “Josie will be here later tonight,” she said when Adalbert let her in. “She’s excited to help recreate those dresses. She thinks you are considering starting your own design company. I didn’t argue with her too much.” Kate slung her schoolbag on the table. “There is one condition: she gets to have her picture taken wearing the copies.”

  “Tak,” Adalbert said with a smile. “We will do that for Josie.” He led Kate into the living room where the basic form of the ball gown was already beginning to take shape. Elsie was seated at the sewing machine. She smiled at Kate but didn’t greet her.

  Kate shot a questioning look at Adalbert.

  He shook his head slightly. Then he directed his attention at his ailing wife. “Kate is here to help us with the ball gown.”

  Elsie looked a little confused but smiled anyway.

  “There are sections that need to be hand stitched. You can piece these together. I have marked where you are to sew. When you are done, I will attach them to the dress.” He frowned. “I am sorry, but you will need to do most of the tatting. Elsie can help make the lace, but has trouble staying to one pattern. You’ll have to decide how much of it you can use.”

  Kate examined her fingers, wondering how raw they were going to be at the end of all this. “Elsie did teach me everything I needed to know. Except there is no way I can tat the entire shawl. I’ll have to modify the pattern so it looks similar but takes less time.”

  After an hour of working, Kate stood up to stretch her legs. She smiled at Aunt Elsie. “Would you like some tea?”

  Elsie nodded.

  “Uncle Adalbert?”

  “No, thank you.” He was busy attaching pieces of fabric to the dress form.

  Kate went into the kitchen, followed by Elsie. She got out the tea and teapot and set the new kettle on the stove to boil.

  “You have been here often,” Elsie said in Polish, as she watched Kate move about the kitchen.

  “Tak.”

  Her eyes teared up. “I’m sorry I don’t know you.”

  “It’s okay,” Kate said in Polish, trying to sound cheerful. “I know you. You’re my aunt Elsie. Your sister Katja was my grandma.”

  “When I was a girl, I met a princess. Only I didn’t believe her at first. I thought she was telling tales. We liked to play in the garden while our fathers talked. Katja, my sister, never liked to join us. She was too shy around strangers. But this girl, she told me that Cinderella was her great-great-great, and so on, grandmother.”

  Not wanting to break the moment, Kate helped Elsie into the kitchen chair. This was the most Elsie had talked to her in weeks. Kate held Elsie’s gaze, hoping to send her aunt the strength to keep going.

  Elsie touched Kate’s hand. “I laughed so hard at the girl. Cinderella her great-great-great-grandmother. I asked her quite cheekily why she didn’t live in a castle. She lifted her chin and said, ‘We don’t anymore since the kingdom was overthrown. But that doesn’t change who I am.’

  “From that moment on, I wanted to know that girl, real princess or not.” Elsie sighed, sounding content at the memory. “I made her prove it to me. She told me she couldn’t because they didn’t keep the dress at the house, and her mother only brought it out on special occasions so all the women and girls in the family could see it.”

  “Did it come with matching shoes?” Kate asked.

  Adalbert, drawn to his wife’s voice, stood in the doorway listening in.

  “Shoes?” Elsie said thoughtfully.

  Kate leaned forward. “Yes, magical ones that would help you find someone.” Please Elsie, remember. This is important.

  Elsie shook her head. “There were no shoes. No one said anything about shoes. We keep the dresses and that is all.”

  There has to be shoes. There were shoes in the fairy tale and on Babcia’s egg.

  Elsie continued her story. “‘What dress?’ I asked the princess-girl.

  “‘Why, the gown Cinderella wore to the ball, of course,’ she answered. ‘When she captured the heart of my great-great-great-grandfather.’

  “‘But that was a story. They aren’t real people,’ I insisted.” Elsie’s eyes grew misty.

