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Miss Tulip Tuttlesworth beamed at her student across the table at the 24 hour diner.  “I know it’s not appropriate, but I have to tell you Flora, I’m impressed by your talent.  You’re miles above the other students in Professor Skippy’s class.”

“Really?”  Flora blushed.  She wasn’t used to having two people compliment her work in one day.  “Professor Skippy is always going on about my poor finishing skills and crooked button holes…”

Miss Tuttlesworth scowled.  “Professor Skippy is the most vile person I’ve ever met in fashion.  How she got to be dean I’ll never understand.”

“She’s right, though.”  Flora sighed and played with her napkin.  “I am terrible with buttons and pockets.  I can do sequins and beading all day long, and lacework all night.  But those cargo pants from last semester….”  She shuddered.

Miss Tuttlesworth shook her head and waved her hand.  “You, my dear, are a gown designer.  You’re not made for button holes and droll things like shirt dresses and slacks.  If we needed more dresses and slacks, we can just go to a department store!”  She shook her head, her pleasantly plump face darkening.  “Don’t let her get you down.  Not like me….”  Her voice trailed off, her large brown eyes full of sorrow as she gazed at the plastic table top.

Flora’s plain face spread into a smile.  “That’s what I always thought.”  She smiled up at the waitress who came to take their order.  “I’ll have the pancakes, eggs, bacon and hashbrowns, please.  With orange juice.”

“Breakfast for dinner?  What a brilliant thought!”  Miss Tuttlesworth quickly glanced at her menu.  “Waffles please, with scrambled eggs and sausage.  And would you bring the bottle of syrup?  I’m afraid I have an incurable sweet tooth.”  She patted her large stomach and laughed.  “Obviously.  And I have no regrets about it.”  The waitress giggled, took their menus and disapeared into the back.  Flora watched as Miss Tuttlesworth added cream after cream to her coffee.

“You really don’t?”

“Really don’t what?”  Miss Tuttlesworth reached for her fourth cream.

“Feel bad about…”  Flora looked down at her own hips and blushed.

“Oh, my weight?”  Miss Tuttlesworth snorted.  “Dear, I realized a long time ago that I was born to create dresses for gorgeous creatures, not wear them.  And considering most of them live on celery and race their lives away on the treadmill, scared of even looking at a cupcake, I think I got the better end of the deal.”  She tore open three sugar packets and smiled.  “You and I are kindred souls, Flora dear.  We’re like the composers of a symphony.  We may not play it or direct it, but on opening night, we can hide behind the curtains and watch, knowing our fingers and thread created the beautiful gown everyone is staring at.”  She winked.  “And we get to eat whatever we want!”

Flora nodded, trying to ignore the aching feeling in her chest.  “Sometimes, I just wish I could wear my own creations though…”  She thought of Astrid and knit her chubby fingers together.  “I get to make the coronation dress for the princess.  She came into the shop today.”

Miss Tuttlesworth clapped her hands. “My dear, how wonderful!  That’s as exciting as the project I wanted to ask you about!”  She leaned forward, her brown eyes glowing as she glanced back and forth to make sure no one was eavesdropping.  “I know Professor Skippy will be furious, but I couldn’t resist.”  She reached into her back and pulled out a folded pink piece of paper, sliding it across the table.

Flora smoothed out the creases and skimmed it.   “The Cinderella Project?”

Miss Tuttlesworth bobbed her head.  “It’s a contest for up and coming designers to design prom dresses for girls that can’t afford them otherwise.  The girls have to write essays to win, and in return, they get a custom designed gown.  They only choose one new designer every year….”  She gripped Flora’s arm.  “I know I’m not a student and I’m hardly a spring chicken, but Flora, this is my chance!  My chance to do what I’ve always dreamed!”

She leaned back in the booth, a dreamy smile stretching across her cheeks. “Can you imagine?  No more errands for Professor Skippy, no more boring tailoring jobs to pay the bills, no more rude students…for the first time in years, I could do what I loved!”   Her eyes opened, boring into Flora’s.  “Does that make any sense at all?”

It made more sense than Flora wanted to admit.  She glanced down at the paper, thinking of her own belittling mother.  The hours she spent in the shop cutting and sewing gorgeous gowns while hiding from her mother’s sharp insults were nothing compared to the decades Miss Tuttlesworth had spent in Professor Skippy’s shadow.

“I know you’re terribly busy with the coronation gown and all your custom orders,” Miss Tuttlesworth was saying.  Flora returned her attention to the dowdy teacher, who was absently tapping her spoon against her mug.  “But if you could help me…it mean a lot.”

She didn’t hesitate.  “Of course.”

Miss Tuttlesworth sighed, her chest heaving as the waitress returned with their plates and set them down.  “Oh thank you.”  Picking up the bottle of syrup, she drowned her waffles and stabbed a steaming piece, lifting it to her lips.  “Now we can properly celebrate.”

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a new Comfort and Whimsy tomorrow!

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