I heard the door to the shop open. I wiped my hands on the old hand-me-down apron my Grandmother had worn in this exact kitchen.
“Gloria, Gloria, darling.” Floella walked in flaunting her diamonds and fur, the one she had dyed baby blue in order to keep up with her Frozen fetish. I’m not talking about the weather.
She was obsessed with Elsa so much so, that she insisted I create a candy display for her Winter pageant. The one where the competitors must be blonde, blue eyed and as thin as a rabid squirrel.
I hated doing work for her but I needed the cash. This past year wreaked havoc on my bank account. I was willing to do anything to keep G.G.’s Sweets open.
“This is magnificent, your work surpasses all others, dear! I absolutely love the way you have dressed the table to look “Frozen”. She even formed her fingers into quotation marks as she spoke. “ I know the girls will adore the Rock Candy. I could have never come up with this!” I listened quietly. “Oh Gloria. Are you still jealous?” Her question did not deserve an answer.
With a flip of her wrist, she sent her debit card flying across my counter. “Take a little extra for keeping your mouth shut.” Her voice now ill. I once had been an object of her fascination. The work was sometimes grueling but I never regretted the ride in the gold carriages shaped as pumpkins.
I added a sedative to my sugar mix just as she instructed. It seemed rather harmless. Floella’s version of Frozen wouldn’t come to pass unless the girls were unaware of their acting. I only hope that she leaves the puppet strings off this time.
Once she was gone, I went back into the store room and popped in my old VHS tape. My Cinderella performance was astonishing and my scars were nearly unnoticeable after all these years.
Leesa Writes 