  “‘Are, too. They’ve only been forgotten. Like a legend.’ The princess-girl’s father, dressed in a fine wool suit, opened the door to my father’s study. They both saw our flushed faces but didn’t say anything. When she left, I told Father what a fibber I had for a friend. He said, ‘Haven’t you ever wondered what kind of business her father would have with your mother and me, a simple tailor?’

  “‘Making suits for him?’ I asked.

  “My father laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose. It is the perfect cover. I’m sure that’s what everyone else thinks, too. But no. I sew nothing for him. Occasionally, I mend a dress now and then, but that is not our main responsibility.’

  “He turned his back to me,” Elsie continued, “and took a large painting down from the wall in his study. There was a safe behind it. I never knew it was there. ‘Can you keep a secret, Elsie?’ he asked. I assured him I could.

  “‘I think you must, otherwise, your friend would not have been so bold to tell you her secret. She must trust you.’

  “I watched him dial in the numbers then pop the safe open. ‘Your friend is quite right about who she is. She is one of Cinderella’s descendants.’ He pulled out a large wooden box and set it on his desk.”

  At this point in the story, Aunt Elsie pulled the teacups toward her and filled them. Her hands shook a little as she poured the teapot. Kate resisted the urge to help. Adalbert had explained that he let Elsie do as much as she could when she was able.

  “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” she continued. “But when I saw the dress! Oh, when I saw the dress. It was the beginning of imagination.” She hesitated. “My mother came in and saw what Father was showing me. She had that dress wrapped and back in its hiding place before I even registered her anger. You see, my sister was always her favorite, and Mother never intended for me to find out about the dresses.” Elsie looked away. “Such began my obsession with clothing, which led me to become a seamstress, which led me to meet Adalbert.”

  Kate smiled. Aunt Elsie was back. Her memories had led her stitch by stitch to the present. But no shoes. Does that mean they don’t exist, or that the Burgosov family has them?

  “Once we married, Adalbert was allowed in on the secret,” Elsie added.

  Adalbert placed his hand on Elsie’s shoulder and squeezed. Reflexively, she lifted her hand to cover his. “When my mother grew too old to protect the dresses, I took over.” She looked into her teacup. “Katja had already left for America. No one else in the family knew. Now it is your turn to keep the secret.”

  “But Adalbert told Johnny.”

  Aunt Elsie smiled. “Did he?”

  Kate lifted her hands in confusion. “You don’t mind? It’s supposed to be a secret.”

  “Is hard secret to keep in a marriage.”

  Kate’s eyes went wide.

  “Adalbert has a feeling about these things. He’s never been wrong yet. He knew about me the first day we met. Maybe the dress has worked its magic on Johnny.”

  “I don’t want him liking me because of a dress.” That would be terrible. She should never have tried on the wedding dress.

  “No. It is not like that. The magic only brings out what is already there. It is salt bringing out the flavor in the soup. It won’t make him love you. It will only encourage the true feelings he has.”

  They sipped their tea in silence for a minute before Elsie returned to her story.

  “The next time I saw the princess, I told her
I’d seen the dress. She didn’t know that my family was Keeper of the dress. I thought, she trusted me; I should trust her. After all, she was heir to the dress, and I wanted to be the heir to its guardianship. Our friendship grew stronger after that. We shared a secret that any little girl would love to know about and dream. The princess told me the rest of the stories about her famous grandmother.”

  “Why does the dress have to be guarded? Why not keep it close to the family?” Kate asked, pleased that her Polish had carried her so far in the conversation.

  “Their family history is filled with fighting, like many families of wealth and power. Fighting within makes the family trust no one. In the generation after Cinderella, there was a palace coup. Her children fought over many of the family heirlooms, and the ball gown in particular. Some people say the ball gown can be used to find fortune and power, since that is what Cinderella eventually gained. I believe that is what the Burgosovs are after.

