***

“Mmmmm.” I drink deeply from my Dolce milkshake, swirling the straw around the cup so I get every vestige of caramel and chocolate. Goldie giggles at my obvious bliss.

“You,” she says, “are a very fun person to buy treats for.”

I flutter my eyelashes. “Feel free to do it more often.”

She nods solemnly. “Duly noted.”

I put the shake on my nightstand and stretch my arms over my head; twisting my neck, I release a crick in it.

“So, tell me again about the wedding of the year.”

Goldie bounces on the bed and hugs a throw pillow. “Ohmygosh, ’kay, so it’s in a month and I’m still not sure about the gown. All my sisters are basically wearing navy, so is my mom, but it’s just so not me. And they know that, the kallah’s fine with me doing my own thing and my brother couldn’t care less, obviously. Here, I brought it to show you.”

She passes me a large Nordstrom bag; I finger the satiny handles, enjoying the coolness against my skin, and then pull the gown out.

“Whoa.”

The dress is teal; no, turquoise; no blue — the color is changing before my eyes. I blink and shut my mouth with a snap.

“Goldie….” I breathe.

“I know,” she breathes next to me.

We just stare at it for a minute.

“So, what are you doing about the neckline?” I ask, breaking the spell.

She bounces on the bed again. “That’s the best part. Nordstrom said they have extra material they can order for me!”

“Wow….”

I stare at the dress. It’s breathtaking, but….

“You know what might look good?” I say, fingering the material. “A stiff, sleek peplum, like right here.”

I point to the waist. “You know, if there’s extra after the neckline.”

Goldie squints, silent.

I blush. “’Kay, it was stupid, sorry, don’t even listen to me — what?”

Goldie is staring at me like she’s never seen me before.

“Bella Rena. That is an absolutely brilliant idea. Where, what, how did you come up with that?”

Okay, overreact much?

I stretch my arms again; I’m stiff all over. What I need is a warmup. And then maybe a ballet class or two.

“Uh, I just looked at the gown and thought it can just use a tiny bit more…”

“Hmmm.”

Goldie gets down from the bed, takes the gown lovingly from my arms and tucks it back into the bag.

“Well, I’d better go save your brothers from Effie. Or, you know, vice versa.”

We snicker.

“Anyway, hon, feel good. You look great, love the one Ugg look.”

I stick my tongue out at her and then lean in for a hug.

“Thanks for visiting,” I say, settling back onto the bed and picking up a book from the bedside. “And thanks for the shake.”

She smiles and leaves, and then sticks her head back in.

“Bella… you have a real eye for clothing design. Did you know that?”

And then she’s gone.

I shake my head, smiling, and then bury myself in my book. Clothing design… I’m a dancer. Always was, always will be.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 795)