Putting On The Glitz Auntie Ethel’s magic touch

Something odd was happening as Marie tried on her aunt’s lovely old stage costumes…

What have you got there?” Marie glanced across at her friend, Ashley, who was tucking into a packet of biscuits. Always eating,thatone, she thought with a grin. They’d been best friends since meeting at a Psychic Fair.

“It’s the theatre costumes I inherited from Auntie Ethel. I thought I’d have a rummage through. She knew how much I loved the theatre and promised she’d leave them to me.”

“She was meant to have been quite good on the stage, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah.” Marie’s voice sounded muffled as she buried her nose in one of the silky dresses to give it a sniff. Giving it a shake, she held up the simple white princess line dress. “What do you think?”

“When did she wear it?” Ashley asked with interest.

“I’m not sure. There’s a list here, so I’d have to check it off against … oh, wait.” Skimming the paper, Marie pursed her lips. “Says it was for her role as Maria in WestSideStory.”

“That’s a great film. Wow! She must have had a fabulous singing voice to get the role of Maria.”

“Oh, she was terrific – and she did tons of stage work.”

“Try it on,” Ashley encouraged. “Weren’t you after a dress to wear to that Valentine’s Day do Paul asked you to?” “Yeah…”

“I’m sensing a but…”

“Paul’s nice…”

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “But he doesn’t make your heart flutter?”

Marie made a face and shook her head. The trouble was that the person she did like didn’t return her feelings. Why was love so complicated?

“Try the dress on anyway. It’s lovely,” Ashley pressed.

“OK.” Marie disappeared out of the room, dress in hand. Slipping into the silky material a feeling of wonder spread over her. Even though she was twentysix, she felt as though she was sixteen years old again. Odd.

Glancing in the mirror she swished the skirt, gazing at her reflection as if for the first time. Waltzing out of the bedroom, she pirouetted into the lounge, where Ashley was reading the list of costumes Auntie Ethel had carefully written out to accompany the box.

Glancing up, Ashley took a swift intake of breath.

“Well? What do you think?” Marie gave a twirl.

“You look amazing. That dress fits you like a dream.”

“I feel like dancing,” Marie exclaimed, laughter bubbling up in her voice. Not that there was much room, especially with the box stuck in the middle.

Undeterred, she broke into some chassé steps, skipping around the room like a teenager, singing one of the well-known lyrics from the show.

“Ok, ok… I get it. You’re turning into

Maria from WestSideStory. Do you want to see what else is in the box?”

Ignoring her performance, Ashley turned back to the list.

“Spoilsport. Wait while I change.” Marie stomped off. As soon as she took the dress off, however, she felt her cheeks burn. Had she really just burst into song and acted out of character? How embarrassing!

Your auntie has listed ten different costumes here. Let’s see what else there is,” Ashley said as she returned to the room.

Kneeling down, Marie gently pulled out the next garment, carefully wrapped in tissue paper.

“Ohhhh…” she sighed, pulling out an imitation black fur stole and long gloves. “Just beautiful.”

She pulled on the gloves and wrapped the stole around her neck. Immediately, she felt a strange sensation wash over her. From feeling so naïve in the white

dress, she now felt confident and sexy.

“AnaccessoryformyroleasLorelei, inGentlemenPreferBlondes,” Ashley read out from the sheet of paper.

Once again Marie burst into song, her voice sounding breathy, just like Marilyn Monroe’s.

“Hey. You’re beginning to freak me out,” Ashley said, holding up a hand in mock restraint. “Is your auntie’s spirit attached to these outfits somehow, or are you putting on an act?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Marie tossed her head.

“Take it off a minute, will you?” Pouting, Marie did as she was bid. As soon as she removed them, a feeling of normality returned and she blushed.

“What on earth’s going on?” She stared at Ashley with an anxious look. Ashley stared back, looking thoughtful.

“Hmm. I’m sure you’ve told me before that your aunt was a believer in the supernatural, haven’t you?”