  “No matter the reason, it is a prized possession. Esmerelda melded the families together. She wanted her adopted daughter to be cared for, so she created the Keeper role for her. And Cinderella decreed that the dress could not be owned by any one princess. It was to be shared by all. Accessible to all. Kept away from all. Needless to say, the royal family crumbled, and another family rose to power and took over the kingdom. The remaining Kolodenkos live reclusively now. They are not easy to locate. They ask for the dresses rarely.

  “Where they can, they help other leaders push back the darkness. For example, having the ball gown in the presence of ambassadors reveals true intentions as the dress magnifies these thoughts. The Burgosov clan, on the other hand, works on the side of evil. Continually seeking the destruction of others. It is bred into them. Those who stay, anyway. Very few have been known to leave.

  “They are a tricky clan and I noticed Katja was friendly with some of them. She said they were different from the others, that they wanted peace between the families. I told Mother that Katja would soon betray us.” She looked away. “I didn’t know this, of course, I only hoped it so that I could become the next Keeper. But my mother believed me over Katja, and named me the next Keeper. Katja was furious. She soon married and left Poland, and us.” Elsie sighed. “I would love to see Fyodora again, Adalbert. Before…”

  He patted her hand. “Yes, I know. I am trying to contact the princess.”

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Tuesday’s window night arrived along with a crowd of people gathered outside in the dark for the first glimpse of the next scene.

  Roy poked his head out from the curtain. “I bet half that crowd is reporters from around the country. Every two-bit paper is covering this window. Would you believe I even bumped into a French reporter out there tracking the New Look protesters? Not to mention the magically disappearing and reappearing dress. You had a good idea here, kid. I’d be surprised if Mr. G. didn’t ask your opinion a little more often after this.”

  Absentmindedly, Kate smiled. It was hard to focus on their success when she’d checked her locker for the wedding dress and it wasn’t there. Josie told her she brought the dress to the store, no problems. So where was it?

  Also, outside, in that same crowd, was the Burgosov who had been trailing her all day. But no matter, now. Tonight was a work night, and she was standing by the wings ready to do whatever Mr. G needed. Cinderella was already dressed from the last window, the fairy godmother transformation. Tonight’s window was made for dancing.

  Mr. G brought in a huge clock to form the backdrop. The time was set to one minute before midnight.

  “Listen up, crew. We are stripping the stage bare tonight. In the center, under the spotlight, will be the shoe.”

  “Glass slipper, sir,” interrupted Neil.

  Mr. G continued, “The shoe is the focus of the window. Cinderella and the prince will be visible under softer lighting. Cinderella running away and the prince like this.” Mr. G posed with his hand reaching toward Cinderella. “The shoe and the clock. This mantel clock is the latest in home furnishings. I made a copy ten times the size. All the smaller windows around the store will hold clock, watch, and shoe displays. Any questions?”

  Kate wanted to ask if anyone had noticed the unusually large and unfriendly man who had been following her and hanging around the store all week. But she didn’t. It would only raise more questions than make her feel better. Instead, she examined the dress sparkling innocently under the lights.

  “Let’s get to work then.” Mr. G saw Miss Lassiter step into the room and he smiled. Actually smiled. No, he grinned like a love-struck schoolboy as he made his way over to her. Miss Lassiter, who usually left by the employee exit. The same Miss Lassiter who had never stayed so late before.

  Kate watched after him in shock as the two stood conspiratorially close. Could it be that the magic of the dress revived their earlier romance?

  Neil walked by carrying a piece of the carriage. He set it down near her feet. “I don’t know if it is this window or this spring air, but something has gotten into Mr. G. I’d say he’s flirting.”

  “That window is magic, I’m tellin’ ya,” said Roy. “I’ve brought flowers home for my gal every night this week. Don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

  Kate ducked her chin to hide her knowing smile.

  Since the manikins were already dressed, Kate didn’t have a specific responsibility for this window. She tried to keep her mind focused on learning more about window design. But her thoughts kept going back to Uncle Adalbert working feverishly on the fake dresses. She should be helping him.

