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7.9.16

YELLOW DRESS - flash fiction

YELLOW DRESS

The whirr of Mum’s Singer was a constant rhythm as I played on the rag rug, sorting her buttons, so naturally I chose Needlework at school.

We progressed agonisingly slowly from aprons to peg-bags to pencil-cases with concealed zips, but finally we were allowed to make a dress for the end-of-term social. I bought bright yellow cotton - although Miss Clutterbuck thought ‘young girls should wear pastels’.

In the evenings, to the heady rhythms of ‘Six-Five Special’, I sewed a shirt-waister with huge black buttons from Mum’s button-box, and at the social I glowed like a sunflower – a pastel wallflower no longer.
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This week's photo prompt for Friday Fictioneers plunged me into reminiscence and nostalgia, so thanks to Sandra Crook for the photo and Rochelle for hosting us so indefatiguably on her blog  https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/

I shall be in Northern Ireland over the next few days with family, so please don't be offended if I am slow to respond to your comments. Oh, and I must extend a warm welcome to Perry who became my 100th 'follower' this week. :)



19 comments:

  1. I glowed like a sunflower – a pastel wallflower no longer What a grand story. It reminded me of spending time at my grandmother's house.

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    1. Thanks Alicia - your grandmother must have had a treadle sewing machine!

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  2. I can see you with your sunflower brightness... love the use of wallflower... so apt. Actually I preferred sewing to woodwork as a kid, but I could never admit it..

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    1. I Liked both but wasn't allowed to do woodwork until I went to college!

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  3. It's great that you chose what you wanted! It was your day! I have always loved yellow and never associated it with and particular age group. It's such a cheerful color.

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    1. At 16 I could wear any colour - if I wore yellow now it would make me look ill.

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  4. It's great that you chose what you wanted! It was your day! I have always loved yellow and never associated it with and particular age group. It's such a cheerful color.

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  5. Dear Liz,

    This brought back memories. My mom's Singer was just a bit more modern. It was electric. She also had a jar of buttons I loved to go through. I love the way you ended. Very enjoyable piece.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Once you've mastered the art of the treadle it's a lovely way to work - electric ones can run away with you if you're not careful!

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  6. A lot of nostalgia there. Great write.

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  7. I enjoyed this, hard work rewarded. It sounds like a lovely dress.

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    1. It was - and with a black belt it looked great. My wasit at the time was 22 inches - sadly that is no longer the case.

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  8. You created such a vivid picture there, both of the time and the scene. Well done.

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  9. Lovely, Liz - even though I didn't get references like 'Six-Five Special'. :)

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    1. Thanks Susan. Six Five Special was one of the first TV pop music programmes - even before Top of the Pops - so I have given away my age!

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  10. I love this coming of age story!

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