Uncle William's Mate

Chapter 5

When 6:30 rolled around I was picking out a dress to wear. I don’t usually wear dresses so I only have a few. Most are black but some have a little color and are cute. Uncle William said to wear something nice. My thought process was that he meant formal. Not cute. My mom came into my room noticing my stressed look. 

“What is the matter dear? Is there something I can help with?” My mom asked. She is such a caring and sweet mother. I am glad that she’s mine. 

“Could you help me pick out a dress. Uncle William invited me to dinner and asked me to wear something nice.” I explained. “I was thinking of a black dress, but which one?”

My mother stood there looking at each dress. One of them I considered to be sexy looking. It was a dress my mother handed down to me. It was a long v neck with sequins around the belt. It fit my body beautifully, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s “too sexy” or too much. It is just my Uncle William after all. The other dress was a plain black dress. It was short and it had a lot of straps or lines on the chest. This one was my go to dress for any formal occasion including funerals, which unsurprisingly happen a lot here. The reason I couldn’t get myself to pick that one was because he’s seen me in it already. It would be boring and I feared that he would think I was boring. I mentally slapped myself. Uncle William is someone I look up to as a role model. He’s always been there for me. He would never think I am boring. 

I sighed out of frustration. “I think you should go with this one.” She held out the dress I thought was “too sexy”. I instantly blush. That was NOT the answer I was expecting at all. Especially from my mother. I snorted in laughter. 

“Are you sure mom?” I smiled and grabbed the dress. 

“Of course I’m sure! You will look stunning in this dress. Mr. Roxinbellar is a respectable man, Ciera.” She explains. I nod in agreement. 

“Okay I will wear this dress. Thank you mom! I love you!” I yell to her as she leaves my room. 

I pull the dress onto my body and look at myself in the mirror. “Not bad.” I think to myself. The thought of wearing makeup comes to mind. I’ve never been one to wear it. Maybe it would be best to not try. Less chances of messing up my face before I have to go… Which to my horror is in 10 minutes. “Oh sh*t!” I say to myself as I put my flat black shoes on. I grab some red lipstick and decide to keep my hair down. I pride myself in my beautiful hair. It’s so long it reaches down my back to my butt. It’s like my mom’s hair except she cuts hers. One thing I don’t understand about her. 

I pull on a light sweater. I know it’s summer, but I think of sweaters as my security blanket. It makes me feel safe and calms my anxiety whenever I have it. What I am wearing tonight is definitely not what I usually wear on a normal day. Usually I wear a t-shirt and skinny jeans. I love going to the mall with my mom to find cool graphic tees. Some people collect rocks. Some people collect baseball cards. I collect t-shirts. 

As I walk down the street I see that Uncle William’s porch light is the only light on. I check my phone for the time and it reads 6:59. I’ve never been in such a hurry as I am right now. I lightly jog to his house. His house is white with red brick accents. He has a nice garden full of lilies and irises. Irises are my favorite flower. They look so elegant. I knock on the painted red door that has an oval of stained glass in the middle. I see a shadow appear in seconds and hear the handle of the door being turned and pulled open.