  When Kate left for the night, she looked for the tall Burgosov who was shadowing her. She didn’t see him in the crowd milling about in front of the store. She couldn’t hear his footsteps following her. Maybe he was staying behind to make sure the dress was still in the window. To be sure, when she got home, she pushed aside the lace and scanned the street below.

  “What are you looking for?” Mom asked.

  Kate jumped. “Nothing.”

  “You’ve been so jittery lately. Something going on that I should know about? Something you regret? You and Josie haven’t gotten into any trouble have you?”

  “No, Mom.”

  “Maybe you’ve been spending too much time over at the Oberlins’,” she said. She opened the refrigerator and rifled through it. “Why don’t I take them a dinner tomorrow? You’ve been over there every night for the past week.”

  “No,” Kate said a little too loudly. “I’m getting more sewing lessons.” She tossed her shoes into the closet.

  “You? You hate sewing.” Mom looked warily at Kate.

  “I’m learning how to sew a ball gown.” She headed for the kitchen. Hoping to find a way to steer her mother in a different direction, she asked, “Want a snack?”

  “A ball gown?” There was a smile in her mother’s voice. “Does this mean you might be going to prom?”

  “Oh, uh.” Kate stumbled over the words. She had forgotten about the prom. “Maybe.”

  “And you want to go with Johnny?” she asked. “You can hint that the prom is coming up. He’ll know to ask you.”

  Kate chewed her lip. She wanted to tell her what was going on, but she couldn’t.

  “You know, your father and I…” Mom’s voice trailed off.

  Her mom still couldn’t talk about Dad.

  Mom let out a deep sigh. “I was approved for a new apartment.”

  “What?” Kate stared at her. Uncle Adalbert worked fast.

  “They said we can move in a week from Tuesday.”

  “Where is it?”

  “It’s that new Stuyvesant Town, on the east side of Manhattan. A fine step up from this place. Everyone is trying to get in. The wait list is longer than any I’ve ever been on.”

  “But how?”

  Mom shrugged. “I don’t know. I put our name in a long time ago. Rent is fifty dollars per month. Within our budget.”

  Uncle Adalbert and his mysterious connections.
Kate ran her fingers over the initials her brother had carved into his kitchen chair when he was thirteen. She didn’t want to move. Ever.

  Mom came over and wrapped an arm around Kate. “I’m going to turn it down.”

  “You what?” But they had to move. Who knew how long they would have before the Burgosovs discovered the switch?

  “I guess I’ve settled in here over the years. Moving up doesn’t seem as important anymore.”

  Kate fingered her amber necklace. She didn’t want to leave, either. But they might not have a choice.

  “Babcia used to play with her necklace like you’re doing now.”

  “I know.”

  “Then she would say, ‘Never seek the wind in the field for it is useless to seek what is gone.’”

  “And that means?”

  “For Babcia, I don’t know. For us? It means we may never know what happened to your father. We don’t always get the answers we want. Sometimes all we are left with is questions and our memories, and we have to trust that is enough.”

  Mom was sounding more and more like Babcia. Did all Polish women grow up to quote proverbs?

  Kate was torn about the moving, but what they wanted to do and what they had to do were two different things. If she’d learned anything about living for the duration, that was it.

  “Can we think about it a little before you turn them down?”

  Her mother raised her eyebrows. “Since when do you want to move?”

  Kate shrugged. “Haven’t you always taught me to take advantage of opportunities when they come around?”

  “Hmm. Okay. I’ll think about it a few days, but they’ll need an answer soon.”

  …

  In the morning, Kate raced up to Josie’s apartment.

  “Where is the dress?” she asked as soon as the door was half open.

  “I already told you. At Harmon-Craig.” Josie, still in her pajamas, stretched lazily.

  “It’s not in my locker.”

  “Of course it isn’t. I ran into Miss Lassiter on the way there and gave it to her. She loves it.”