Marie gave a slow nod.

“Yes. In fact, until I met you, she was the only person who really understood my feelings on the subject. I mean, there were other friends and people I spoke to, but Auntie Ethel understood the best.

“That’s why I loved going to see her. And she loved telling me fascinating stories about the theatre world too. Mind you, she was always trying to matchmake. Some of the people she tried to get me to date!” She started chuckling at the memories.

Ashley grinned. “I remember you telling me. There was obviously a special connection between you. So much so that I think your auntie is somehow still communicating with you now, through these costumes.

“I mean, I’ve never seen you behave the way you did when you put on either the white dress or the gloves and stole. It was like you became another person. Like you became the characters your aunt portrayed.”

Marie gaped. “You mean there could be a connection between these outfits and the spirit world?”

Ashley shrugged, before giving a mischievous smile. “It does kind of make sense. Hey, fancy trying your luck with the others? See if I’m right?”

“Why not!” Marie laughed.

“Come on, Auntie Ethel. What are you trying to tell me?”

She brought out two further costumes. One a cowgirl outfit. “Yee-haw!” she yelled as she placed the hat on her head.

Ashley put up a hand.

“OK, Annie Oakley.

Off with the hat now. I think your aunt has proven my point.”

Next was a rather skimpy Arabian

Nights costume.

“Let’s leave that one for now,” Ashley said quickly, seeing Marie reach for the silky material and start humming a romantic tune from Kismet.

Quickly examining the rest of the costumes, they worked out that the raincoat and sou’wester had to be from Singin’InTheRain.

The slightly tatty skirt and Victorian blouse, along with some faded flowers, were from MyFairLady. A Salvation Army outfit had to be from GuysAnd Dolls and a cute Twenties dress from ThoroughlyModernMillie. There was also a faded red frock which had Nancy stitched into it. “Oliver,” Marie and Ashley chorused.

Marie then pulled out the final outfit. Wrapping the pink feather boa around her neck, a strange prickly sensation crawled up her spine and Marie suddenly knew exactly what Auntie Ethel had been trying to communicate.

“All these outfits are from musicals…” she started.

“We know that. That’s the boa she wore in HelloDolly when she played Dolly Levi.”

“But they’re also to do with love stories, aren’t they?”

Marie stared at her best friend – the man she’d only recently realised she’d fallen in love with. Her eyes widened.

She hadn’t been aware until recently of how much her feelings for Ashley had grown. They seemed to be on the same wavelength, laughing at the same things, and they both loved musicals. Unusual for such a handsome straight man, as she’d told him when she’d found out.

They also seemed to know what the other was thinking. Well, apart from what Marie now knew that she had to confess.

Would Ashley feel the same way, though? Or did he just look on her as a mate? Was Auntie Ethel’s matchmaking right this time?

The feather boa seemed to tingle, giving Marie a burst of confidence.

“Ashley…” she started.

Ashley met her gaze and Marie’s heart thudded. In the second their eyes met, she saw something deep in his soul that left her in no doubt as to his feelings. Odd how she’d never seen it before.

Flicking the boa suggestively, she leaned towards him and kissed him.

Finally pulling away, Ashley sucked in his breath. “What about Paul?”

“Paul who?”

Ashley gave a broad grin.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment for so long. I didn’t know you felt the same way. How…?”

“I didn’t until recently. It seems like Auntie Ethel is still matchmaking, and knew we needed a bit of help to get together, especially as it’s Valentine’s Day soon.” Seeing her arm break out into goose-bumps, she raised her eyes heavenward. “Thanks, Auntie Ethel.”

“Yes – thank you, Auntie E. But please can you now exit, stage right?” Ashley waved his hand, before pulling Marie to him for another kiss.

Neither of them noticed a slight ruffling of feathers, as if Auntie Ethel were taking a final bow.

“There was obviously a SPECIAL CONNECTION between you and HER”